Kentucky

Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX)

Problem

Communities and institutions speak different languages. Mistrust grows from lack of understanding. Talented locals can't access institutional opportunities; institutional staff lack community grounding.

Solution

The Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange, founded in 2014 as a partnership of Art of the Rural and Appalshop and run as an Art of the Rural initiative, runs a two-year cross-sector cohort that meets at weekend community intensives in two host communities each summer plus a statewide network weekend. In 2025 (its eleventh year) RUX alumni selected 51 Kentuckians from 26 counties; the cohort met in Campbellsville/Taylor County (May 23-25), Morehead/Rowan County (July 18-20) and at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park (September 5-7). The 'Currency of Connection' handbook was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the McKnight Foundation and the founding partners.

Patterns used: Cross-Sector Exchange Fellows

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