RURAL ROOTS

Rural: The Root of Sustainability

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A GOOD STORY to bring people together and inspire change.  After all, storytelling is the foundation of human communication. Our stories are essential to understanding the values, needs and dreams of individual communities while showcasing the rich fabric of their diversity, cultural identity and ties to the land.

However, over the last several decades, the Oregon story has been divided into a rural narrative and a separate urban narrative. The separation of stories, and therefore communication, has created an imbalance and difficulty to developing solutions that benefit Oregon as a whole, thereby furthering the notion of the “urban/rural” divide.

Travel through Oregon and you will find numerous examples of individuals and groups of people who have developed elegant and innovative solutions to the issues we all face. Solutions that benefit their community, the environment, and economic needs alike. But in rural communities these stories have received little recognition-perhaps because of the physical distance, perhaps because of a culture not likely to promote itself. This leads to the misperception that rural people don’t care about the environment, and therefore sustainability.

In this time of limited resources and changing economies, it is essential that these lines of communication are re-established in order to develop solutions and a living standard so that all of our communities, rural and urban, can thrive.

Through the Rural Roots project, FCA and it’s partners, are working to illuminate the root of sustainability: a rural culture driven by self-reliance, resourcefulness and a deep connection to the land. Designed to connect with urban populations and regional decision makers, through skillful storytelling and amazing photography, the Rural Roots Campaign celebrates rural Oregonians making great environmental and economic contributions to their communities.

Through storytelling, the Rural Roots project will work to shift, in an uplifting manner, urban perceptions about the needs, values and people working to create a strong rural fabric and hopefully, take a step towards re-establishing the united Oregon narrative.

Go to RootofSustainability.org to view the 2008 gallery of Rural Roots honorees, read their stories, and hear their voices.