Programs

Rural Initiative for Climate Engagement (RICE)

A scalable model for addressing the challenges of climate and democracy through diverse community partnerships.

Humanity is facing three global crises that are unprecedented in scope and scale: climate change, democracy, and distrust in information systems. Climate change is transforming the entire world through extreme weather events and forced migration, however, its impact is disproportionately felt among marginalized communities, exacerbated by the unraveling of democracy and a lack of trust in education and media. Yet these same communities are often sidelined in the discussions, actions, and policies that affect planetary health. Solving these crises requires innovative, interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships across traditional political, cultural, and geographical lines. 

Rural America and its over 60 million residents has grown to be an increasingly important, yet elusive target for influencing local policy, government, and progress, offering a rare opportunity to study and test models of governance and community decision-making. To do so, all demographics within a community must be tapped into, including K-12 students, college and university students, and adult leaders. 

The RICE (Rural Initiative for Climate Engagement) program will launch a Colorado pilot project built on the outstanding content and momentum from our strategic program partners, Lyra and Colorado State University (CSU), to blend the climate education and experiential learning for high school students from Lyra’s Climatarium program with the highly successful adult community leadership programs from CSU, including the Family Leadership Training Institute, Civic Learning Lab, and Rural Action Project. High school students will bring their climate knowledge to community projects, gaining invaluable leadership and decision making skills to advance their career development and become more active citizens, while community leaders will take an active role in mentoring and engaging with local youth to drive progress on community challenges.

Engaging Land Grant Universities

At the dawn of the 20th Century, rural farms and towns represented more than the geographic heart of America. With strongly held values including self-reliance, productivity, and responsibility, small town and rural areas provided food, fuel, and more for their neighbors in emerging urban centers. Recognition of these strengths drove the establishment of the system of Land Grant Universities (LGUs) in 1890. While respect for the values embodied in rural America has diminished and a Rural-Urban Divide has emerged, the LGUs and the county-based Cooperative Extension Services (CES) network has remained in place throughout the US, providing a trusted and established channel to reach these communities. The LGUs were created as a platform for democracy and equity for rural America by providing access to the cutting edge information and research being conducted at the university level. 

Building on a strong history of agricultural sciences and natural resource studies, today's nature studies are interwoven with climate science in research and coursework. New research at LGUs in the areas of sustainable agriculture, clean energy production and community resilience in the face of escalating natural disasters makes the rural-LGU connection even more valuable. 

On the Democracy side, the traditional focus on community economic development by county Extension offices is broadening to provide more programmatic support on leadership training, community engagement, civil discourse, and other critical elements to strengthen democracy and civic participation. 

CDI is leading efforts to reinvigorate and amplify the relationships between the outstanding work being done at America's LGU institutions and our rural communities. We are combining private and foundation funding with innovative NGO programming to forge new alliances between and within individual states, advancing local progress in the areas of democracy and economic vitality, climate action, and clean energy transition across rural America.

International Democracy Hubs

2024 arrives amid a worldwide decline in democratic systems. This coincides with the climate crisis wreaking havoc beyond the capacities of even the most robust governments. These twin crises, intertwined, will continue to erode global democracies–unless we muster resolute resolve and unwavering action. This moment serves as our fleeting opportunity to restore democracy and brace for a hotter planet.

CDI is partnering with the Democracy and Culture Foundation (DCF) and their team across Europe identify pressing issues such as migration, disinformation, and climate change to undertake, engaging global leaders and local citizens in their unique process of collective intelligence and deliberative democracy. Through this curated dialogue, concrete solutions and policy proposals are developed that are enacted through DCF programs and those of partner organizations. DCF actively participates in helping to shape democracy to meet 21st century demands, while remaining focused on democracy's proven principles and best practices.

To create action behind the imperative to rebuild democracy and address the climate crisis, there exists an equally pressing need to empower leaders worldwide, particularly in the global south, with the knowledge and skills to spearhead democratically informed climate solutions within their localities. As the impacts of the climate crisis disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, it is paramount to equip these leaders with the tools to navigate the complex intersection of climate and democracy.

By fostering a global network of change makers who are well-versed in the intricate dynamics between environmental sustainability and democratic governance, we can catalyze a collective force capable of driving meaningful change. This international alliance of informed leaders will not only safeguard democratic principles, but will also pave the way for resilient communities that are attuned to the urgent challenges posed by a changing climate. The cultivation of such a network stands as a beacon of hope in the face of adversity, symbolizing a shared commitment to building a sustainable and democratic future for our planet.

CDI and DCF plan to create two Global Centers on Democracy, one based in Athens, Greece and the other in the United States, to serve as international hubs for knowledge, collaboration, and engagement in support of democratic principles and human rights on a global scale, working to strengthen democratic governance, protect individual freedoms, and promote peace and stability through a focus on climate initiatives. Both centers will operate in accordance with three distinct program areas: education and leadership training, advocacy and international democracy support, and media, specifically focusing on addressing rampant misinformation and disinformation.

Youth Engagement

We aim to empower students, foster collaboration across geographic divides, and drive positive change in communities with youth at the helm. We will create experiential learning opportunities for young people and give agency to future leaders through self-led climate and democracy projects. 

These leadership development projects and experiential learning opportunities will highlight the intersection between climate and democracy with a local context, drawing on a broad range of potential topics including the rural-urban divide, community storytelling, mis/disinformation, interfaith organizing, political research, and civic/environmental literacy.

CDI Fellowships

• Four fellowships will be awarded to student groups over the summer, subject to the completion of an extensive application process and final approval by designated CDI staff. 
• Implementation of approved projects must commence by September 15 and be completed and evaluated within one calendar year. 
• Progress will be tracked monthly through the submission of written reports, budget trackers, and staff check-ins. 
• At the conclusion of project implementation, work will be evaluated through a presentation to CDI staff, as well as the submission of a final report.
• It is at this time that projects will be evaluated for continuation of funding by CDI and our partners.



CDI Internships

• Four, 8-week long internships commencing June 3, 2024 will be offered in four diverse program areas, with one intern serving in each area:
• Rural-Urban; Media; Faith; Policy
• Interns will contribute to ongoing programs and help to inform organizational priorities, while working under the supervision of designated CDI staff.
• At the conclusion of the internship period, students will complete an exit interview and submit a final report.
• This feedback will be utilized in the development of future CDI programming.