IU Center for Rural Engagement

05/27/2026

Can you guess where this is? Hint: This rural Indiana town is famous for its spring festival celebrating the flowering trees that line its streets, parks, and neighborhoods each year.

05/26/2026

The McKinney Family Foundation has launched the Robert H. McKinney Legacy Prize, a new $250,000 award that recognizes partnerships in rural Indiana that are working together to strengthen their communities.

Priority will be given to applicant partnerships and projects that bring together nonprofits, farmers, businesses, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders to create lasting impact and improve quality of life across their region.

Applications are open through July 31.

Learn more and apply:

Made with Framer

05/26/2026

Student musicians from rural communities across Indiana came together through the Jacobs Virtual Academy this year, culminating in a day of collaboration, learning, and performance at IU’s Musical Arts Center.

Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Beech Grove City Schools Brown County Schools Brown County High School Brown County High School Bands Brown County High School Choirs

05/26/2026

Through his work at Beck’s Mill, IU senior Barry Swigart discovered how interpretation can help people connect more deeply with place and community. This summer, he’ll continue that work through a National Park Service internship at St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Wisconsin.

Read Barry's story at go.iu.edu/Wt7CGf.

Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington

05/22/2026

At the 2026 IU Rural Conference, the IU Center for Rural Engagement honored five outstanding individuals and partnerships for their collaborative impact and commitment to strengthening rural communities across Indiana.

Meet the awardees at go.iu.edu/7cisR8.



IU College of Arts and Sciences Washington County Community Foundation Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Daviess County Historical Society Museum Odon Town Hall Department of Art History, Indiana University Bloomington

The awards recognize excellence in student engagement, community partnership, faculty-engaged teaching, faculty-community engagement, and collaborative pa...

05/21/2026

"Friday marked the dedication of the town’s new Montgomery Park, a project that began in 2025 after town leaders worked with Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities program to develop a vision for turning an empty gravel parking lot into a focal point and place where the community could gather."

Town of Montgomery,IN

A large crowd gathered for the dedication of the new Montgomery Park Friday. The park has created a new focal point on the town's Main Street.

05/21/2026

“Public art has a really big job in making a space, giving it a sort of character that is authentic and reflects local values or local histories – things that are really important and unique to the Bluffton community in general.” — Nicole Vasconi, quality of place liaison at the IU Center for Rural Engagement

Bluffton Indiana Mayor's Office

Public art is a component of placemaking efforts underway in Bluffton. The Wells County city was among 15 communities chosen in March to be part of Indiana University’s 2026 Rural

05/20/2026

The final round of sessions showcased community-driven public art and mural projects, intergenerational programs strengthening rural communities, a documentary exploring food insecurity in Indiana, and strategies for sustaining innovation in rural STEM education.

Orange County Community Foundation, Inc. Orange County Economic Development Partnership Team OC The Working Hungry Purdue Polytechnic

05/20/2026

That’s a wrap on !

We are so grateful to our speakers, partners, and attendees for being part of this year’s IU Rural Conference. We appreciate the insight, discussion, and engagement you brought to each session.

We’re already looking forward to next year.

05/20/2026

Today's second round of breakout sessions highlighted historic preservation as a tool for rural revitalization, preparing students for an AI-driven future, community-informed approaches to opioid settlement funding, and leadership strategies for turning challenges into opportunities.

Indiana Landmarks Clinton Central Jr Sr High School South Putnam Community School Corporation Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington JasperGov - Indiana