GOLDSBORO – The latest edition of the Grassroots Leadership Conference (GLC) will bring together community leaders, volunteers, advocates, elected officials, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for positive community development while celebrating North Carolina’s rural roots.
The conference, sponsored by Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University in partnership with the N.C. A&T Extension Strategic Planning Council, will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 5, at the Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center, 3114 Wayne Memorial Dr., in Goldsboro. The conference is free and open to the public, but attendees must register by Oct. 23. An online registration form is available at www.bit.ly/4i09Y2T.
With the theme “Rural Roots, Connected Communities, A Shared Heritage,” this year’s program will examine the vital role of rural and small-town communities in shaping North Carolina’s economy, culture and governance, explore the experiences and histories that connect small communities, and discover how strong community partnerships can build more resilient communities.
“Our state is unique in that it is growing fast and demographics are changing, but our foundation is rural – small towns and farming communities with shared roots and values,” said Michelle Eley, Ph.D., community and rural development specialist with Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T. “As many sources of outside funding dry up, we need to look at what makes us strong, be creative in community development efforts, and realize we must work together. It’s not ‘my town’ and ‘their town,’ it’s all of us together.”
Eley said that between 2020 and 2025, North Carolina’s population jumped from 10.4 million to 11.2 million, making it the third-fastest-growing state behind Florida and Texas. At the same time, North Carolina has the second-largest rural population behind Texas, with about one in three residents, or about 3.5 million people, living in rural communities.
Through featured speakers, workshops, and opportunities to connect, the GLC aims to provide a space where attendees can learn from each other, share their stories and ideas, and strengthen the networks that help communities thrive. They will hear about community partnerships that have brought new sustainable development to small communities and learn strategies for forming partnerships that can bring new funding and opportunities to their communities.
A conference highlight will be the keynote address by Patrick Woodie, president and chief executive officer of the NC Rural Center. Woodie will share his perspective on key issues and emerging trends that rural communities must understand and address as they plan for the future. His remarks will include critical data that highlight opportunities and challenges shaping rural North Carolina and offer insights to help communities move forward.
For more information, contact Eley or Shania Troxler at (336)334-7946.
