Welcome

Smithsonian Rural Priority Convenings 2025-26 

Vision: By aligning Smithsonian expertise, resources, and programs with the stated priorities of rural America, we aim to create a series of locally-sourced project collaborations across the nation. Over time, this process will establish high-impact, sustainable working relationships between the Smithsonian and rural communities.

Launch Event: In order to build capacity and level-set the expectations and goals of this series, we will host the first annual Rural Leaders Summit on May 28-30, 2025 at the Smithsonian. This 2 ½ event will launch the Rural Priority Convenings by inviting interested and highly regarded partners to learn more about the Smithsonian’s Rural Initiative. As a cohort, they will interact with various Smithsonian units and experts to better understand how the Institution is positioned to support local projects to address one of the stated priorities. Each participant will be invited to design initial plans to replicate this model by co-hosting a convening in their community with the goal of designing  a project  to address the chosen priority need.

Key Steps:

1. Recruit a trusted, mission-aligned partner in rural region who is interested in serving as an advocate

2. Identify one priority focus from the five stated themes after the Rural Leaders Summit

3. Agree to organize and lead a convening event that facilitates the creation of locally-based projects that address the stated priority in partnership with Smithsonian expertise. This convening can be an introduction to the work or it can convene stakeholders to engage in a more advanced stage of the potential project.

4. Establish a local planning team to create an agenda, produce a roster of invitations, and finalize logistical details. 

5. Identify Smithsonian experts who can contribute to the convening with relevant expertise on the chosen priority.

6.   Goal: This group will design a community-based project that addresses this priority area. Design will identify key stakeholders who are responsible for all facets of implementation, including marketing and promotion, grant design, funding opportunities, evaluation and impact, etc.

Funding: With generous support from the Ford Foundation, we intend to support the first slate of local convenings in summer 2025 in order to show proof of concept. Based on this success, we intend to multiply efforts in additional communities through the end of 2026 and beyond.  

Cohort 1 Participants

Angie Albright, Director, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History (Springdale, AR)

Marco Antonio Buentello, Director of Grants, Humanities Texas (Austin, TX)

Rebecca Chatham-Vazquez, Assistant Professor & Director of English Education, North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)

Beverly Chin, Professor Emeritus, University of Montana, and National Council of Teachers of English (Missoula, MT)

Christian Cotz, Maine State Archivist, Maine State Archives (Augusta, ME)

Allie Evans, Director of Exceptional Students and Federal Grants, Northampton County Schools (Jackson, NC)

Amy Gasque, Program Officer, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (Charleston, SC)

Christine Gilmore, Director of Leadership and Community Engagement, Rural Development Initiatives (Moscow, ID)

Cara Goger, Executive Director, Mariposa County Arts Council (Mariposa, CA)

Tamara Herring, Executive Director, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage (Ridgeland, SC)

Jean Hill, Instructional Facilitator, Helen Tyson Middle School (Springdale, AR)

Sarah Holbrooke, Executive Director, Pinhook Institute (Telluride, CO)

Andrew Koricich, Executive Director, Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, Appalachian State University (Boone, NC)

Tammy LaPrad, Executive Board Rural Schools Collaborative (Macomb, IL)

Bridgett Massengill, President & CEO, Thrive Regional Partnership (Chattanooga, TN)

Karen Mauldin-Curtis (KMC), Program Director, Peace Corps Fellows & AmeriCorps Program at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL)

Jason Neises, Community Development Officer, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (Dubuque, IA)

Bethany Offer-Moscoso, Senior Grants Program Officer, Humanities Texas (Austin, TX)

Amanda Page, Coordinator, First Year Experience & Executive Director, Shawnee State University & Scioto Literary (Portsmouth, OH)

Polina Pivak, Housing and Community Development Specialist, Mariposa County Planning Department (Mariposa, CA)

Tiffany Rehbein, Principal, Washington Middle School, Missoula County Public Schools (Missoula, MT)

Mary Anne Redding, Senior Curator, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC)

Mairead Rew, Strategic Communications Director – Mayor’s Office, City of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE)

Lucy Rymer, Executive Director, Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points (Cleveland, TN)

C.T. Salazar, Director of University Archives and Library, Delta State University (Cleveland, MS)

Chris Shafer, Director of Educational and Agency Partnerships, Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, OH)

Deb Smith, Planning Manager, Clearwater Economic Development Association (Lewiston, ID)

Mina Stafford, Museum Manager, Las Cruces Museum System (Las Cruces, NM)

Jennifer Stevens, Director, City of Boise Department of Arts and History (Boise, ID)

Full Schedule: May 28-30, 2025