Run4Rural Public Leadership Two-Day Training

In Minnesota, on average 1 in 21 individuals need to serve in positional leadership (local government or nonprofit) in their lifetime. In west central Minnesota, demand is higher, reaching 1 in 9 individuals in Wilkin and Stevens Counties, 1 in 8 in Traverse County, and 1 in 7 in Grant County—classifying nearly half of our region as “leadership distressed.” West Central Initiative aims to strengthen rural democracy by helping residents meet these demands through the Rural Democracy program. We’re offering training to individuals who are considering running for office, engaging historically excluded groups in civic processes, and supporting local leaders. Run4Rural is our 1 ½ day public leadership training program designed for people interested in growing and strengthening their local communities through elected office and other forms of public leadership. This nonpartisan training will be useful for existing and emerging rural leaders and people active in their community whether or not they have decided to run for office.