Building Community: Rural Voices for Hope and Change:: An Oregon Perspective

How are rural American communities working to build a better world? These are the stories of building a stronger rural America. These are the stories of a resurgence in diverse talents and work in progress to improve community services, relationships, and to further collective societal values and organizations. Active community involvement engages everyone, to address social conditions and improve our collective lives. In part, this book gives voice to diverse points of views and experiences, and shows the strengths and talents of rural Oregon communities. Numerous community members from rural Oregon offer their perspectives and describe their work, building better, more vibrant communities that are meeting the difficult challenges of rural America in the Twenty First Century.

Neal Lemery is a fourth-generation lifelong resident of the north Oregon coast, and a retired lawyer and judge.  He has mentored young prison inmates and other disadvantaged youth, and is active as a community volunteer.  He is the author of three other books: Mentoring Boys to Men: Climbing Their Own Mountains; Homegrown Tomatoes: Essays and Musings from My Garden; and a novel, Finding My Muse on Main Street.  He's a blogger and essayist, often contributing to local publications.