Project REACH

Woman speaking to group

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.

Toolkit icon

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. 

Get the Toolkit

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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.

FAQs

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]