Nicodemus, Kansas: The Last All Black Town in the West
On the plains, descendants of the first Black settlers in Nicodemus, Kansas are working to preserve and share a story of grit, perseverance, self-governance, and homecomings.
Lane Wendell Fischer
Creating, collecting, and sharing stories about rural people and places.
My Featured Work
Running Away to Yourself
How a transgender teen from East Tennessee escaped from his family to find himself.
Foundation Works to Improve Literacy Education at Rural Schools
Educators know that newer approaches to teaching reading can get better results. But small schools can lack the training and resources they need to make changes.
Rural Journalists Fill Local News Gaps on Hawaii's Big Island
As rural communities across the United States struggle to keep their small newspapers open, some independent and passionate journalists on the Island of Hawaiʻi take on the fight to keep the local news coming.
Scholars Seek Stories for Book on Queer Identities in Rural Education
Brief abstract proposals, due November 1, 2023, should focus on the intersection of rural education and queer identities, with core themes including experiences of queer joy, scholarly manuscripts, programs and program critiques, personal narratives, and art.
Country School Legacy Lives On at University of Nebraska Kearny
As rural communities think about the future role of public schools, an archivist at the University of Nebraska at Kearney aims to share local country school history to inform discussions and inspire learning.
Ad Astra Music Festival Brings Best in Classical Music to the Prairie
Through musical collaboration and cultural exchange, the Ad Astra Music Festival in Russell, Kansas is proving that classical music isn’t just for urban elites.
For Some Top Colleges 'Rural Students' Are Coming into Focus
Admissions officers at Yale and Purdue are innovating ways to identify, encourage, and admit more rural students. They’re learning some important lessons along the way.
Reflections on 'Where the Crawdads Sing'
Although surrounded by controversy, the film adaptation of Delia Owens’s best-selling novel explores themes that may resonate with many rural viewers.
Aging Farmers Are at Greater Risk of Suicide, Study Finds
One third of farmers and ranchers are 65 or older, but they represent nearly half of the farmers and ranchers who die by suicide. Farmers may be less likely to share information that indicates they are at risk.
Q&A: How to Support Rural Students Pursuing Higher Education
Matt Newlin is a higher education consultant and founder of the podcast The Rural College Student Experience. He advocates for rural students pursuing college.
Whippoorwill Award Honors Books That Portray Rural Life
The recipients of this year’s Whippoorwill Award cover a wide range of rural people, places, and topics. The Whippoorwill is the only national prize for young-adult books that focus on rural themes, the organizers say.
Rural Literature Educator Helps Teachers Connect Students to Their Roots
Students learn academic skills while exploring their rural identities through literature.
