America’s rural communities are the bedrock of our nation’s economic and fiscal well-being, but they are frequently under-resourced, struggling to gain the attention of policymakers and investors. 

That’s why Achieving the Dream launched Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work, an initiative that aims to increase equitable student success by strengthening rural colleges’ capacity to prepare students for careers in today and tomorrow’s digital economy.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE 

Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work capitalizes on the localness of community colleges as stable, flexible, and respected organizations to catalyze efforts to build socially just and economically prosperous communities.

Following a rigorous application and selection process, seven community colleges were selected to join the first Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work cohort:

• Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
• Clovis Community College – Clovis, NM
• Columbia-Greene Community College – Hudson, NY
• Halifax Community College – Weldon, NC
• Louisiana State University-Eunice – Eunice, LA
• Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
• Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College – Cumberland, KY

The initiative is funded by the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Community Focus Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation, Walmart.org, and Ascendium Education Group.

GOALS

Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work will increase the capacity of rural colleges to succeed with whole-college reform efforts, provide students with the skills needed in today and tomorrow’s workforce, and connect students with careers in the digital economy that pay family-sustaining wages. In addition, the Cohort will work toward narrowing equity gaps and provide academic and personal supports to students.

Participating institutions will help build a deeper understanding across higher education and among policy and funding communities for how rural colleges and their partners can promote the economic mobility of students and the vitality of their communities.