An invitation to connect in 2024
By Taneum Fotheringill
Associate Director of Community
In 2023 our greatest joys were the times we got to spend with you – the wonderful community of rural people, advocates, thinkers, and doers. So many folks showed up from just about every state in this nation, plus a few folks in countries other than the US! Whether you joined us for Rural Assembly Everywhere, set up a conversation so we could get to know each other better, or even if you answered a poll on Instagram – we loved the times when we got to visit with you.
In keeping with that spirit, we want to see more of you in 2024. We hope you’ll gather with us at one or more of the many opportunities where we can keep lifting up rural stories of inclusivity, innovation, and participation – and acknowledging the challenges that our communities navigate.
Drop us a note in the form below to say hello and let us know the ways you see yourself engaging in 2024: do you have a story to share, a community or project to highlight, or a rural issue that we should be elevating? Let us know.
Keep a look out for the many ways to continue being together in the new year:
Rural Remix
Last year, our podcast gained a new partner in the Daily Yonder and a new name: Rural Remix. This year will bring more interviews and special series like Daily Yonder reporter Olivia Weeks’ series Home Cooked: A 50 Year History of Meth in Rural America.
Virtual Gatherings
We can’t wait to get together for gatherings like the Rural Journalism Collective, Rural Assembly Everywhere, and other special events. In 2023, thousands of you showed up over the course of the year to learn together and cheer each other on for the good of all our communities. More of this is always in order.
Beyond the Clock
Have you had a chance to attend a Beyond the Clock gathering lately? If not, don’t miss your chance this year! Beyond the Clock is a program of Department of Public Transformation and Voices for Rural Resilience and supported by Rural Assembly. We get fired up about the chances that these gatherings provide to hear from rural cultural workers about their work and experiences – and for those who attend to connect with each other.
…all that and more! Stay tuned for more ways to participate and support rural in the year ahead by subscribing to the Rural Assembly newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook.
Taneum Fotheringill
Taneum Fotheringill (she/her) takes pride in being a connector and developing positive relationships with the Rural Assembly communities across the country. Taneum is based in Washington State, where you can find her with her knitting or a book close by. Her work is informed by a lifelong interest in civics and the belief that everyone's voice matters. She is also proud to be a volunteer advisor for the Washington YMCA Youth Legislature where she mentors teens from across the state to engage in democracy.
