Project REACH
Build the skills you need to successfully advocate for improved health in your rural community.
Project REACH (Rural Experts Advancing Community Health) is a year-long program that provides community leaders in rural Minnesota with health policy and leadership training. Participants will learn to frame health policy challenges and how to communicate effectively with state legislators and other policymakers.
The Community-Centered Policy Impact Toolkit
Originally designed for Project REACH to guide rural community leaders as they navigate the policy process and make an impact in their communities, the strategies outlined may be broadly useful to those aiming to influence policy and improve local health and well-being. The toolkit follows an example of the policy work completed by Ann Bussey, a member of the first cohort of the Project REACH program.
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What you’ll get
Skill-building
Identify a local challenge, build leadership skills to address it, and develop and share a policy proposal with relevant decision makers.
Mentorship
Throughout the program, you’ll have access to mentorship from University of Minnesota faculty and staff.
Dissemination opportunities
You may have opportunities to publish or present your work during the program.
Travel costs covered
For trainings and/or meetings and program materials.
Stipend
$1,200 stipend.
Certificate of completion
Upon program completion.
Total time commitment: Approximately 8–10 hours a month.
Participants: 2025-26
Learning partners
Dr. Ryan Allen
Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Dr. Lynn Blewett
School of Public Health
Dr. Zobeida Bonilla
School of Public Health
Devon Charlier
Upper Midwest Agricultural and Safety Health Center
Kirsten Cruikshank
Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team
Kiara Ellis
Masonic Cancer Center
Alyssa Fritz
Rural Health Research Center
Dr. Abby Gold
UMN Extension Center for Family Development
Joel Haskard
UMN Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith
School of Public Health
Dr. Julia Interrante
Rural Health Research Center
Dr. Mary Jo Katras
UMN Extension Center for Family Development
Dr. Katy Kozhimannil
School of Public Health
Megan Lahr
Rural Health Research Center
Dr. Eric Lind
Center for Transportation Studies
Dr. Lacey Loomer
UMN Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics
Dr. Hannah MacDougall
School of Social Work
Dr. Laura Palombi
UMN Duluth College of Pharmacy
Maddy Pick
Rural Health Research Center
Jodi Tervo Roberts
Rural Health Research Center
Megan Schossow
Upper Midwest Agricultural and Safety Health Center
Dr. Kyle Shelton
Center for Transportation Studies
Dr. Nathan Shippee
School of Public Health
Laurissa Stigen
College of Nursing
Mariana Tuttle
Rural Health Research Center
Dr. Lindsey Weiler
College of Education and Human Development
Contact
Katie Rydberg, MPH
Program Manager
Rural Health Research Center
[email protected]