Conversations to be held in Cloquet, Willmar, Wadena, and Owatonna in September 2025

Minnesota Public Radio to Broadcast Events

OWATONNA, Minn., Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rural Voice town hall series, designed to elevate conversations from across Greater Minnesota, returns for its fourth season this September. Moderated by Minnesota Public Radio's Kerri Miller, the 2025 series features a fresh slate of free, in-person town halls designed to spark community-led dialogue around immigration, mental health and social isolation, tribal sovereignty, and rural healthcare.

Supported by the Minnesota Initiative Foundations, the 2025 season is sponsored by the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. The discussions will be broadcast statewide by Rural Voice partner Minnesota Public Radio. The 2025 season continues Rural Voice's mission to amplify the stories, perspectives, and solutions emerging from Minnesota's rural communities. Rural Voice has visited more than a dozen Minnesota communities since launching in 2022.

"We're proud of how Rural Voice has grown into a platform that listens to and honors the lived experiences of Greater Minnesota," said Tim Penny, co-founder of Rural Voice and recent past president of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. "This season, we're engaging new communities and topics that reflect the changing landscape of rural life."

2025 Town Hall Schedule

• September 3 – Cloquet
  Tribal Rights
  Fond du Lac Community College in the Commons/Atrium
  Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
  Discussion from 6:00–7:30 p.m. followed by a reception.
  
  
• September 8 – Willmar
  How Immigration Has Worked
  Foxhole Brewhouse
  Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
  Discussion from 6:00–7:30 p.m. followed by a reception.
  
  
• September 15 – Wadena
  Mental Health and Social Isolation
  Drastic Measures Brewing
  Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
  Discussion from 6:00–7:30 p.m. followed by a reception.
  
  
• September 29 – Owatonna
  Rural Healthcare and Mental Health
  Mineral Springs Brewery
  Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
  Discussion from 6:00–7:30 p.m. followed by a reception.

"The Rural Voice conversations have revealed just how nuanced, thoughtful, and solution-oriented rural communities are," said Kerri Miller, co-founder of Rural Voice and host with Minnesota Public Radio. "Over the past three years, we've heard directly from people living rural experiences every day. It's not a stereotype. It's a dynamic, evolving chorus of perspectives that deserves to be heard. We are looking forward to our fourth upcoming season this September."

About Rural Voice

The Rural Voice series was launched in 2022 by former Minnesota U.S. Congressman Tim Penny, Kerri Miller, and Teresa McFarland with ongoing support from the Minnesota Initiative Foundations to foster civic engagement and elevate voices from across Greater Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio, The Center for Rural Policy and Development, Cherry Road Media are partners of Rural Voice. Since its inception, the series has convened dozens of conversations in rural communities, focused on uncovering shared values and surfacing local solutions to statewide challenges.

To register for in-person events or view livestreams, visit www.ruralvoice.org

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SOURCE Rural Voice