The 2023 Rural Summit continued to drive conversation around advancing rural Virginia. Across two days, nearly 300 educators, healthcare providers, elected officials, and community leaders came together to hear an address by Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, three keynote speeches, panel discussions, and over 30 workshop sessions featuring experts in education, business, government, and healthcare.
“This event has always been about the power of collaboration and partnership within our region,” said Travis Staton, President and CEO, United Way of Southwest Virginia. “Each year this Summit evolves, and so do the issues we look to address. When everyone is together, singing from the same songbook, the progress we make moves this region forward.”
Photo: Neikirk Image Photography)
Day one featured Youngkin’s address, a data session showing the link between early childhood education and the workforce, and a panel discussion looking at the issues currently facing the region. A keynote speech from Aron Ralston moved the audience with his story of survival in a remote Utah canyon, trapped by an 800-pound bolder.
“I walked out of that canyon without most of my right hand, but I didn’t lose anything. I only gained from this,” said Ralston. “What do our boulders bring us? They bring us choices. We chose to make it into a tragedy or into a triumph. Our boulders show us what’s important, what’s possible, and what we are made of.”
Day two of the Summit featured workshops bookended by keynote addresses featuring Dr. Patrick Jinks and Brad Montgomery. Jinks, a former professional photographer, is now the President of The Leaders Perspective, and coaches and trains leaders in both the social and corporate sectors. Montgomery is a motivational keynote speaker, using magic, comedy, sound, and music to help teach people how to use emotional & social to boost performance, creativity, innovation & profits.
“Just remember that they’re listening,” Montgomery said. “We don’t always know if we matter, we wonder if it’s worth it. But, I’m tellin’ ya, they are listening. It’s not hard. You knew this before we started. I’m just here to remind you how important you are..”
The 2023 Rural Summit is sponsored by the Virginia State Office of Rural Health, Ballad Health, Verizon Wireless, Virginia Business, Virginia Total Care, AmeriCorps, Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Hitachi, Mount Rogers Regional Partnership Scott County, Mount Rogers Regional Partnership, Mount Rogers Workforce Development, Mountain Empire Community College, New River Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, and Wytheville Community College.
Click here to learn more about the initiatives and programs of United Way of Southwest Virginia.
