Outreach - Center for Rural Studies

Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning

SRDC 2009

Gene L. Theodori, Sam Houston State University

Across the nation, the desire for rural and small town community and economic development stakeholders to solve local problems and reduce socioeconomic disparities is increasingly recognized by state policymakers, local elected officials and citizens. Moreover, the need to attract and retain sufficient levels of human capital in rural areas to improve the overall quality of life is often a major priority for many communities. In the southern United States, county Extension agents (hereafter referred to as CEAs), particularly those located in nonmetropolitan counties, are increasingly being called upon to provide leadership for community and economic development efforts.

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The Center is currently implementing this curriculum in Crockett, Texas with the Mary Allen Museum of African American Art and History, Inc. For more information click here or visit the MAM website here. The project involves empowering the organization to work to with the community in the process of restoring and transforming the Mary Allen College building into a state-of-the-art museum.