The Rural Assembly, a program of the Center for Rural Strategies, is a movement of people and organizations devoted to building a smarter, greener, more inclusive rural America. If we are to build smarter, more prosperous, more inclusive rural communities, then we need to build systems where new leadership emerges and new ideas can flourish. The lifting of local voices is fundamental to building new capacity and meaningful opportunity. There is a deep need to strengthen the agency and shared purpose of rural leaders and to supplement mainstream national narratives with diverse rural representation. The Rural Assembly provides an opportunity for rural leaders and their allies to unite in a common cause, advocating for common-sense policies that improve the outlook and results for rural places, people, cultures, and economies.

Since 2007, the Rural Assembly has convened people and organizations from across the United States. The movement brings together local grassroots organizers, nonprofit and business leaders, government officials, funders, and next generation leaders, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They represent a diversity of cultures, geographies, and ethnicities, and they pour their expertise into creative initiatives that build up their hometowns and communities. These causes include climate and energy solutions, immigration, transportation, creative placemaking initiatives, economic transitions and restoring our democracy.

Since 2007, the Rural Assembly has convened people and organizations from across the United States. The movement brings together local grassroots organizers, nonprofit and business leaders, government officials, funders, and next generation leaders, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They represent a diversity of cultures, geographies, and ethnicities, and they pour their expertise into creative initiatives that build up their hometowns and communities. These causes include climate and energy solutions, immigration, transportation, creative placemaking initiatives, economic transitions and restoring our democracy.

The Rural Assembly and Rural Youth Assembly are programs of

Center for Rural Strategies logo