In a quiet corner of Louisiana, about thirty miles outside New Orleans, Kristen Luchsinger has learned that courage can be contagious. What started as a simple stand against book banning has blossomed into a movement that's bringing together unlikely allies and showing that rural communities contain more diversity – and more acceptance – than many assume.

In the heart of Eastern Kentucky, where rolling hills meet economic challenges, a tenacious spirit of community action is taking root. Annette Hines, a...

In the heart of rural Nevada, a quiet revolution is taking root. Gerardo Lopez, the Rural Organizing Manager for Make the Road Nevada, is...

In Aitkin County Minnesota, in a tiny blip of a town called Palisade, population 167, is a local artist named Shanai Matteson keeping a pot of soup simmering. It's community night, and though she never officially called it a potluck, her neighbors always bring dishes to share. This monthly gathering has become something people look forward to, a small but vital spark of connection in a community that's weathered its share of storms.

Engage Winona, a nonprofit organization in Winona County, Minnesota offered residents a reward - entry to win a $100 gift card - for their...