The National Rural Assembly is a movement of people and organizations devoted to building a stronger, more vibrant rural America for children, families, and communities. Participants include more than 500 local, regional, and national organizations based in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The goal of the National Rural Assembly is to make the country stronger by improving the outlook for rural communities. The guiding principle is that an inclusive, prospering, and sustainable rural America improves prospects for us all. 

Sustainable Northwest has served on the Steering Committee of the Rural Assembly for the last three years, providing leadership to the Stewardship of Natural Resources component of Rural Compact. The goals of the Stewardship of Natural Resources in the Rural Compact are stated as ‘good environmental practices and responsive public land management provide the opportunity to promote energy independence, grow healthy food in a sustainable manner, mitigate climate change, and develop stronger natural resource-based economies. Six policy areas that must be addressed in order to reach these goals include: sustainable rural development, global climate change, renewable energy, agricultural production, public lands management and restoration, and protection of private lands.

This year a small group of the organizations involved in Sustainable Northwest’s Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition attended the third convening of the National Rural Assembly in St. Paul, Minnesota June 28-30, 2011.  The following blog posts share what the experience was like to join with rural advocates from across the nation working on conservation, health care, education, community investment, broadband, immigration, and host of other issues touching the everyday lives of rural Americans.

Thanks!

Maia

Maia Enzer is the Director of the Policy Program and a founding member of RVCC.

Learn more about Maia and the rest of the team here.