Rural Civic Engagement Project
RDI is working to organize leaders to understand and advocate for rural-specific issues at the local, state and federal level. As part of that process, RDI can bring policy experts to your community to provide training in defining issues and creating effective candidate and issue campaigns to connect people to local and state government.
Interested in learning to tackle community needs such as repairing pot holes, building playgrounds, reducing classes sizes, and more? RDI offers virtual or in-person Rural Civic Engagement Project trainings, with flexible program models for your community needs. If you have questions, please contact Marci Miller at mmiller (at) rdiinc.org or Kendra Schaffer at kschaffer (at) rdiinc.org. We appreciate your interest in effective government and your dedication to your community!
Check out RDI’s Rural Policy Priorities for 2023.
Rural Civic Engagement is coming to Milton Freewater, OR in September!
Want to learn how to better connect to government to make change in your community?
Join others interested in understanding government processes and taking action to make a difference.
RDI and Sherwood Trust are bringing the Rural Civic Engagement project to Northeastern Oregon in Milton-Freewater. Sessions will be held on four, consecutive Saturdays this fall:
September 21, 9am – noon: Albee Room at the Milton-Freewater Library. Topic: Understanding your Government
September 28, 9am – noon: Rotary Room at the Milton Freewater Community Building. Topic: Defining Issues and Building Coalitions
October 5, 9am – noon: Albee Room at the Milton-Freewater Library. Topic: Making Rural Voices Heard
October 12, 9am – noon: Rotary Room, Milton Freewater Community Building. Topic: Developing Strong Action Plans
Focal points and topics throughout the four sessions include:
- Navigating local and state government
- Defining and championing community priorities
- Developing compelling issues and a messaging pitch
- Creating action plans that make things happen!
This opportunity is free and available to all those who live in the Milton-Freewater area. Breakfast will be provided, and childcare and spanish support will be available upon request.
Sessions will feature inspiring elected officials, government, and communications experts who can provide valuable perspective and encouragement to be involved.
For more information, please contact Marci Miller at miller (at) rdiinc.org or Alison Cassin at acassin (at) rdiinc.org.
Building Our Civic Muscles: A Three-Part Webinar Series on Connecting to Local Government
As part of the Rural Civic Engagement Project, RDI offered a webinar series in 2022 for rural Pacific Northwest community members interested in learning how to better connect to local government.
- Session 1: Understanding Your Local Political Landscape | Watch the recording here.
- Session 2: Understanding Your Audience | Watch the recording here.
- Session 3: Understanding Systems Change | Watch the recording here.
RDI has partnered with the Center for Women's Leadership to create "Turn Up Your Voice," a Rural Civic Engagement program focused on educating and connecting woman leaders throughout rural Oregon.
Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) and the Center for Women’s Leadership (CWL) are partnering 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 about their community concerns.
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.
Our Second Cohort is Taking Place This Fall!
Applications are currently closed for this fall’s cohort. Look for more information on our next cohort in 2025.
MEET OUR TEAM
Senior Regional Program Manager
mmiller (at) rdiinc.org
Kendra Schaffer
Policy and Networks Manager
kschaffer (at) rdiinc.org
Heidi Khokhar
Executive Director
hkhokhar (at) rdiinc.org