From: Sara Rafuse Date: February 27 Subject: Rural Rams Roundup- February Newsletter
rural rams roundup
Feb 2025
Hey there, Rural Rams...
It's hard to believe it's almost spring break!
January's sweet tea sipping (and rating our favorites) with Adult and Non-Traditional Student Services was a blast. The winner... drumroll please... Lee's! With Milo's coming in a close second. Surprised by the results? Agree?
Our February Communi-Tea was a great opportunity to reflect on the things we LOVE about our rual communities and rural identities/background. We also planned some GREAT upcoming events for you in March, including a "Make Your Own Coloring Book" Communi-Tea meeting activity and participating as a group in VCU's Out of the Darkness Walk. More information about these events, and RSVP, can be found below:
March Rural Rams Events:
EVENT
Rural Rams Communi-Tea Meeting: Make your Own Coloring Book!
Springing into Wellness and Self Care: We provide the tea, you provide the community! Come spill the "rural tea" with us as we connect about all things rural at VCU.
This month's activity is an opportunity to make your own coloring book. Coloring is a calming and meditative activity that can distract from stressful thoughts and reduce anxiety levels, perfect for this time of year!
Hot tea is always available at each of these monthly meetings; both herbal and verbal! Please join us as we continue to develop and cultivate a rich rural student community at VCU. Rural communities are resilient, caring, and close-knit, so rural students often feel a better sense of belonging if they can find their “people.” That’s the mission of Rural Rams!
Now, more than ever, it’s important to be there for one another and take steps to safeguard our mental health and prevent suicide. Out of the Darkness Walks, held in hundreds of cities across the country, are the core of the Out of the Darkness movement, which began in 2004. These events give people the courage to open up about their own connections to the cause, and a platform to create a culture that’s smarter about mental health. Friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers walk side-by-side, supporting each other and in memory of those we’ve lost.
VCU's Out of the Darkness walk is scheduled for 03/29 at Monroe Park, and Rural Rams will be walking as a team. Join our team here: https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=361371 (it costs nothing to join!)
More information about the walk can be found on the VCU Campus walk page: https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=10620
Register today and be part of the movement to walk #OutOftheDarkness.
2024 was a big year for rural musicians on the Billboard charts. Chappell Roan’s career went supernova as she went on tour for her 2023 album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Another rural musician who had a phenomenal year was Noah Kahan; playing Fenway Park meant performing to a crowd approximately 37 times the size of his home town of Strafford, Vermont.
Interested in listening to some new artists? Need a new study playlist? Check out some rural artists in this Spotify playlist:
"Because creative expression shouldn't break the bank or the environment!"
Scrap RVA's mission is to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.
You’ll find unique items at affordable prices! Specific items you may find here, include:
Yarn, fabric, and sewing notions
Paper of all colors and sizes
Specialty items donated by local businesses and manufacturers
Wood, metal, and plastic in a variety of shapes and sizes
Creative Reuse Center Hours: Tuesday - Sunday • 11 am - 6 pm
322 W Brookland Park Blvd. Richmond, VA 23222
Rural Student Spotlight: Ayden Cooley
My hometown of Galax always provided a place to be seen (the rodeo, BBQ competitions, etc.). My rural background has taught me to prepare for adversity. Whether it was through school, or manners, I was always taught to think forward with my head up high. Economic development is a big topic in my town because the vast majority of people are small business owners. If big retailers come through, most of them will be without income
Coming to Richmond I have faced many challenges and to overcome these I have held true to what I know about my own self identity. All throughout school I was different compared to my peers. I never had to take AP tests or classes, I was just taught by local community college professors. Growing up in a rural place set me on a path of achievement. This path was shared amongst all I went to high school with. We all knew coming from such a small town there was always room for us to shine in our own respective ways. Many went on to shine through their athletic pursuits. For example football was a big sport and being a small school with little funding we always faced bigger teams. The team went on to have two state titles before I graduated! Another big sport was soccer with them having six back-to-back titles while I was in school.
I personally shined through creative pursuits. I was in the marching band through all four years of high school and the band went on to win two undefeated seasons of competition. Among other things were my technologic abilities. I was always behind a sound board helping the choir balance their audio or plays having good lighting.
Have Appalachian Roots?
Missing the accent of home? Interested in appalachian culture? The Appodlachia Podcast asked people from across the 13-state Appalachian region to send them a voice memo of their accent, using a simple prompt, and they didn't disappoint! Over 1,500 people sent samples of their accent and it's beautiful! Take a listen:
Do you receive a federal Pell Grant?
Are you interested in studying abroad?
If you answered "yes" to both of those questions, we strongly encourage you to check out the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program! With a focus recruiting rural students and applicants, it's an opportunity not to be missed!
Rural Reflection: What does it mean to “pack and unpack place” and contemplate our rural identities even as those identities evolve? How can we gain cultural capital without it being at the expense of our social capital back home?
This Roundup was compiled by the Rural Rams you see here.
What are we missing? Let us know so we can include it next time!
Better yet, come to our next communi-tea meeting on March 5th and help shape the next edition. We need you, your story, and your perspective at the table!
