Building rural leadership today to reduce poverty tomorrow

When it comes to creating a thriving community, community members themselves are the key to success. The Horizons program taps the ability of communities to create hope and economic prosperity.

Horizons is an 18-month program of leadership education, community discussion, visioning and action for rural communities. In 2008 Horizons added 13 more communities, now reaching 34 Minnesota rural towns, and has engaged thousands of Minnesotans in a vision for the future of their communities. Horizons communities receive training, support and resources that strengthen community leadership and begin a discussion about poverty and the future of the community. Eligible communities have populations up to 5,000 and have poverty rates of 10% or more.

Become a Horizons Community! Contact us. We'll help you decide if it's right for your town.

Extension is the Minnesota delivery organization for Horizons, a seven-state initiative of The Northwest Area Foundation.

Horizons communities engage in four activities throughout the 18-month program:

• Study Circles – In each Horizon community, groups will be organized to discuss their community, poverty and a plan for action using the Everyday Democracy program.
• Leadership Plenty® – Community members will receive nine sessions of leadership training.
• Community Visioning – Neighbors will come together to create a shared vision and a plan for poverty reduction.
• Community Action – With help from Horizons and its partners, communities build needed skills and move their plan forward. Read about Extension programs.

Contact Information

Monica Herrera Program Director, Horizons Office: 612-624-7649 Cell: 612-418-5597 herre066@umn.edu toll free: 1-866-407-4906