15th Annual Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference: Conference Welcome

This presentation was given at the conferenced entitled, "15th Annual Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference" in Memphis, Tennessee on December 9-11, 2009.

Needs Statement

The Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference is one of the National Rural Health Association’s fastest growing conferences.  One of the only meetings in the nation to focus on rural multiracial and multicultural health issues, this event offers attendees the opportunity to meet with peers and experts who share unique concerns and interests.  This conference is designed to benefit those who are dedicated to bringing quality health care and health care services to this underserved and often under-represented portion of the rural population.  Conference sessions will address four critical areas of rural economic development: education, entrepreneurship, social infrastructure and public infrastructure.

Conference Goals:
1. Heighten awareness of the environmental and economic factors that contribute to rural health. 
2. Enhance skills to develop a plan of action with traditional policy makers in conjunction with leadership from rural multiracial and multicultural communities.
3. Highlight collaborative efforts to advance rural multiracial and multicultural community economic development.


Conference Objectives:
1. Identify critical components of rural economic development required to build healthy rural multiracial and multicultural communities
2. Identify  “bottoms up” approaches that take into account issues of the community and challenges at the local level
3. Identify successes and barriers to implementing sustainable systems in communities