Writer: Kathleen Phillips, 979-845-2872, ka-phillips@tamu.edu
Contact: Ronnie McDonald, 979-845-7808, r-mcdonald@tamu.edu
LUFKIN — Leaders from around the state will learn how to weave a regional narrative as part of building stronger communities at the Texas Rural Leadership Program conference June 20-22 at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center, 601 N. Second St., Lufkin.
“We invite all who are interested in meeting fellow Texans who are building vibrant communities through creative visioning and inclusive leadership,” said Ronnie McDonald, Texas Rural Leadership Program director.
The program, a collaborative partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, teaches various skills to teams in local communities, which then convene classes for local residents to further those skills and complete projects to help their communities.
Registration, which may be completed at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/RuralLeadership, ranges from $125 to $375 based on selected options.
Two concurrent pre-conference offerings will be available 1-5 p.m. June 20: Twice Blessed: Rural Church/Community Strategies by Luther Snow of Decorah, Iowa, author of The Organization of Hope: A Workbook for Rural Asset-Based Community Development; and Leading in Rural America: A Texas Rural Leadership Program overview by the organization’s board.
The conference will begin at 5 p.m. June 20 with opening remarks by the board’s president, Dr. John Cooper of College Station, Texas Forest Country Partnership spokesman Jerry Huffman Lufkin, Lufkin City Councilman Robert Shankle and members of the Angelina County Commissioner’s Court.
Carlos Bullock, Alabama Coushatta Tribe spokesperson, will present Preserving a Community’s Part while Building Its Future: The Importance of Storytelling; McDonald will introduce Table Talk: Weaving a Regional Narrative; and San Augustine County Judge Samye Johnson will discuss Servant Leadership.
On June 21, the general session will begin at 8:30 a.m. with Reviving the Spirit of Community by Rev. Dr. Nandra Perry of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Hearne. Brandon Dodd, owner of Lloyd’s Body Shop in Upshur County, will present Sitting a Spell: Building Community Relations.
Morning concurrent sessions include: Using What We’ve Got to Get What We Want, Capacity Building, and Building Assets.
Dr. David Summers, University of Houston-Victoria professor of rural economic development, will keynote the luncheon with his address Economic Development in Rural Communities — Where are People Willing to Cross the Line?
Afternoon breakout sessions include: Building Healthy Counties through Appreciative Inquiry, Leading Communities with Stories, New Stories for Youth in Marginalized Neighborhoods, Brookshire Brothers — Rural Community Business Focus, and Building on the Power of People in Poverty.
On June 22, Dr. Shao-Chee Sim, Episcopal Health Foundation vice president for applied research, will open the general session at 9 a.m. with his presentation Refining Rural Health.
Concurrent sessions that day include: Community Engagement for Rural Health Improvement, Writing your Community’s Economic Health Story and Impact of Forestry on Rural Texas.
Servant Leadership awards will be presented at the concluding luncheon.
For more information about Texas Rural Leadership Program or the conference, see http://trlp.tamu.edu.
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