New Generation Initiative

The North Carolina New Generation Initiative opens exciting new opportunities for rural young people and the communities they live in. Opportunities for young people to become engaged as community leaders … to start businesses … to train for skilled jobs in high-demand fields. Opportunities for communities to learn how to more fully involve youth and young adults in economic and civic life.

The Rural Center announced the initiative at the 2011 Rural Partners Forum in partnership with the governor, lieutenant governor, and 30 program and funding partners. More than 7,000 young people and their mentors are expected to participate in the initiative over the next three years.

Individuals or organizations in North Carolina’s 85 rural counties are eligible to apply for each of the initiative’s four programs:

New Generation Ventures – help for young entrepreneurs

New Generation Careers – grants to create job opportunities

New Generation Leaders – grants to mobilize young leaders

New Generation Communities – training and resources

Download initiative overview and program summaries.

Background

We know that successful rural communities must have a population of young people engaged in decision-making and actively working to grow their local economies. Yet each year, hundreds of young people move away to attend college, join the military or take a job – and never return to become part of the economic and social life of their hometowns. Many who stay feel disconnected form the mainstream of decision-making and activity.

During 2010-11, the Rural Center took several steps toward understanding the aspirations of rural youth and their perspectives on their communities. We coupled these with an examination of statistical data regarding the well-being of children, youth and youth adults in rural North Carolina. Young and Rural: A Snapshot of Rural North Carolina’s New Generation summarizes the findings.

Building on this research, the 2011 Rural Partners Forum engaged over 650 people in exploring what it means to be young and rural in 2011. The young people who led most of the discussion inspired their elders with examples of entrepreneurship, public service and perseverance.

The initiative

The North Carolina New Generation Initiative aims to help rural communities transform themselves by fully embracing the promise represented by their young people. It provides $3.6 million in resources to engage rural youth and young adults in the life of their communities and foster the next generation of rural business owners, skilled workers and economic and community leaders. It is a three-year project supported by public and private partners and led by the Rural Center.

It is established on the belief that:

• Young people will generate opportunities for themselves and others if given the chance
• Committed, caring community mentors for these young people will enhance their likelihood of success
• Young people who are engaged in their communities are more likely to stay or return after college or other life experiences to live, work and raise their families.

North Carolina New Generation Advisory Council will advise the center on implementation of the initiative, join with other leading programs to explore opportunities to increase youth involvement in community life, and develop a New Generation Action Plan to respond to the challenges facing youth and young adults in rural communities. Leading the council are Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, chair, and N.C. Rep. Carolyn Justice, vice chair.

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