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NEWSLETTER
Groundswell’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow to Kick-Off with Celebration of Rural Communities Featuring Nashville Musician Jervis Campbell
The Auburn/Opelika community will play host to an exciting kickoff event as acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jervis Campbell takes the stage at Auburn University’s Alfa Pavilion on November 10, setting the tone for Groundswell’s 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow. This highly anticipated gathering will bring together 200 leaders and innovators from across the region to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and fuel the growth of hard-working rural communities.
September 30, 2025
PODCASTS
The Groundswell Way: Episode 1 — Spinning Plates in a Hurricane with Special Guest Michelle Moore
We’re excited to announce the launch of The Groundswell Way podcast, a new series that explores what resilience means for communities across the country, and how neighbors are coming together to co-create solutions that work.
The Groundswell Way Series Trailer
The Groundswell Way is a podcast about building community power through community development for wholistic resilience. Hosted by Matthew Wesley Williams, Senior Vice President of Community Development at Groundswell, this series dives into what resilience means, and what it really takes to build the everyday conditions that are built under blue skies and proven in storms.
BLOG POSTS & NEWSLETTER
The Groundswell Way Podcast | Episode 2: The Westside Resilience Corridor
What does real resilience look like when a community comes together to design its own future? In this special episode of The Groundswell Way podcast, we travel to Atlanta’s historic Westside, home to the legacies of civil rights, faith, and community power, to explore the Westside Resilience Corridor: a living model for resilience, self-determination, and collaboration.
Join Rural Leaders for Insight, Resources at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow
Starting on November 10, you are invited to join rural leaders from across the U.S. to meet with change makers and rural leaders who are actively building more resilient communities during Groundswell’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama.
Rural Renaissance Roadshow 2025: Building Resilience and Getting Good Stuff Done Together
The countdown is on! In just 18 days, rural leaders, innovators, and community champions will gather in Opelika, Alabama for the Rural Renaissance Roadshow (Nov. 10–12, 2025) – and we want YOU to be a part of it!
Invitation from the CEO: A Call to Unity
It’s a tough time to talk about unity, but that word has been on my heart since the beginning of this year. We all know “a house divided cannot stand,” but how can we begin to put the pieces back together again?
Groundswell’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow to Kick-Off with Celebration of Rural Communities Featuring Nashville Musician Jervis Campbell
The Auburn/Opelika community will play host to an exciting kickoff event as acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jervis Campbell takes the stage at Auburn University’s Alfa Pavilion on November 10, setting the tone for Groundswell’s 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow. This highly anticipated gathering will bring together 200 leaders and innovators from across the region to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and fuel the growth of hard-working rural communities.
Centering People in Resilience: Reflections from My Summer with the CRHI
Across Indiana, communities are facing the realities of more frequent flooding, heat waves, and other climate-related impacts. This summer, I had the privilege of being a McKinney Climate Fellow with the Environmental Resilience Institute in partnership with Groundswell. My work centered on advancing the planning of Community Resilience Hubs across the state—spaces designed not only to serve as refuges during power outages and emergencies, but also to strengthen and support communities in their daily lives.
Launching the Westside Resilience Corridor: Building Community Power on Atlanta’s Westside
Four historic churches in Southwest Atlanta are coming together with Groundswell, Georgia Power, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), and the City of Atlanta to launch the Westside Resilience Corridor — a groundbreaking collaboration to strengthen community resilience, expand access to clean energy, and lower energy costs for local families.
The Groundswell Way Podcast Launches: Episode 1 — Spinning Plates in a Hurricane
We’re excited to announce the launch of The Groundswell Way podcast, a new series that explores what resilience means for communities across the country, and how neighbors are coming together to co-create solutions that work.
You’re Invited!
This fall, rural leaders from across the country will gather in Opelika, Alabama, for an unforgettable experience of connection, collaboration, and community power. The 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, hosted by Groundswell, is more than a conference – it’s a catalyst for action. Join more than 200 local leaders working to design resilient futures rooted in local leadership and lasting impact.
What do a Farmer, an Investment Banker, and a Former Diplomat Have in Common?
Quite a lot, as it turns out, including a resolute commitment to rebuild Rural America, which they’ll explore together as the lunchtime keynote panel at this year’s Roadshow.
VIDEOS
Rural Resilience 2025: Community-Driven Resilience Planning
Join Groundswell and ERI for a webinar showcasing strategies to ensure local communities are in the driver's seat when designing resilience strategies for their community. Groundswell and Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute’s (ERI) joint webinar discussing Groundswell’s approach to human-first community resilience and how we’ve partnered with ERI to train the 2025 McKinney Climate Fellows...
Introducing SolMate by Groundswell
Join Groundswell Director of Subscriber Services Rashad Williams as he talks about how SolMate by Groundswell makes it easier for community solar providers to manage the subscriber experience.
Rural Resilience 2025: Celebrating 100 Home Upgrades
Groundswell is celebrating our 100th home repair through the Save On Utilities Long-term (SOUL) program, and the first in Alabama. Join us for a special webinar highlighting how the SOUL program is cutting electricity bills by 30% or more for families in the rural South while preserving housing and strengthening communities.
EVENTS
2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow
Groundswell’s annual Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together rural leaders from across the U.S. to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and bring resources back to hard-working communities. The Roadshow equips attendees to build strong, locally led futures through inspiration, education, and hands-on sessions, including opportunities to learn more about funding and technical support. This year, we’re heading to Opelika, Alabama, where attendees will spend two and a half days connecting and seeing the work in action.
PRESS RELEASES
Groundswell’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow to Kick Off with Celebration of Rural Communities Featuring Nashville Musician Jervis Campbell
Press Release
The Auburn/Opelika community will play host to an exciting kickoff event as acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jervis Campbell takes the stage at Auburn University's Alfa Pavilion on November 10, setting the tone for Groundswell's 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow. This highly anticipated gathering will bring together 200 leaders and innovators from across the region to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and fuel the growth of hard-working rural communities.
Westside Resilience Corridor Launched to Strengthen Community, Increase Energy Efficiency and Expand Energy Access
Press Release
Today, four Southwest Atlanta Churches – West Hunter Street Baptist, Providence Missionary Baptist, Community Church Atlanta and the Vicars Community Center, and Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church – announce the launch of the Westside Resilience Corridor to strengthen community resilience in Westside Atlanta by aligning their ministries and partnering with Groundswell.
Groundswell Issues RFP for Solar Developers to Expand Community Solar Across the Southeast
Press Release
Groundswell, a nonprofit that builds community power, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking experienced solar developers to advance the Southeast Rural Power, Solar for All program.
Rural Renaissance Roadshow Coming to Opelika, AL November 10-12
Press Release
The 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow is coming to Opelika, Alabama, November 10-12, bringing together more than 200 local leaders from across the nation focused on rural resilience in energy, food, water, and healthy housing systems.