EDC Explores Challenges Facing Rural Youth in America
Experts from various disciplines and regions brainstorm strategies with EDC vice presidents
February 2002
Ten leading researchers and practitioners working with rural communities came to EDC last month for an exploratory meeting on new approaches to support the healthy development of rural youth.
EDC Vice Presidents Nancy Ames, Vivian Guilfoy, Wayne Harvey, Ron Israel, Eric Jolly, and Cheryl Vince Whitman organized the meeting as a first step toward building a broad, interdisciplinary response to the complex challenges facing young people throughout the country. The meeting provided a forum for experts from various disciplines and regions to share their ideas and to advise EDC on ways the organization might use its vast expertise in support of rural youth.
"What can we do, as an organization, to bring more attention to rural America?" Asked EDC Senior Vice President, Cheryl Vince Whitman. "This is an issue that doesn't get enough attention."
Attendees at the meeting included a professor of geography who has worked closely with citizens of Appalachia for several years; a sociologist whose field of study is criminology with a focus on rural crime; the Vice President for Programs at the Foundation for the Mid South, formerly Superintentdent of the Lee County School District in Marianna, Arkansas; the Director of the National Children's Center for Rural Agricultural Health and Safety based in Marshfield, WI; a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and expert on issues of technology in rural communities; and a Mississippi psychologist who, in addition to working with rural families for over twenty years, has been a senior staff member for Congressman Mike Espy.
Together with the EDC vice presidents, the group addressed such questions as:
- What strengths and problems do young people face, growing up in poor rural communities?
- What kinds of school, community, family, and workplace environments can best support youth development?
- What types of new issues or solutions might be considered by policymakers and practitioners working across sectors?
- What unique contributions could EDC make to generate cross-sectoral solutions to support youth development in poor rural settings?
The two-day meeting generated a range of ideas, while also identifying potential obstacles and tensions-such as the tension between short-term and long-term solutions, individual- and community-level interventions, and public vs. private partnerships. EDC is in the process of analyzing and synthesizing the results of the meeting and identifying potential next steps in the planning process.
Meeting Participants:
Joe Donnermeyer
The Ohio State University
Human and Community Resource Development
Columbus, OH
Medard Gabel
The World Game Institute
Media, PA
Amy Glasmeier
Geography Department
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
Mr. Chris Hanna
National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
Marshfield, WI
Alan Hurwitz
Moderator
Washington, D.C.
Randy Moody
National Education Association
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Katherine Nordal
Director, Nordal Clinic
Vicksburg, MS
Randy Ross
Tribal College Information Technology and Applications Coordinator
American Distance Education Consortium
Lincoln, NE
Rachel Tompkins
The Rural School and Community Trust
Washington, D.C.
Beverly Divers White
Foundation for the Mid South
Jackson, MS
