Rural Minds Featured in National Grange's Good Day Magazine
Editorial: Partnering for Success
By Dave Roberts, Connecticut State Grange Lecturer/Program Director, Connecticut Lions District “B” Governor
We have all heard the old adage that the best way to find successful outcomes to weighty problems is to partner with like-minded individuals and groups. With that in mind, Rural Minds was founded by Jeff Winton with the mission to “serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and resources.” Rural Minds knew that they needed partners to be successful, so they reached out to numerous organizations to collaborate to promote impactful solutions.
One of those partners is the National Grange. The Grange is a family and community organization with roots in agriculture. Founded in 1867, The Grange was formed as a national organization with a local focus. Since its founding, Grange members have been given the opportunity to learn and grow to their full potential as citizens and leaders.
National Grange, under the leadership of President Betsy Huber, recognized that mental health was a top priority for many Grange chapters and members throughout the United States, so it chose to partner with Rural Minds. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the importance of addressing this challenge, as mental health is a serious concern to many Grange families in rural areas of the country.
In order to help educate Grange members from across the United States, Rural Minds founder Jeff Winton was invited as a keynote speaker to the 156th Annual Convention of the National Grange in Reno, Nevada, which was held on November 17, 2022, National Rural Health Day. As keynote speaker, Jeff hosted a workshop to help attendees see the opportunities of strategic partner-ing.