1. Rural Community Alliance Education QualityAccessibility Community Engaged Revitalized Policy Member- driven State-wide

2. Community revitalization basics: Total community participation Builds on the past Focuses On the future

3. What’s involved? Education Natural Resources Community Services Arts & Heritage Economic Development Presentation, Marketing, Networking

4. Youth & the Community Young people are the future of any community. To be successful, a community needs the energy and creativity of its youth. They must be educated about the importance of community, and they must be purposefully included in all activities of the community. RCA’s Community Revitalization Process includes special provisions for Youth Development activities that include youth microenterprises and youth philanthropy.

5. Who decides? You do!

6. Community input: Surveys Community Forums Focus Groups

7. The process Survey the community Community assessment forum Focus group meetings Visioning & strategic planning forum Write strategic plan Begin implementing projects

8. Rural Community Alliance’s role Organize Community Engage participation Facilitate meetings Provide training Help Find Resources Information Funding sources Technical assistance

9. Our partners:  Arkansas Rural Education Association  Arkansas Game and Fish  Arkansas Economic Development Commission  Arkansas Department of Rural Services  FORGE  USDA Rural Services  Department of Arkansas Heritage  Planning & Development Districts  Rural School & Community Trust  Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Arkansas Community Foundation

10. Expected outcomes Local school Regional marketing Businesses Services Youth opportunity Recreation sites Heritage preservation Environment preserved Infrastructure Area beautifi- cation