rural america is undergoing sweeping demographic,
economic, and environmental changes. Whether
they are harnessed effectively will depend on federal
and state policies and community actions over the next
decade.
to address these challenges and foster an energized,
informed movement to improve rural policies at the federal
level, 300 rural leaders from across the united states will
gather in June 2007 at the first annual national rural assembly.
The assembly, convened by the Ford and W.K. Kellogg
Foundations, will strengthen rural america by giving
its leaders a platform for their ideas, raising the visibility of
rural issues, organizing a national network of rural interests,
and developing specific strategies to advance rural policy
initiatives.