The Week of May 12, 2008
Registration Opens for Online Rural Network - The Rural Innovation Network by SRDI is sponsoring info sessions on the features and functions of its online network for rural leaders and their allies on May 6 and May 8. Click here for more.
Picture Slideshow Movies of the African American Heritage, Culture and Tourism Summit Posted –
*Part One: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rb-mkU5wSb0
*Part Two: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hntEyAwQEck
*Part Three: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lkBkwhh-nzg
*Part Four: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ahkUWipPOYQ
Southern Leaders in African American Heritage, Culture and Tourism Meet in Coastal GA - Leaders from NC, GA, AL, and TN met this past weekend to network, share insights, and problem-solve collaboratively. SRDI proudly supported the leadership’s direction through facilitation and coordination roles. SRDI's Program Associate Jamilla Hawkins premiered a digital video on CoastalGA there (see below). Watch the video by clicking here.
View SRDI Policy Director Jason Gray's article on the Daily Yonder: "Rural Development? Maybe in the Next Farm Bill" - Despite serious efforts on the parts of many, there is no increase in rural development funding in the current versions of the farm bill. Click here for the article.
Coastal GA Partner Works With City to Submit a Community Development Block Grant -Darien Mayor Kelly Spratt: “McIntosh SEED, the Rural Community Investment Partnership, the Old River Road Association, the Tidewater Development Company, Thomas Watson of the Southern Rural Development Initiative, volunteers from the Old River Road community, City Councilwomen Karen Clark and Eunice Moore, and the City Staff have partnered to accomplish something for our citizens that they have never had before. If everything is funded, we will see over $1.5 million invested in our community." Click here for more.
African American Heritage and Culture Summit to be Held This Week in Coastal GA - Community partners from CoastalGA, AL, TN, and NC expressed the desire for on-site peer learning exchanges. To that end, SRDI is assisting with the implementation of an African American Heritage and Cultural Summit that will gather rural grassroots leaders working on issues related to African American heritage and culture such as tourism as a vehicle for economic development, leadership and intellectual and cultural property rights. Click here for more.
Experience of SRDI Program Associates Highlighted Through "Digital Storytelling" - SRDI is proud to rely on the assistance and skill of several graduate students this year. One of them, Jamilla Hawkins, created a short film to capture their story. Click this link to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buNgs6IurZs
Lessons Learned by SRDI When the Grassroots Met Business and Government -SRDI Partner McIntosh SEED's work with a local developer led to a groundbreaking agreement. Read what we learned by clicking here.
Past Items:
SRDI Announces the New Members of its Board of Directors - click here for the story
SRDI provides federal funding training in two multi-county areas of SC - conducted training for local leaders in Allendale, Barnwell and BambergCounties in SC on analyzing their federal funding by category and alignment with local priorities. Additionally, training linking federal funds to Earned Income Tax Credits was conducted for neighboring Marlboro, Chesterfield, and Dillon Counties of SC on the following day. Click here for more.
SRDI launches its Rural Innovation Network - for more click here
SRDI announced its hire today of Omisade Burney-Scott as its first Director of Constituent Relations - click here for more
New SRDI Executive Director Named Today - click here for the story
Tom Harkin and National Coalition Leaders Use SRDI Data to Advocate for Rural Issues - click here for the story
Alan McGregor named SRDI Interim Director - click here for the story
SRDI released a report today that documents the pattern of misaligned United States Department of Agriculture funding to rural counties of low wealth and counties that predominantly consist of people of color - click here for the story
SRDI and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) announced today two web-based database policy tools for rural leaders seeking to understand and shape federal policy - click here for more
Kellogg Foundation awards grant to SRDI - click here for the story
NC Community Foundation partnership provides philanthropy training in Martin County, NC - click here for the story
SRDI trains in Minnesota - click here for the story
SRDI welcomes Finance Director Tina Merrill - click here to read her bio along with the other staff of SRDI
SRDI says goodbye to Debby Warren - click here for the story
