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Welcome to the Global Network! |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 18:00 |
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Overall Concept The idea for a Global Rural Network has evolved as a result of a dialogue that began almost a decade ago in 1999 between several individuals: Rick Smyre, a noted futurist who specializes in the emerging field of community transformation; Robin Pulver, past Vice President of the NC Rural Center and architect of the NC Step program that is connected to the Global Rural Network; and Phil Sharre, Director of Community Development for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The goal of the GRN is to develop an international network of interested rural individuals and organizations who would 
| Share ideas with each other Be involved in research and development projects to help prepare rural areas for a constantly changing future, and Develop a community culture that will support continuous innovation.
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There are three objectives of the GRN: Establish multiple parallel capacity building processes (e.g. broadband infrastructures, 21st century neighborhood networks, Transformational Learning, etc ) that support the ability of a local rural area to transform itself in ways that are aligned with a constantly changing society; and
- Create interlocking networks at all levels ( intra and intercommunity; intra and interstate; and international ) to design and implement research and development projects that develop capacities for rural transformation.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 December 2008 15:40 )
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 18:34 |
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| As a parallel effort to the NC Step Project sponsered by the North Carolina Rural Center in Raleigh, NC a collaboration was established with the Center for Communities of the Future (COTF) to develop the Global Rural Network (GRN), a network of rural leaders in all fifty states and ten other countries interested in preparing their communities for a different kind of future that is constantly changing. Communities of the Future is a network of individuals and organizations in forty-six states and six other countries who are involved with helping to develop new ideas and methods for the emerging field of community transformation. The Center for Communities of the Future is located in Gastonia, NC and is responsible for recruiting people and organizations interested in identifiying new trends and weak signals and collaborating to develop community research and develp transformational projects. During 2008, individuals and organizations in eighteen states and four other countries were recruited. By the end of 2009, it is expected that connections in twenty additional rural areas in the U.S. and three other countries will be made. By the end of 2010, the intent is that the GRN network will include representatives from all fifty states and ten countries. |  |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 December 2008 19:05 )
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