Western LGUs and WRDC Partners Western LGUs • America Samoa Community College • Blackfeet Community College • Chief Dull Knife College • College of Micronesia - Kolonia • Colorado State University • Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station • Crownpoint Institute of Technology • Diné College • Fort Belknap College • Fort Peck Community College • Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station • Institute of American Indian Arts • Little Big Horn College • Montana State University • New Mexico State University • Northern Marianas College • Northwest Indian College • Oregon State University • Salish Kootenai College • Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute • Stone Child College • University of Alaska Fairbanks • University of Arizona • University of California • University of Guam • University of Hawaii • University of Idaho • University of Nevada Reno • University of Wyoming • University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station • Utah State University • Utah Agricultural Experiment Station • Washington State University WRDC Partners • CSREES-USDA • Center for Rural Affairs • Food Innovation Center (Oregon) • Morgan Valley Lamb • North Central Regional Center for Rural Development • Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development • Northwest Area Foundation • Rural Community Assistance Corporation • Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) • Southern Rural Development Center • Southwest Marketing Network • Utah State University College of HASS • Utah State University College of NR • Utah State University Cooperative Extension

Western Rural Policy Advocates

WRPA promotes partnerships, advocacy, local capacity and leadership to address critical issues using a united voice to positively impact rural communities throughout the Western U.S.

We understand the issues facing rural communities in the Western U.S. and we are actively working to elevate a unified Rural Voice to more effectively improve the quality of life in our region.                                      

Rural Advocacy involves educating stakeholders about critical issues that affect people living in rural areas. We believe 'community self-empowerment' is essential to ensure rural viability which we achieve through education and advocacy.

The Western Rural Policy Advocates (WRPA) will conduct a series of local rural policy forums around critical issues impacting rural communities and these will be followed by state-wide rural policy forums.

• We will begin by holding forums in Utah and Idaho.

The WRPA goals are to:

• Recognize the connection between local and legislative leadership, community capacity building and effective rural advocacy.
• Help build the capacity of communities by increasing their knowledge and ability to address issues.
• Assist with creating policy by educating leaders about the importance of rural programs and policy.
• Highlight their challenges and successes through rural advocacy and policy forum trainings.
• Help western rural communities build the knowledge and skills necessary to elevate their “rural policy voice” in state legislatures.