An online news platform, supported by CMF members, is highlighting the people, projects and innovations driving solutions and shaping the future of rural communities across Michigan.

The Rural Innovation eXchange (RIX), which launched last week, is the latest in a series of community journalism projects supported by Michigan philanthropy.

CMF members serving rural communities plan to share their work through the news publication and change the narrative of rural communities through this storytelling. 

“This type of community-based storytelling offers real people the opportunity to share real stories about their community and allows them to reach out beyond their community in today's digital world,” Joe Williams, president and CEO of Lenawee Community Foundation said. 

Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) recognizes that storytelling and narrative change must be a part of their work. 

“With priority areas of creating vibrant and dynamic communities, retaining and attracting talent and cultivating an environment for business development, telling the story of Huron County authentically is central to those efforts,” Mackenzie Price Sundblad, executive director of HCCF said. 

According to Price Sundblad, a prevailing narrative about rural areas, shared in traditional media outlets, is often inaccurate or authentic.

“It unfairly shapes the perspectives of those who have never experienced our community for themselves. Our goal with participating in RIX is to share the innovative, forward-thinking and creative things happening in our area to spur a greater understanding of rural Michigan and create opportunities to bring rural and urban partners together to exchange ideas and increase collaboration,” Price Sundblad said.  

In Otsego County, the hope is that this work will increase awareness of what is already happening, sparking new conversations and relationships, resulting in progress towards community potential.

“Sometimes it can get lonely in this work, especially in rural Northern areas, however just being a part of the conversations with other community foundations throughout Michigan has been encouraging. I am truly excited to be connected and increase the sharing with and learning from others,” Dana Besinger, executive director of the Otsego Community Foundation, said.  

According to Williams, the hope is that people will gain interest in exploring rural communities more through these stories.

“As we share the attributes and assets of our community and other rural communities, it will allow us to market and entice people who are tired of the city. Rural communities like ours have a lot to offer; telling our story regularly is how we can attract,” Williams said. 

Issue Media Group (IMG), supported by CMF members around the state, powers several other community journal publications that aim to connect readers to their city’s most visionary and active people, businesses and organizations.

IMG has partnered with members of the CMF community, like Midland Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation and Community Foundation of Greater Flint, to create similar newsletters for their communities. 

Other CMF members partnering with RIX include Clare County Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and Gladwin County Community Foundation.

In recognition of the importance of lifting up rural communities and the value of this statewide collaboration, CMF, through advisement of the Community Foundation Committee, has invested funds from the Community Foundation Endowment to support the first year of this effort. 

RIX will convene quarterly advisory listening sessions that will include a cross-section of community thought leaders, entrepreneurs, foundations, developers, nonprofits, artists and grassroots organizations to inform coverage and strengthen the network of organizations interested in advancing rural communities.

Want more?

Read more about the Rural Innovation eXchange. 

Subscribe to the Rural Innovation eXchange newsletters.