Centering Belonging in Rural Equity Work

There are multiple valuable ways to approach equity discussions, and these conversations can be very locally oriented and tailored to meet communities where they are while growing their equity work in a community-specific way. This session will focus on the nuanced equity work occurring in rural Midwestern communities, centered in the belief that individuals in rural places can destigmatize equity work and engage in making their communities more welcoming by centering the work in the concept of belonging. Asking "does everyone in our community feel as though they belong?" begins this meaningful and important conversation that can improve the quality of life in our rural places. 

Session Designer: Bridget Dierks, Vice President of Programs, Community Foundation of the Ozarks