In keeping with NREA’s 2022 conference theme, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team (EDIT) will sponsor an informal book study this summer on Raising Rural: A Fair Chance for a Good Life, we will read Sarah Frey’s The Growing Season – How I Built a New Life – and Saved an American Farm. Using Frey’s narrative as a catalyst for discussions, we will explore creative and cooperative action around three strands: community, agency, and creativity from diverse perspectives. We will meet via Zoom in June, July, and August from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST – on the second Monday of each month. Participants are not required to attend every session. Come as you are, whenever you can!

For more information please contact NREA via email.

The growing diversity of the rural population over the past decade reflects uneven growth and decline among America’s racial and ethnic groups. If each racial group grew (or declined) at the same rate, the racial composition of rural America would remain invariant over time. But this has not been the case.

In part, the recent uptick in racial diversity in rural America is a consequence of the White population decline. Rural America remains predominately non-Hispanic White with 35 million White residents constituting 76 percent of the rural population according to the 2020 Census. This represents a decline from 79.8 percent in 2010. There are roughly 2.0 million fewer rural Whites in 2020 than in 2010. In contrast, the number of rural residents who are members of a racial or ethnic minority increased to 11 million between 2010 and 2020, which is 24.0 percent of the nonmet­ropolitan population compared to 20.2 percent in 2010. Working in demographic concert, White population decline coupled with widespread minority population growth is gradually transforming the racial and ethnic composition of rural and small-town America.