Thinkers, doers gather to share innovative #RuralX(perience)

Whether the success story of your rural community is a well-developed plot, a rough-draft outline, or still an idea waiting to be committed to paper, organizers of the RuralX Summit say this event will have value for you.

“Anyone who believes in rural possibilities and has a desire to do something about it” is invited to the event, July 19-20 in Aberdeen, according to Beth Davis, president of Dakota Resources, the organization behind RuralX. “Bring your questions, your ideas, your curiosity, your stories, and let’s have a conversation. Let’s meet each other where we are on the journey to make our rural communities better places and learn from each other.”

Davis said the “come as you are” event is perfect for community leaders, volunteers, economic developers, business owners, educators, students, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs—anyone who’s part of the rural experience (#ruralX).

RuralX attendees “should return to their communities with tangible, actionable plans, and the resources and a supportive network to turn those plans into realities,” according to Davis.

The summit will follow a creative, evolving process, with some experiences designed by participants in the moment.

Learn more or register at www.dakotaresources.org/ruralx.

Rural X speakers

Emily Pilloton, the teacher behind Studio H (www.projecthdesign.org), an in-school design/build class for middle and high school students that created a farmer’s market pavilion and other needed projects in North Carolina’s poorest and most rural county, will talk about her view of rural.

Becky McCray and Deb Brown, nationally recognized bloggers, rural advocates, and masterminds behind the website Saveyour.town, will join forces to deliver humor, inspiration and practical advice on shaping a brighter future for rural communities.

Hugh Weber, CEO of OTA, an effort to connect and celebrate community-builders in the “-ota” states (the Dakotas and Minnesota), will discuss the region’s untapped possibility.

Eileen Briggs, executive director of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Ventures, a reservation-wide strategic project addressing poverty alleviation, will be part of a panel addressing innovation.

South Dakota’s own Jim Woster, a speaker and agricultural advocate known in part for his 13 years reporting livestock prices on KELO TV, will give the closing keynote.
Editor’s Note: Dakotafire Media is looking forward to being involved! We will help harvest the ideas that emerge during the summit.