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The Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together rural leaders from across the US and equips them to build thriving local clean energy futures through inspiration, education, partnerships, and practical technical and funding support.

INSPIRE

Imagine tent revival meets county fair, centered in values including joyful service, sharing power, and getting good things done.

EQUIP

Equip attendees with inspiration, technical support, funding opportunities, partners, and a community of like-minded colleagues.

IMPLEMENT

Get good stuff done in our communities that will help ensure that rural communities and small towns will thrive.

2023 Rural Renaissance Roadshow Recap - Why Bentonville, AR

Rural Renaissance Webinar

This April Groundswell is hosting Keith Dennis, President of the Beneficial Electrification League, and Margarita Parra, Director of Transportation Decarbonization at Clean Energy Works, for an interactive webinar about opportunities and challenges facing rural communities working to take advantage of funding opportunities to electrify fleets in their communities.

The Beneficial Electrification League (BEL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase understanding of the benefits of electrification by promoting the market acceptance of beneficial electrification. BEL's vision is for a future where electrification is broadly implemented, when beneficial, to drive economic development, meet consumer needs, and achieve environmental goals.

Save the Date

The 2024 Rural Reanissance Roadshow happening in Georgia this November 11-14!

  • Nov 11: Opening Dinner & Veterans Celebration
  • Nov 12: Full Program Schedule
  • Nov 13: Technical and Funding Support
  • Nov 14: National Rural Leaders Roundtable

Mothers of the Movement

In honor of Black History Month, we are celebrating legacy, justice, and wisdom in the Environmental Justice Movement. As we continue to advance environmental equity, it is important to honor our elders who have paved the way for us. We are highlighting our “Mothers of the Movement” Dr. Mildred McClain and Dianne Dillon-Ridgley in a two part mini series. We thank them for bringing their wisdom to the Rural Renaissance Roadshow.

Watch Dr. McClain’s full video.

Dr. Mildred McClain, who is also known as Mama Bahati, is a Distinguished Fellow for Movement Elders at Groundswell. Dr. McClain is a 50-year veteran of the People’s Movement for Justice and Self-Determination worldwide. Dianne Dillon-Ridgely is the very definition of a changemaker. In the last forty years Dianne has been a dedicated Environmentalist and Human Rights Activist at the forefront of society's shift from an industrial one to one focused on sustainability.

Highlights

How I Got to Know Fay

Thanks to a suggestion from a former mayor of Fort Wayne, I read a book by Michelle Moore, Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power. Intrigued, I invited the author to be the keynote speaker at the Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference. She said yes!