Making Waves Meeting People Where They Are

Every year, National Rural Health Day is a chance to recognize and celebrate the dedicated efforts of rural health advocates and partners working to improve rural life. On November 20, 2025, The Rural Impact celebrated with something special, a live, story-driven event that lifted the voices behind The Rural Effect.   

Over the past two years, over a dozen Community-Based Organizations across Massachusetts led bold, creative, community-rooted work that rippled across 143 rural towns, resulting in expanded access, stronger trust, and lasting local change.  

Rural Impact Host and Creator, as well as Rural Effect producer and storyteller, Michelle Rathman, brought together rural leaders who expanded access, belonging, and opportunity, along with staff from community benefit organizations reaching the most remote corners of the state, and leaders from the New England Rural Health Association advancing rural health equity, to share their stories in a special livestream event.   

As we kick off a new year with a keen focus on tracking rural health transformation and other policies that impact over 60 million people, we invite you to listen to this special episode.    

Every conversation offered something valuable, insight, hope, inspiration, and a reminder that rural communities hold extraordinary potential, and indeed are the #powerofrural.   

Special thanks to Kirby Lecy, Jennifer Kimball, Ezekiel Baskin, Sarah Garvin, and Brea Corsaro.