Rural renewal topic of upcoming virtual symposium

By Trisha Gedon

STILLWATER, Okla. – Those interested in learning more about rural renewal should make plans to attend the virtual 2020 Rural Renewal Symposium. Slated Oct. 13, the virtual symposium will feature research presentations on the latest work in rural renewal and roundtable sessions for community leaders to discuss strategies that have worked in their own communities. This symposium will engage leaders and researchers in rural renewal from Oklahoma, the United States and the world.

In addition, the symposium provides an opportunity to raise awareness, attract resources and stimulate research toward solving grand challenges facing rural communities, said Audrey King, Rural Renwal Initiative’s communication coordinator at Oklahoma State University.

“Rural communities often are closely tied to agriculture and are being negatively affected by natural resource degradation, climate change and drought,” King said. “Those stressors, combined with limited economic opportunities contribute to poverty and a negative migration pattern.”

Tyson Ochsner, one of the Rural Renewal Initiative’s co-directors, said the stressors facing rural communities is leading to the depopulation of these areas, not only in Oklahoma, but across the country and globally.

“Of Oklahoma’s 265 small towns with populations ranging from 500 to 5,000 in 1980, 62% have lost population in the last four decades,” Ochsner said. “These communities face major challenges in maintaining and developing infrastructure systems, including water systems, healthcare and broadband internet access, all of which are necessary to sustain the local quality of life.”

The Rural  Renewal Initiative is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Association of Electrical Cooperatives for this virtual event slated Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The symposium will feature speakers not only from OSU, but from around the country who will share their expertise on the following agenda topics:

  • Why Rural Health in Southwest Oklahoma Matters: A Local Case Study with National Implications
  • Rural Health Systems
  • Rural Water Resources
  • Community Round Table – Rural Renewal Challenges and Opportunities
  • Research to Enhance Rural Broadband Access
  • A Research Agenda for Quality of Life in Small and Rural Places
  • Rural Renewal Activities in USDA
  • Rural Renewal Activities in Oklahoma Association of Electrical Cooperatives
  • Rural Infrastructure and Economic Development
  • Innovativeness in Rural Education
  • Community Round Table – Rural Renewal Success Stories
  • Rural Renewal Research Prize Winner Recognition and Keynote Address
  • Rural Renewal Citizenship Prize Winner Recognition and Acceptance Speech

Registration is $25 and due by Oct. 12. Registration information is available online. The symposium will include invited speakers, oral and poster presentations by researchers and community leaders, and networking breaks.

For additional information, contact the Rural Renewal Initiative via email. More information on rural renewal is available on OSU’s website.