origin + support
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To support the program development of RYL, Clear Creek Creative convened a group of 10 youth and 3 stewards who either participated in the Rural & Tribal Youth Assembly or were engaged in Clear Creek's other youth collaborations with PRI at the Rural Summit. These “Rural Youth Collaborators” were contracted and met virtually over a period of 6 months to continue their own leadership development journeys and inform the design of what has become the Rural Youth Leaders fellowship and stewards network.
As part of their work, the Rural Youth Collaborators traveled to Anchorage, Alaska in April of 2025 for the Rural Summit to support the public announcement of RYL. In addition to several days of creative engagement and leadership activities, the youth Collaborators co-led an immersive session at the Rural Summit for 80 people about their own leadership experiences through our shared work together. The Collaborator group was joined at the Rural Summit by 8 Alaskan youth leaders who engaged alongside the Collaborators and had the opportunity to present a full plenary session to nearly 700 people about their communities, challenges and visions for the future.
Going forward, the Rural Youth Collaborators team will join in as RYL alumni and will have the opportunity to become part of the growing stewards network as well.
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Rural Youth Leaders Launched two groundbreaking programs in 2025:
Youth Fellowship
for emerging leaders aged 18-24 who are:engaged in creative arts and cultural traditions
invested in supporting & strengthening their rural places
committed to their own success & the success of their communities
capable and willing to lead in the rural place they call home.
Stewards Network
for the people who steward and support creative young leaders in their local communities including educators, artists, culture bearers, creative practitioners, and any other youth advocate who uses creative practices and/or cultural traditions to support rural young people of any age.
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In June 2024, forty-five people including youth, their local organizational sponsors, national youth advocates, allies, local hosts and a creative facilitation team spent 4 days together at the Children’s Defense Fund’s Alex Haley Farm in rural Tennessee in a creative convening we called the Rural & Tribal Youth Assembly. The convening was an initial step in a collaborative effort to learn from, empower and move resources to rural youth leaders and organizations in communities across the U.S. and tribal nations.
The Rural & Tribal Youth Assembly was guided by Partners for Rural Impact and Native Americans in Philanthropy and resourced by the Mobility Alliance, an initiative incubated by Common Future, the Urban Institute, and Dalberg Advisors. PRI’s local collaborator Clear Creek Creative managed and facilitated the project and was joined by Mobility Alliance partner Liberation in a Generation in design and facilitation.
Building on the Assembly lessons and recommendations as well as the enthusiasm of partners and participants:
Partners for Rural Impact and Clear Creek Creative committed to collaborate on the development of the Rural Youth Leaders initiative.
The Mobility Alliance committed additional seed funding to support the transition and growth of this body of work.
Liberation in a Generation and Native Americans in Philanthropy provided thought leadership and promotional support.
Clear Creek Creative led the work as project manager, collaboration coordinator and facilitator of the youth fellowship and supporting steward network.
Social Impact Studios was the creative partner in design, publicity & communications.
Visionaries
Ahmad Lockhart
Youth Collaborator • Mississippi
“I matured a lot through this program. There’s more of a calmness in me, I appreciate things more and I connect with people on a deeper level. This has helped me with the my development as a community leader and as a person ”
Callie Smallwood
Youth Collaborator • Kentucky
“I’ve had awesome opportunities with Carrie and Bobby B, and I can’t wait for them to give other people the same opportunities. I have learned so many new things and met so many new people. This experience is definitely life changing.”
Crissy Blevins
“What I’ve learned through my time here is not to be scared of showing who I am and what I want in life. I’ve experienced a lot of loss and gained a lot of responsibility. We never know how much time we’ll have and it’s important to be grateful even when conditions aren’t perfect. I’ve learned to grow into the person I deserve instead of just pleasing others.”
Youth Collaborator • Kentucky
Elaina Stuntz
Youth Collaborator • Louisiana
“I’ve transitioned from adolescence into becoming more of an adult through this work. My cultural appreciation has grown — I’ve loved seeing all the different cultures we’ve experienced as well as being able to share my own culture. I’m proud of where I’m from and who I am as a Louisianan, what my heritage is, how to share that and learn from others.”
Elena Rosales
Youth Collaborator • Wyoming
“I’ve done a hero’s journey through this collaboration. I went from being homeless to moving into my apartment and working full-time. On a personal level, the program has given me a lot of confidence to stay consistent to who I am despite the adversities I face. The travel has been eye-opening — it’s the only opportunity I’ve ever had in my life to travel outside of my state and have it be affordable and accessible. I feel special having that privilege for free and the chance to observe completely different cultures and be with people across the nation. I’ve felt a lot of pride and have become more of myself.”
Jasmin Lopez Osorio
Youth Collaborator • Wyoming
“This was a life-changing event that has inspired me to keep advocating for my community. I was able to ground myself and identify my values. Met lifetime friends who share the same goal and let their stories be heard. I learned that there’s a big community of individuals that do care about youth and are willing to listen to us and help us make a change in our community. Don’t be shy to share your stories, struggles and inspirations. I was always terrified to put myself out there but the only way I want to make a change is by involving myself. Always fight for what you believe is right. This is an experience you’ll never forget.”
Kayden Turner
Youth Collaborator • Kentucky
"One key takeaway from this experience has been the cultural exchange with other young people from around the world. Despite coming from different countries and backgrounds, we discovered that we share so much in common, especially because we all come from rural communities. Our stories, challenges, and values often mirror each other, revealing how deeply connected we are at heart, beyond cultural differences."
Rodreckeanne Barnes
Youth Collaborator • Mississippi
“Something I took away from this is the inspiration from all the youth around me from different backgrounds and cultures. How we share similar experiences and stories. We all can relate to similar issues that may be affecting our communities and schools.”
Sasha Lewis
Youth Collaborator • Mississippi
“One of the things that was really impactful for me and has stuck with me is the exchange I received. Because of the community organizing work I do in a rural community, it can be very easy to feel isolated and alone in your struggles. The conversations we took part in and hearing what others shared helped me feel less alone, helped us relate our issues and let us know we have a community to rely on in even when they come from different places.”
Tayler Higgins
Youth Collaborator • Alaska
Aubrey Edwards
Cultural Steward • Wyoming
“I learned a lot from the whole process of working with this team and group of young people. It has had a big ripple effect on my teaching and community facilitation. As an educator, I have loved watching the young people shine — seeing their confidence grow, how they held and co-created space together, seeing them pivot to address challenges. The connections we’ve made as stewards, linking our work in one rural community to another as also been meaningful. And finally — the opportunity for them to lead a session at the Rural Summit was incredible— I go to a lot of conferences about young people and yet I’ve never to been to one led by young people until now. I would love to see that happen at every conference I go to!"
Lauren Lewis
Cultural Steward • Mississippi
“Young people are not just the future; they are the present. Programs like these invite us to dream, explore further, and realize our potential both as individuals and within like‑minded groups. I appreciated my experiences in Alaska and on Haley Farm, and I was given the opportunity to forge new friendships and professional connections.”
Lauren Lewis
Cultural Steward • Alaska
"I really enjoyed being with so many different representations of youth and how easily we all integrated and connected. It can be hard when you have people from places that are geographically and culturally different to come together — the way the team led us allowed us to mesh really well. I appreciated how much the youth were allowed to lead. The team did a great job balancing their own leadership with the youth — always supporting them, really listening to them, and did a great job of amplifying their voices. I love the integration of the arts and creative practice — it was fun and I really enjoyed being there for all of it.”