AscendRural Symposium
August 26

8 a.m. Doors Open

8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

9 a.m. Rural Youth Well-being: Data exists; what are we doing with it to improve lives?

  • Despite the growing availability of data on rural youth—spanning education, mental health, employment, and access to services, the gap between data and actionable change remains significant. This panel will explore how existing data is (or isn’t) being leveraged to drive policies, programs, and investments that meaningfully improve the lives of young people in rural communities.

10 a.m. From Innovation to Impact; Scaling Tech Solutions for Rural Youth Resilience

  • In 2024, AscendRural launched its first national Challenge in partnership with ScaleHealth, focused on identifying and piloting innovative technologies that support youth resilience in rural communities. The Challenge drew over 50 startup applicants from across the country, resulting in the selection of two high-impact technologies: Supportiv, a peer-to-peer mental health platform, and PsycheCare, a virtual behavioral health solution for caregivers.

    This panel will explore what made these technologies stand out, how they were implemented alongside rural partners, and what insights emerged from deploying tech-driven solutions in resource-constrained settings. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the role that strategic partnerships, community context, and iterative learning play in translating promising innovations into real-world impact for rural youth.

10:45 a.m. Break

11 a.m. What Community Partners Can Teach Us About Piloting Technologies to Support Youth Resilience

  • Five rural community organizations participated in AscendRural’s youth resilience pilots that launched in March 2025 and concluded at the end of June 2025. Community partners had the option to select and test one or both technologies, Supportiv and PsycheCare, that were selected from a national challenge. These pilots weren’t just about testing tools—they were about activating local leadership, tailoring solutions to community context, and listening to the voices of rural youth.

    In this dynamic panel, leaders from Clara’s House, Selander Coaching, Smiles for Jake, The Shop, and YMCA will share how they engaged their communities, what they learned during implementation, and why rural communities are uniquely positioned to pioneer innovative approaches for youth well-being. Panelists will also reflect on what’s next for sustaining and scaling impact in their regions.

12 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. AscendRural Youth Resilience Pilot Findings

  • What happens when rural communities lead the way in testing innovative approaches to youth well-being? In this session, AscendRural will share key findings and insights from its 2025 Youth Resilience Pilots, a first-of-its-kind initiative that partnered with rural organizations to deploy and evaluate emerging technologies designed to support youth mental health and resilience.

    Drawing from on-the-ground data and community feedback, this session will explore what worked, what was challenging, and how these lessons are shaping the future of rural innovation. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how rural communities can serve as powerful proving grounds for scalable, tech-enabled solutions—and what it takes to move from pilot to sustained impact.

2 p.m. Why Connectivity Matters for Education and Health in Rural Communities

  • Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury—it's a lifeline. In rural communities across the country, gaps in broadband connectivity continue to limit access to quality education, timely healthcare, and opportunities for youth and families to thrive.

    This panel will explore the critical role of digital infrastructure in supporting the well-being and future of rural communities. Experts and community leaders will discuss how the digital divide impacts learning, telehealth access, and youth development—and share strategies for closing these gaps through cross-sector partnerships, policy innovation, and community-driven solutions.

    Join us for a conversation that highlights both the urgency and the opportunity to invest in connectivity as a foundation for equity, resilience, and long-term growth in rural America.

3 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. AscendRural Active Pilot Spotlight: Connectivity

  • As part of its ongoing efforts to advance rural innovation, AscendRural is piloting two connectivity programs focused on solutions that are designed to close digital gaps and expand access to critical services.

    This panel will spotlight active pilots underway in Central Minnesota including work to better understand the value of internet services for community stakeholders and industry to develop a new payment model around internet connectivity that does not solely depend on the consumer for payment. The larger opportunity is to accelerate the rate of connecting rural communities across the country to internet services to support better access to services including education, healthcare and occupational opportunities. Community leaders and pilot partners will share real-time insights, early outcomes, and the infrastructure and partnerships required to sustain long-term impact.

4:15 p.m. Closing Remarks