Welcome 2024 Rural Change Makers!
The Journey
Follow the journey of 2024-25 Rural Change Makers.
The Program
SELECTION: Up to 36 motivated young adults, between the ages of 18-35, are selected from across Ontario to address community identified priorities in their region. Over 35 regional and program partnerships with a network of community organizations, 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 and coaching, leadership skills training and hyper-local community economic development projects.
PARTICIPATION: Rural Change Makers and emerging leaders have been engaged with evaluation and co-design of the Rural Change Maker leadership program. As a group, successful applicants will undertake a learning journey together, participate in a series of developmental learning labs and come together for a face-to-face experiential gatherings supporting them to take action on a challenge/opportunity in their community. Change makers will create SMART Action plans and with the support of coaches, mentors, partners and each other, will work toward actioning those plans through community and entrepreneurial projects.
SKILLS: Skill development spans 4 months of learning labs, followed by an Ignite practicum event and culminating with 6 months of community economic development activities. 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.
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
ROI is excited to announce the 2024 Community Change Makers! These incredible young leaders have begun a leadership journey packed full of specialized leadership skills training, enriching experiential learning activities, impactful new community development frameworks, tools and youth exchange opportunities!
Change Makers do incredible things and bring their own lived experiences and unique perspectives to build meaningful outcomes with their communities.
The 2024 change makers represent over 25 rural communities from throughout Ontario, a network reaching more than 2500 connections with each other, partners, organizations and community members.
Thank you to the over 35 regional and program partners coming alongside youth on their program journey including:
- Community Futures Huron serving Huron County,
- Opiikapawiin Services LP (OSLP) representing a collective of 24 northern Ontario First Nations,
- Haliburton-Minden Hills community collective including over 20 businesses, leaders, organizations, farmers and educators,
- TRENVAL Business Development Corporation,
- Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation,
- Renfrew County Economic Development,
- Haliburton County Development Corporation, and
- Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
Discover recent community change Makers.
Applications Re-open Spring 2026. Apply to be the next face of change in your community!
Are you interested in making a difference in your rural community?
Are you between 18 and 35 and live in rural Ontario? Do you want to be part of a network of Rural Change Makers from across the province?
If you answered yes, we invite you to apply to the 2026 Rural Change Maker Program.
Applications re-open Spring 2026.
Who's Listening
ROI Communications & Program Manager
Congratulations 2023 Rural Change Makers
Saturday September 7, 2024 marked the incredibly successful Rural Ontario Youth Summit in Belleville, Ontario and celebrated graduates of the 2023 Rural Change Makers program! We are honoured to have joined you on this incredible journey over the past 12 months and are excited to see where you lead in the future! You have each earned the distinction of Rural Change Maker!
Fall
The adventure begins
The 2024 RCM journey begins with a welcome session and special Youth Summit event.
Learning Journey
Learning labs commence in October and are delivered every other week (8 total) until Februrary 2025.
Mar.
Ignite action lab
An inter-regional gathering putting learned skills to action where changemakers begin to envision the necessary steps to lead community & economic development projects.
Mar. - Aug.
Community Economic Development Activities
Change Makers lead action on SMART plans for rural development projects with communities. Community projects can range from entrepreneural or social enterprise, to existing or new initiatives. Community activities are lead by change makers and supported by monthly coaching sessions with program staff, mentors, peers and community leaders.
Fall
Graduation
Change Makers will celebrate then end of their community development journey with family and friends.
Program Impact
- Skill Development 93%
- Increased Rural Retention 72%
- Making a Difference 78%
- Increased Community Connectedness 91%
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