Seeing the trend of work-from-home opportunities increasing throughout the US, Rural Community Alliance’s Just and Thriving Remote Futures Initiative hopes to bring remote work opportunities to students in rural communities throughout Arkansas. After listening to a diverse group of young people across the state, this initiative will tap into the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of their students to get them the support they need to be able to stay local and work successfully from home. This initiative elevates the voices of rural youth in the larger conversation of remote work and creates mechanisms, using both digital and pop-up gatherings, for youth to design the learning experiences, networks, and programs they need to succeed in remote careers.
“Rural youth have an enormous stake in the future of remote work and their voices and aspirations should be centered in the planning and implementation of state and national programs,” says Sara Bishop, co-imagineer of Reimagine Arkansas. “By flipping the usual top-down feedback model, Reimagine’s listening and text-based portal processes can ensure school-to-career remote pathways reflect and are accountable to the needs of youth in rural communities.”
For more information about Rural Community Alliance and the Just and Thriving Remote Futures Initiative, visit thenewrural.org. You can also learn about their partner organization Reimagine Arkansas at reimaginearkansas.com.
