Experience the inspiring conclusion to the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow. Join Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore as she reveals the story and vision behind one of the event’s primary graphics—a symbol of hope, community, and progress for rural America. Hear directly from attendees as they share reflections about how the Roadshow impacted them and their communities, fostered new connections, and sparked innovative ideas for rural revitalization. Don’t miss this powerful closing moment that celebrates the spirit and achievements of the 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.

Join us for a keynote panel by speakers who have a resolute commitment to rebuild Rural America, which they explored together as the lunchtime keynote panel at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow. Tony Pipa (Brookings Institution) will lead Al Puchala (CapZone), Kyle Bridgeforth (Bridgeforth Farms), and Chéri Smith (Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy) spoke in this discussion titled Rural Resilience & Renewal: Maximizing the Opportunities amid Turbulence & Uncertainty.

Andrew Freear, Director of Auburn University’s acclaimed Rural Studio, kicked off the Rural Renaissance Roadshow with an opening keynote address on resilience by design – the theme of this year’s Roadshow.

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...

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.

Join Groundswell’s Senior Vice President of Community Development, Marketing, and Communications, Matthew Wesley Williams, along with guest speakers Mandy Mahoney (CEO, MahoneyOne), Jayceey Sebastian (District 4 Councilman, City of South Fulton), and Brooke Williams (Principal Engineer, Southern Company), for a dynamic conversation on the community-strengthening power of resilience hubs.