There is much talk these days about the “urban-rural” divide in America. The term generally refers to the social, economic, and political disparities between urban and rural areas. Joining us today is Dr. Amon Crouch who, in a presentation entitled“ThePower of Place: Partner forRural Impact’s Mission of Improving Outcomes for Rural Students”, will discuss the efforts of his organization, Partners for Rural Impact, to address some of these disparities.
Dr. Couch is a first-generation college graduate and a lifelong resident of eastern Kentucky. He spent nearly three decades in public education as a teacher and administrator, most recently as principal and superintendent. After retiring from public education, he went to work for Partners for Rural Impact(PRI)where he currently serves as associate Vice-President of National Place-Based Programming. He also serves as co-interim Vice President of PRI’s National Place-Based Program, providing leadership and support to a diverse group of grant programs in Kentucky, Texas, and Missouri, all with the goal of increasing educational outcomes for rural students.
PRI is a national non-profit headquartered in Berea, Kentucky, whose mission it is to ensure that all rural youth ages 0-24 are on a path to upward mobility. Using a cradle-to-career and place-based approach, we, as a national intermediary, operate at the local, state, and national levels to accelerate outcomes for the 14 million children and youth living in rural America. Its work is based on three pillars of activity:
- Increasing access to high-quality programs and supports
- Strengthening civic infrastructure so that residents and local organizations can come together to improve outcomes
- Driving resources in rural communities to shape a shared narrative, and advocating for policy changes at the state and local levels.
PRI was in the news in January of this year, as Dreama Gentry, its CEO, announced that the organization she founded is receiving a $1.5 million grant from the BlackRock Foundation. The grant is a two-year commitment. With respect to the grant, Ms. Gentry noted “PRI can better support. . . rural leaders and practitioners, connecting them with resources and opportunities as they work to ensure all young people within their communities as a pathway to success.”
Please give a warm Rotary welcome to Dr. Amon Crouch!
Rotary in Review
PARTNERS FOR RURAL IMPACT IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR ALL
I am continuously impressed at the quality of speakers that we are blessed to have at the RotaryClub of Lexington. But last week’s presentation from Partners for Rural Impact (PRI)focused on an organization whose sole purpose is to provide a better future for the youth in our communities.Since my family and I have devoted much of our time to similar missions,I was excited to learn of yet another path for children. Executive Director and Associate Vice-President of NationalPlace-Based Programming of PRIAmon Couch began by telling us of his upbringing in easternKentucky. He served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent prior to joining PRI. PRI is a national non-profit, headquartered in Berea, Kentucky, whose mission it is to ensure that all rural youth ages 0-24 are on a path to upward mobility.
What makes PRI unique is that although its mission is directed to rural youth, its programs are inclusive of both suburban and urban communities.He was inspired by Dreama Gentry, CEO ofPRI, and hoped to eventually work for her organization. There are 14.2 million children living in rural environments. He learned that the outcome for ALL children should not be determined by their zip code or anything else that is out of their control. PRI hosts leadership conferences for rural children on the campuses of universities and he shared a note received from one of the student attendees. That note simply but eloquently said,“Thank you for giving me hope.”
Dr. Couch shared with us that he has one grandchild and another on the way and he stated it is more important than ever for him to help build systems, processes and policies for all children to have a path to success. He believes that all parents want their children to have a better life than the one they had. The impact of the work of PRI is to help every organization (schools, YMCA,Big Brothers/Big Sisters, etc.)to do what they do, but “better and more”.They have a “Theory ofAction” to create and build on what currently exists to strengthen capacity, and share an exemplar(model) to build better outcomes for rural youth.
He showed a picture from just this past that captured the extent to which his organization will goto make a difference. The photo was of a member of their organization using a john boat in eastern Kentucky to deliver supplies and food to folks cut off by the floods there.
In concluding his presentation, he commented that his organization is about building partnerships both public and private in order to provide resources to grow PRI. He left us with a testament about Appalachian people and how they live a Rotary-like life, a life of service to one another. He was preaching to the choir today.