The Rural Assembly is a vibrant movement of people and organizations advocating for a more inclusive nation. Rural America plays a pivotal role in shaping our country’s narrative and decisions. Our focus is on amplifying diverse rural voices across a range of platforms, locally and nationally, through media, policy, relationship-building, and convenings.

Rural Strategies established the Rural Assembly in 2007 recognizing that policy advocacy is key to the creation of a national environment in which positive change for rural communities can occur. Government policy does not always adequately reflect the shared concerns of rural residents, and the Rural Assembly provides an opportunity for rural leaders and their allies to unite in a common cause not only through advocacy, but also through gatherings and partnerships.

The Rural Assembly has focused national attention on the opportunities and challenges facing rural America. Throughout its history, Rural Assembly has leveraged a variety of tactics to promote inclusivity and rural equity.

The Early Years

The first Assembly gathering in Washington, D.C. in 2007 identified four policy priority areas: Quality in Education, Stewardship of Natural Resources, Health of Our People, and Investment in Our Communities.

By the 2008 gathering, Rural Strategies and the Rural Assembly Steering Committee codified those priorities and set them forth in a cornerstone document: The Rural Compact. Members of the 2008 Assembly also contributed to Policy Opportunity Snapshots, a four-part document outlining priorities within each policy area. In 2009 members of the Assembly delivered an action agenda with those priorities to Congress and the new administration.

As its partnerships and activities have increased, the Rural Assembly has become more effective in advocating for stronger policy for rural places, people, cultures, and economies. The 2008 policy priorities expanded to include rural broadband issues, and greater opportunity for rural voices to be heard.

The Next Chapter

Friends of the Rural Assembly are gaining access to public office and carrying their stories and experiences into major decision-making environments. We engage a broad rural advocacy network to advance initiatives that will increase policy makers’ understanding of the diversity, challenges, potential, and importance of rural people and communities.

Rural Assembly also provides dedicated spaces for rural people and allies to come together in partnership and friendship. Regular programming includes spaces for rural women, journalists, and more to get to know each other so that our capacity for working together becomes greater.

Keep up with the latest activities of the Rural Assembly at ruralassembly.org.