February 2002 EDC Explores Challenges Facing Rural Youth in AmericaExperts from various disciplines and regions brainstorm strategies with EDC vice presidents Ten leading researchers and
practitioners working with rural communities came to EDC last month
for an exploratory meeting on new approaches to support the healthy
development of rural youth. EDC Vice Presidents Nancy Ames, Vivian Guilfoy, Wayne Harvey, Ron Israel, Eric Jolly, and Cheryl Vince Whitman organized the meeting as a first step toward building a broad, interdisciplinary response to the complex challenges facing young people throughout the country. The meeting provided a forum for experts from various disciplines and regions to share their ideas and to advise EDC on ways the organization might use its vast expertise in support of rural youth. "What can we do, as an organization, to bring more attention to rural America?" Asked EDC Senior Vice President, Cheryl Vince Whitman. "This is an issue that doesn't get enough attention." Attendees at the meeting included a professor of geography who
has worked closely with citizens of Together with the EDC vice presidents, the group addressed such questions as:
The two-day meeting generated a range of ideas, while also identifying potential obstacles and tensions-such as the tension between short-term and long-term solutions, individual- and community-level interventions, and public vs. private partnerships. EDC is in the process of analyzing and synthesizing the results of the meeting and identifying potential next steps in the planning process.
type full url here ©2002 Education Development Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
 |
Meeting Participants:Joe Donnermeyer Medard Gabel Amy Glasmeier Mr. Chris Hanna Alan Hurwitz Randy Moody Dr. Katherine Nordal Randy Ross Rachel Tompkins Beverly Divers White
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appalachia
for several years; a sociologist whose field of study is criminology
with a focus on rural crime; the Vice President for Programs at
the Foundation for the Mid South, formerly Superintentdent of the
Lee County School District in Marianna, Arkansas; the Director
of the National Children's Center for Rural Agricultural Health
and Safety based in Marshfield, WI; a member of the Ponca Tribe
of Nebraska and expert on issues of technology in rural communities;
and a Mississippi psychologist who, in addition to working with
rural families for over twenty years, has been a senior staff member
for Congressman Mike Espy. 
