The Changing Face of Rural America

The Rural Sociological Society, in connection with the Southern Rural Development Center and three other Regional Rural Development Centers, recently released a series of briefs based on its book, “Challenges for Rural America in the Twenty-First Century.” The six briefs, each drawn from a different chapter, stress the importance of promoting collective community action and developing the capacity of people and organizations to meet the special needs of rural communities. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief1.pdf

The Challenges of Rural Poverty
Focused on the implications of poverty on America's rural families, this brief explores risk factors and rural poverty trends. It offers strategies to boost earnings in rural areas and stresses the importance of keeping in mind the unique, risk-heightening aspects of rural areas. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief2.pdf

Tourism and Amenity-Based Development in Rural Communities
Struggling rural communities often see their natural amenities as an avenue to reinvigorate their economy through tourism. This brief weighs the pros and cons of tourism and amenity-based development and provides guidance on ensuring the economic success of such ventures. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief3.pdf
Competition, Cooperation, and Local Government
A new focus on market competition and decentralization has been overwhelming for many rural communities with limited resources. This brief looks at the opportunities and challenges of decentralization and provides insight for rural communities on cooperative networks, citizen participation and government accountability. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief4.pdf
Written by SRDC director, Lionel J. “Bo” Beaulieu Improving Rural Educational Attainment
Struggling rural communities often see their natural amenities as an avenue to reinvigorate their economy through tourism. This brief weighs the pros and cons of tourism and amenity-based development and provides guidance on ensuring the economic success of such ventures. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief5.pdf
Catalytic Community Development
This brief presents a new “catalytic” model of community development that changes traditional roles of developers in order to more effectively involve rural communities in development efforts. The brief includes six specific characteristics of catalytic development in addition to policy actions needed for its success. View brief: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief6.pdf