Rural Partners of Michigan (RPM) is currently seeking innovative and engaging speakers and presenters focused on rural economic development at our 2024 conference taking place April 29 – May 1, 2024 at Crystal Mountain Resort. RPM welcomes proposals from regional, statewide, national, and international speakers and presenters who wish to bring their expertise and passion to the premier conference for rural community development in Michigan.

The goal of this event is to inspire and equip practitioners and advocates with the community economic development strategies needed to advocate for their communities, and build a prosperous and equitable rural Michigan for all.

We are seeking proposals for 60 minute breakout sessions.

Interested presenters should submit their proposal by the end of the day on Monday, December 4, 2023 through the link below, where you will be asked to submit:

• Presenter and co-presenter information
• Session title
• Session description
• Audience/Objective
• Content level (beginner, intermediate or advanced)

This is an opportunity to showcase topics critical to rural economic development in a way that engages the audience, facilitates discussion of new ideas and moves ideas to action!

Topics of interest for the 2024 conference include (but are not limited to):

• Capacity building
• Rural economic development projects and resources
• Professional development
• Working with tribal communities for shared success
• Rural housing
• Childcare
• Clean energy

Sessions with examples of real world implementation will be given priority.

Please contact Shawn Hunter at hunter@cedamichigan.org if you have any questions.