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Juniata College to Host Inaugural Rural Rising Symposium on Grassroots Innovation

(Posted March 5, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Juniata College is proud to present Rural Rising, an inaugural symposium dedicated to showcasing grassroots innovation in rural communities. This daylong event, funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, will bring community members, nonprofit leaders, and experts together to explore creative solutions to challenges faced by rural areas.  

This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Sill Boardroom, von Liebig Center for Science at Juniata College, and is organized by Amanda Page, associate professor of English, and Territa Poole, associate professor of psychology.  

“Rural Rising is an opportunity for community members, scholars, and change-makers to connect and learn from one another,” said Page. “This symposium highlights the resilience and creativity of rural communities and provides tangible strategies for continued growth.” 

The symposium will offer participants a valuable opportunity to engage with a diverse lineup of speakers and take part in interactive sessions. 

Keynote speaker Matthew Hoagland, planning director of Alamance County, N.C., and author of Think Small: A Millennial’s Guide to Building a Meaningful Life in Rural America, will open the symposium with a discussion of strategies for revitalizing rural towns to attract young adults. Local municipal and civic leaders will participate in a community panel to highlight success stories and strategies for fostering sustainable community development.  

“By bringing together voices from across different sectors, Rural Rising will spark new ideas and collaborations that empower rural communities to thrive,” said Poole. 

Cory Holding, a writing professor at the University of Pittsburgh and organizer of the Pitt Prison Education Project, will lead participants in a hands-on grant writing workshop to gain skills to secure funding for community initiatives.  

A closing reception will highlight community engagement projects, including a new oral history initiative, presented by Juniata students.  

Early bird registration for the Rural Rising symposium is $20 if completed before Monday, March 10, and standard registration is $25 after that date. To register or learn more, visit https://more.juniata.edu/conferences/registration/form.html?camp_id=350 or contact Amanda Page at page@juniata.edu. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.