This story also appeared in The Rural Assembly
Living and working in a rural community can be isolating. The long days of organizing, chasing funding, and building relationships are taxing.
The leaders of Rural Assembly believe their upcoming national broadcast, Rural Assembly Everywhere: Connecting Communities, will be “a source of enthusiasm and inspiration for people on the ground in their communities doing hard work throughout the year,” said Taneum Fotheringill, Rural Assembly Director of Programs and Partnerships.
“They are doing that work day-in-and-day-out. They are tired,” Fotheringill said. “A 90-minute thing one time is never going to transform someone’s life, but if you can walk away feeling just a little more energized, you’re going to keep doing what you’re doing every day with a little more inspiration and enthusiasm and be ready to keep it going.”
In 2025, community members in Granite Falls, Minnesota, organized a watch party followed by a meal and local discussion. This year, more than 30 locations will host in-person events across the country. (Photo by Anna Claussen )
This is the sixth annual virtual gathering hosted by the Rural Assembly, a program of the Center for Rural Strategies. The live virtual broadcast will feature conversations on rural funding, mutual aid, and the legacy of Indian American Boarding schools and the persistence of Indigenous culture and communities, as well as performances from rural writers and musicians.
The event promises a diverse range of ideas, stories, creative work, and practical tools that viewers can carry back into their own communities.
“It’s so easy for rural people to feel isolated,” said Rural Assembly Director Madeline Matson. “This allows people to come together and learn from each other – what is going on, what issues are people facing, how can they pool ideas and resources and capacity together to get things done.”
The Lineup
The live broadcast will feature conversations, performances, and stories from rural communities. Scheduled segments include:
A conversation with Mary Annette Pember, author of Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools. She will be interviewed by ICT journalist Shirley Sneve;
A conversation about the role of rural philanthropy featuring Roundhouse Foundation Executive Director Erin Borla, in conversation with Department of Public Transformation’s Ash Hanson. Borla was recently recognized nationally as an innovator in rural funding on the Time Magazine Time100 Philanthropy list;
A panel on mutual aid and caring for our neighbors featuring Colorado-based Program Director of Justice 4 Migrant Women, Agueda Morgan, and Minnesota-based Executive Director of The Sowing Room, Dawn Espe.
Readings from Kentucky-based poet and farmer Angel Ballew and California farmer and writer Nikiko Masumato;
Music from Oregon-based indie pop band Holiday Friends and Kentucky singer-songwriter Grace Rogers
During the event, participants will be able to connect live in the chat. Fotheringill and Matson said the participation enriches the event for everyone, and they encourage folks to introduce themselves and share their thoughts and ideas.
“Most people are coming to Rural Assembly Everywhere to learn about what other people are doing,” Fotheringill said. “They show up and are genuinely curious about what’s going on and have a lot of heart for the rural communities they are from or live in.”
Community Partners
For the second year, the Rural Assembly sought partner organizations across the country to host local events in conjunction with the national broadcast. The number of communities hosting local events jumped from nine to more than 30. The events will be locally planned by libraries, arts centers, and other community organizations across 21 states. (See the list below)
In 2025, the Virginia Rural Health Association organized a watch party and local discussion. This year, more than 30 locations will host in-person events across the country. (Staff photo)
“We wanted to offer the opportunity to dial into a national rural conversation to people who are involved in their own communities and then layer on the local conversations they need,” Fotheringill said.
While the local events will be held in-person, Rural Assembly Everywhere seeks to engage as many people nationally as possible with the virtual offering.
“You can be anywhere,” Matson said, “because we’ll be Everywhere.”
Local Everywhere events will be held in the following locations:
Eureka Springs, AR
Fayetteville, AR, plus satellite locations
Bisbee, AZ
New Cuyama, CA
Akron, CO
Sandpoint, ID
Moscow, ID
Durand, IL
Geneseo, IL
Boswell, IN
Paxico, KS
Jackhorn, KY
Presque Isle, ME
Lanesboro, MN
Winona, MN
Little Falls, MN
Granite Falls, MN
New York Mills, MN
Burlington, NC
Edenton, NC
Caliente, NV
Eugene, OR
Lewisburg, TN
Cosby, TN
Wharton, TX
Stuart, VA
Blacksburg, VA
Dayton, WA
Trout Lake, WA
Pulaski, WI
Capon Bridge, WV
Northern Cheyenne Reservation, near Busby, MT
Rural Assembly Everywhere streams live July 23 at 1 p.m. ET; the virtual broadcast runs 90 minutes. Register and learn more at www.ruralassembly.org/everywhere.
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