The Rural Summit for Cradle to Career Success

Where rural leaders come together

The Rural Summit for Cradle to Career Success brings together educators, community leaders, workforce professionals, and philanthropic allies from across rural America to exchange proven strategies, spark collaborations, and advance the For Rural, With Rural movement for rural young people. More than just a conference, the Rural Summit creates space to lift up the Bright Spots, the communities across the country where local partnerships are producing real outcomes, cradle to career.

2027 Summit

Join us at the 2027 Rural Summit

April 11–14, 2027, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE.

The Rural Summit seeks to amplify rural brilliance. Every year we convene rural leaders and allies to identify common challenges, share knowledge and create community.

Please check back soon as registration and a call for proposals will open on September 16, 2026. Whether you are a practitioner, researcher, policy maker, funder or other stakeholder, we hope you will submit a proposal about your work supporting rural kids and communities. The call for proposal will stay open until October 30.

Learn, connect, make an impact

Over three days, you’ll dive into specialized sessions, hear from leaders shaping rural communities, and build connections with peers who share your focus on supporting rural youth.

Learn what works
Discover proven strategies driving real outcomes for rural young people.
Connect with peers
Build relationships with educators, community leaders, and allies across rural America.
Bring back impact
Apply insights and collaborations to strengthen your own community and advance the For Rural, With Rural movement.

What is Rural? graphic recording from the Rural Summit

The Rural Summit in review

From engaging breakout sessions to inspiring keynotes, each year the Rural Summit for Cradle to Career Success demonstrates how collaboration across rural communities drives meaningful change for rural young people.

4,979

attendees in 2026

160+

Summit speakers

Over 60

breakout sessions

states represented