We're Becky McCray in Oklahoma and Deb Brown in Mississippi.
Positive change doesn’t require long-term committees, big budgets, or years of planning. Small steps will make the biggest difference for you and your small towns.
Over 2,200 rural people like you have shared their needs and priorities since 2015 on our Survey of Rural Challenges. That's how we know what to help you with: you told us.
Here's how to work with us, to help you along the way.
Find a video that addresses your exact challenge, from refilling your downtown, dealing with negativity and opposition, finding volunteers to retaining young people. All are 30 minutes or less. Find all the videos here.
Dig into bigger challenges with toolkits and short courses online. Tour of Empty Buildings, the Idea Friendly Method, and Revive Your Dead Downtown. Find the toolkits here.
For in person learning, co-founders Deb Brown and Becky McCray deliver keynotes, workshops, and in-depth Idea Friendly Action Visits.
Not sure what to do first? Learn the first 10 steps to making your town Idea Friendly.
No budget, no special knowledge and no official backing required. Just pick one or two to kick off momentum in your town right away.
In cooperation with Mashup Lab
Keep up with rural trends, and hear the latest from respected thought leaders.
These videos, toolkits and programs are designed to help you learn and take action in your own community. Do you serve more than one community? License our programs to run your own group, or bring us in to facilitate live. Let's talk about what fits.
These are the videos to turn to when your downtown needs some help, whether it’s dead in the evenings or just dead! You get ways to bring more life and activity downtown, into the heart of your community.
Too often, the challenge holding us back the most is our own people. Whether they are actively negative or just a little stuck in the past, these videos help you shift some thinking, getting things positive and keeping them there.
Each year, another class of seniors graduates high school and most of them move away. Young families move into town, but they’re busy and don’t seem to get involved. How can small towns attract and retain young people? These videos share practical ideas you can put into action right away.
Housing has gone from a rural advantage to a top challenge. From blight to lack of new housing, each community has different issues. These videos make housing projects easier and share practical information.
Volunteers are burning out. People just don’t step up for traditional volunteer jobs like they used to. With all the other change in society, volunteering has to change, too. These videos share ways to unleash whole new ranks of people and maybe even change your thinking about the chaos that comes with them.
The way we do business in rural areas is not just a mom and pop model anymore. We’re redefining what a business is and what a job is. That means economic development has to change, too. These videos lay out the Innovative Rural Business Models, Rural Jobs Creation Strategies, and more ways to create positive developments and support local businesses.
It’s never been easier to start a local business, but it’s never been more challenging to make it work long term. Learn ways to support local businesses, promote more entrepreneurship and help your community prosper.
Keep up with trends and changes that affect your community. Spot opportunities and get practical steps to build on them.
Access to nature and natural settings is a big rural advantage. Get practical steps to make more of your parks, trails and waters. Learn to grow your food business ecosystem. Even turn empty lots into opportunities.
Your town isn't the only one struggling to come back after a disaster, economic losses or another crisis. This special collection gives you practical steps toward restarting your local economy and being more resilient no matter what the world throws at us next.
Prefer a complete list?
Solve your most pressing challenges in 30 minutes or less
These videos, toolkits and programs are designed to help you learn and take action in your own community. Do you serve more than one community? License our programs to run your own group, or bring us in to facilitate live. Let's talk about what fits.