In response to COVID-19 and to deliver timely and actionable information, the NC Rural Center has transitioned its upcoming June 2020 Rural Day from an in-person event to a virtual speaker series.
“Rural Talk: An Advocacy Speaker Series” is a five-part webinar hosted by the NC Rural Center's advocacy program, Rural Counts. Rural Talk will bring together the voices, expertise, and perspectives from thought leaders at the national, state and local levels, representing the public, nonprofit, private and philanthropic sectors to discuss critical issues affecting rural North Carolinians – broadband, entrepreneurship and small business development, health, water and wastewater infrastructure, and housing.
Panels will take place at 11 a.m. every Thursday from May 7 through June 4. A moderator will ground each session in the latest data and research surrounding the issue, and expert panelists will then further speak to the issue, policy solutions and local innovations. Each one-hour session will consist of a 45-minute discussion, followed by a question-and-answer period.
The decision to host a virtual speaker series was made with the health and safety of rural advocates in mind. Because of the challenges and disparities rural communities face concerning broadband access, each session will feature a call-in option. Other options are also being explored to make this information more accessible in light of the complex set of challenges presented by COVID-19.
Visit the Advocacy & Research section of the Rural Center website for up-to-date information about session topics, speakers, submit questions for panelists and to register.