Juniata College presents Rural Rising, an inaugural symposium dedicated to showcasing grassroots innovation in rural communities. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, this event will bring together community members, nonprofit leaders, and experts to explore creative solutions to rural challenges.

Join us on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Sill Boardroom, von Liebig Center for Science at Juniata College. The symposium features keynote speaker Matthew Hoagland, a community panel, interactive sessions, and a hands-on grant writing workshop.

Keynote speaker Matthew Hoagland, planning director of Alamance County, N.C., and author of Think Small: A Millennial’s Guide to Building a Meaningful Life in Rural America, will open the symposium with a discussion of strategies for revitalizing rural towns to attract young adults. Local organization leaders will participate in a community panel to highlight success stories and strategies for fostering sustainable community development.

Cory Holding, a writing professor at the University of Pittsburgh and organizer of the Pitt Prison Education Project, will lead participants in a hands-on grant writing workshop in the afternoon to gain skills to secure funding for community initiatives.
A closing reception will highlight community engagement projects, including a new oral history initiative, presented by Juniata students.

Early bird registration is $20 before March 10, and standard registration is $25 after that date. Learn more and register: https://more.juniata.edu/conferences/registration/form.html?camp_id=350