Rural Voice 2025 to Explore Mental Health, Social Isolation
Central Minnesotans are invited to attend Rural Voice 2025, a town-hall style event focused on mental health and social isolation and how we can find more joy, connection and community-building opportunities. The event starts at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, at Drastic Measures Brewing in Wadena.
Moderated by Minnesota Public Radio’s Kerri Miller, the evening will highlight shared stories, local wisdom and collective hopes—all aimed at building stronger, more united rural towns. The event is free and open to all with pizza and wings served at 5 p.m. and the community conversation running from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A reception will follow.
The impact won’t stop with the Rural Voice conversation. The Initiative Foundation, working in partnership with The Sowing Room and Project Optimist, will lead follow-on events in October to further explore how rural communities can build bridges, spark more joy and connection, and generate local opportunity.
Upcoming events include:
6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at The Depot, 100 Aldrich Ave. SW, Wadena. Register here.
10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Long Prairie Country Club, 406 6th St SE, Long Prairie. Register here.
With generous funding support from Sourcewell, the Initiative Foundation is offering nearly $40,000 in grants for projects in Region 5 communities (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties) with populations of 5,000 or less. The grants will focus on ideas that emerge from the Sept. 15 Rural Voice town hall conversation or the October follow-up events.
The grant program is part of the Foundation’s broader strategy to strengthen communities across Central Minnesota. It complements other initiatives, including Joy & Connection grants and the re-launch of the organization’s Thriving Communities Initiative, which provide multiple ways for residents to get involved in building a stronger future.
“Rural Voice 2025 is more than a town hall—it’s a launchpad for action,” said Amy Trombley, vice president for community at the Initiative Foundation. “Through shared purpose and joyful connection, we’re creating a space where great ideas can grow into meaningful projects that strengthen rural life.”
The Wadena Rural Voice event is one of four Greater Minnesota stops. The complete 2025 Rural Voice Town Hall schedule is as follows:
Sept. 3—Tribal Rights (Cloquet)
Sept. 8—How Immigration has Worked (Willmar)
Sept. 15—Mental Health and Social Isolation (Wadena)
Sept. 29—Rural Healthcare and Mental Health (Owatonna)
Each Rural Voice town hall conversation will be recorded for broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio about a week after each event.
For more details or to register, visit ruralvoice.org.