Supporting local leadership and rebuilding trust in our communities.
Real change starts close to home.
When people connect, everything changes.
Change comes from trust.
Real change starts close to home. When people connect, everything changes. Change comes from trust.
We’re building something different
Across Minnesota, and the entire United States, the places we call home are asked to do more with less. Fewer gathering spaces, less local news, and more distance between neighbors and the decisions that shape their lives have eroded the trust that once existed amongst neighbors in our rural communities.
Through all of the noise, we’ve also seen people who care deeply about their communities, who want to show up, connect, and lead… if they have the tools and support to do so.
So we started building.
The Backroads Initiative is a grassroots, nonpartisan effort to rebuild civic life from the ground up — by equipping everyday people to organize, lead, and strengthen their communities together.
No top-down agendas, outside parachutes, or jazzy talking points. Just neighbors getting together, learning from one another, and doing the work to strengthen their community one conversation at a time.
A Connected Approach
Our mission is to support local leadership, rebuild trusted community networks, and help rural neighbors connect, learn, and solve problems together.
We believe change starts at the local level. Small towns are known for showing up for their neighbors when disaster strikes; we believe that our rural communities should be known for always showing up, for the bad, and the good.
Backroads equips local leaders, strengthens community spaces, builds community, and helps communities reconnect, while investing in the infrastructure and resources that bring people together. From small group conversations to larger community efforts, everything we do is designed to make it easier for neighbors to build relationships and take action, together.
Start Local
Peer-to-Peer Training
Build Connection
Regional Networking
Grow Leadership
Leadership Development
Strengthen Community
Reinvestment Fund
Share Stories
Rural Media & Storytelling
This work shows up differently in every community, but the pattern remains the same: people connect, learn from each other, and take action on what matters locally.
From the Field
Building Community
A group of 5-6 neighbors began meeting regularly over coffee to talk about the challenges in their community. Over time, that group grew to over 30 community members, who are now connected, engaged, and showing up.
Taking Action
After a local sports program was cut due to funding, community members came together to respond. Building on the relationships and skills developed through their peer group, they organized parents and students and successfully pushed for changes that allowed the students to play.
Creating Something New
A conversation about one parent’s child struggling to read led to further investigation, which led to action. With support from others in the group, a community member met with local leaders, secured funding, and recruited volunteers to launch a tutoring program for students.
Empowering Leadership
After months of showing up, learning about local issues, and getting involved, one participant decided to take the next step. With a deeper understanding of how local decisions are made, the needs of the community, and the confidence built through the group, they are now running for their local school board.
All of these examples are how the Backroads model builds community and empowers neighbors to take action, step into leadership, and work together to restore the community trust that’s eroded over time.
Help Build What Comes Next
The work you’ve seen here is just the beginning. In communities across the region, people are coming together, building relationships, and stepping into leadership.
Your support makes that possible.
Donations go directly to expanding this work — supporting local groups, investing in community spaces, and building the tools and resources that help communities organize and lead.
If you believe strong communities start with connection, trust, and local leadership, this is how you can be a part of it.