Welcome to Rural Change Makers!

The Program

SELECTION: A group of motivated young adults, between the ages of 18-35, are selected by application from across rural Ontario to address community/self-identified priorities in their region, life or work. A strong network of regional and program partners including community organizations, municipal leaders, workforce planning board, economic development groups, and First Nations- including a collective of 24 northern Ontario Indigenous communities, support change makers on their journey. Regional partners set the stage for local youth recruitment to the RCM program, mentorship, leadership skills training and hyper-local community economic development projects and life stabilizing activities.

PARTICIPATION: Young rural leaders have been engaged with evaluation and co-design of the Rural Change Maker program and directly inform program design and delivery. As a group, successful applicants will undertake a learning journey together, participate in a series of developmental learning labs and come together for face-to-face experiential gatherings supporting them to take action on a challenge/opportunity in their community. Change makers will create LEADERSHIP ACTION PLANS and with the support of coaches, mentors, partners and each other, and will work toward actioning those plans through community or life stabilizing plans and entrepreneurial projects.

SKILLS: Skill development spans 6 months of virtual learning labs, ending with an in-person Ignite Action Lab, followed by 6 months of community economic development, entrapreneural, or life stabilizing activities, culminating with a special graduation ceremony. The whole journey spans 12 months and introduces emerging leaders to over 2500 network connections, new friendships and rural development experiences that are transformative for communities and young leaders.

#RuralOn #RuralChangeMakers #LeadYourFuture

The Experience

Rural Change Makers, using the skills developed, will engage with their communities to address an important priority, challenge or issue. Some Change Makers will choose their own community development pathway. Some will identify unique projects with community and others may wish to work toward existing project goals shared with community organizations and partners.

The People