Rural Day: The Best Is yet to Come

Last month, the Rural Center hosted the first-ever Rural Day, a two-day event that welcomed more than 300 people from 70 counties from across the state.

For two days, North Carolinians gathered in Raleigh to meet new friends, exchange ideas, engage their elected leaders, and celebrate all the things that make our rural communities the best places in the state to live, work, and play.

We at the Rural Center are still talking about it. We still have the words you said to us ringing in our ears. We are still thinking about the ideas and insights we heard from our elected leaders. We are still recalling the powerful rural stories presented to us in the documentaries we watched.

Thank you.

Thank you for the overwhelming response. Thank you for the positive feedback. Thank you for the words of encouragement. Thank you for standing up for your rural community. 

Thank you for letting your voice be heard.

Rural Day may be behind us, but the work is still ahead. Rural Day signaled the start of our Rural Counts advocacy campaign. It is the official start of a grassroots engagement with our state's rural champions. It is the official start of an ongoing dialogue with our elected leaders.

It is the start of our work together. Our work to raise up all that is good and worthwhile about our rural communities and to draw attention to the issues that keep those people and places from reaching their full potential.

The work we do moving forward will build on the discussions at Rural Day. It will build on the community conversations that shaped our Rural Counts strategies and led to the launch of our advocacy work. It will build on the feedback we have received on our 80 county rural tour.

The work we do moving forward will be guided by you. Its success will depend on you. And you are the best advocates we have for rural North Carolina.

But for now, take a moment to revisit Rural Day. It was a great event, but we know the best is yet to come.

See you soon,


Patrick Woodie
President

Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Gov. Cooper Proclaims May 9 "Rural Day" in North Carolina

We are honored that Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed May 9, 2017, as "Rural Day" in North Carolina. Thank you to all who made this possible and continue to support our rural communities. Click here to read the official proclamation


 

View Our Storify Rural Day R ecap

Click here for a look into the top Tweets, Instagram posts, and photos from the first-ever Rural Day.

In the News
How politicians say they can help rural NC
The News & Observer

Advocates descend on the General Assembly
Education NC

Extension Front and Center at First Rural Day

Gov. Roy Cooper to NC Rural Day: Make NC a Top 10 Educated State (video)
NC Channel

NC Senate Leader Phil Berger: NC's Strength is in Our Small Towns & Cities (video)
NC Channel

Possible Bipartisan Agreement on Broadband Internet and Smart Energy Grid
Clean Air Carolina