Turn Up Your Voice: Taking Action for Change
Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) and the Center for Women's Leadership (CWL) have partnered to create a civic engagement program focused on educating and connecting women leaders throughout rural Oregon. This program consists of five sessions: four sessions cover specific topics to inform participants on understanding local and state government, how to create support for the rural issues they face in their communities, and how to develop the message they want to convey their passion for their rural spaces. The fifth session is a two day event in Salem, Oregon, where participants gather together in person to connect with one another and to meet with their representatives to speak up about the concerns they are facing in their rural communities.
Program Session Information
Session 1
Understanding Government
Virtual
Session 2
Defining Issues and Building Coalitions
Virtual
Session 3
Developing Your Message
Virtual
Session 4
Creating A Communications Plan
Virtual
Session 5
Capitol Convening
Salem, OR
Community Norms
Listen to understand. Contribute your thinking.
Accept that divergent opinions are okay. Be aware of your impact on the group.
If you find yourself in judgement, turn to wonder. Hear all the voices; listen with respect.
Be willing to be changed by what your hear. No fixing, no advising, no shaming.
May 2023: For the fifth and final session of "Turn Up Your Voice," participants gathered for a two-day event in Salem, Oregon to build a strong rural network with each other and to talk with their state and local representatives. Here they meet with Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon, to hear her story and talk about the challenges they face in their rural communities.