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i apologize for the delay. ill be ready in one second

I wish to learn more about engaging rural America.

Interested in your organization and wanting to learn more about how you're doing the work you're doing and what we can learn from it!

My name is Sara from ActiVote. We are working on voter participation and engagement. We've seen success in cities, but have struggled to reach effectively into rural America. I'm also interested in your organization and how we might be able to help eachother! Thanks for all you do!

Looking forward to hearing great ideas and seeing how we can work together.

Hi, I'm Zoe, director of civic engagement for the Project On Government Oversight. I'm interesting in understanding how we might connect to groups working in rural areas on issues of federal corruption and abuse of power. (or to put it positively, for government accountability! ;) )

We must win over conservatives in Wisconsin in order to pass the democracy reforms we are fighting for. Many of the conservatives in our state reside in rural areas. We need to learn how to better connect with them.

I’m working on a collaborative reporting project for journalism students at schools across the US and it will involve student reporters serving as the bridge between communities in different ideological divides. So particularly interested in language and ideologies that can feel inclusive to both rural and urban americans as well as to americans in a cross section of racial and political backgrounds as well.

Maxine here from Urban Rural Action! I'd like to dive into how urban folks can engage rural Americans without coming off as paternalistic. I'm also here to cheer on Joe and Kira :)

Thanks Maxine!

Thank you everybody - ill take these questions down so we don't miss anything

The Learning Sessions Page - https://www.bridgealliance.us/learning_sessions

Urban Rural Action's website - https://www.uraction.org/

Our democracy works best when we are all involved and we are all speaking to eachother. Our goal is to make sure that "all" means all.

Great point, Sara.

Fantastic point, Pam

Thank you for that, Pam.

It was a question that we really struggled with when we put together last year's diversity report.

Yes, personal identity. I think it’s willing to find out their values and just be able to sit with their answers,

Location is very important! I might not take casseroles to my friends in Cheyenne when they have lost a family member but I would in a heartbeat to my surrounding rural neighbors.

I think some people have a tendency to think of rural Americans as being somehow more isolated in terms of exposure to the broader diversity that urban areas may have. But there’s definitely some urban isolation and lack of exposure to rural ideologies and experiences (like a connection to food sources/nature in a different more self-sufficient way). Though countering that you find in a lot of cities people who grew up in rural areas but left those areas to seek the city for various reasons.

I think the internet has made the information on a level playing field but the access to broad band and where you get your info is very divergent in rural america.

That's a great point, Lindi.

The elderly rural is a huge issue as well as their access to food (no meals on wheels)and services especially if they want to stay in their own homes.

This has been great - I have to log off to teach in 2 minutes but will watch the erst of the session online. Thanks for taking the time to give this presentation!

Thank you for coming Shia!

This was such a thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation! Thank you!

I'm going to have to run to another session, I'm so sorry - so nice to talk to all of you! Thank you for being here and engaging on these issues.

Thank you, Kira! This was great! Appreciate the perspective you brought

Thank you for this - I need to jump off but have enjoyed listening to the conversation!

Thank you for coming!

Im sorry I have to go to my next meeting - thanks so much everyone for sharing your perspectives! Btw, if you have folks in your network who might want to see where those PPP loans really are going in your counties, we have a nifty easy to use tool for that. https://covidtracker.pogo.org/Again thanks, Zoe

^great tool

Also happy to provide trainings on the tracker for whomever is interested - I didn't think about how useful it might be until I heard Kira's story!