International Exposition of Rural Development

HIGHLIGHTS

Enduring Influence of IERD on Global Rural Development, J. Vann Cunningham

AI Notebook LM introduces Vann Cunningham

In the early 1980s, I had the honor of serving on the US National Steering Committee for the IERD. Early in 1982, three Chicago ICA staff approached me soliciting Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) support and assistance in identifying successful local community-based rural development projects as candidates for inclusion in the IERD. I was Field Operations Manager for the TVA Office  of Economic and Community Development and former Chief of Regional and Community Planning; and I agreed to commit TVA’s support and assistance.  

Subsequently, I was invited to join the US National Steering Committee. Over the next year leading up to the central plenary event, we reviewed hundreds of projects from across the country. Two projects selected to represent the US were initially identified and sponsored by TVA, and I was asked to be a delegate. In February of 1984, I accompanied local delegates from the TVA region to the event in Delhi. Upon my return to the US after the central event, I continued over the next two years to participate in the post IERD dissemination process as a member of the writing and editorial team for the first three volumes. I recently completed a retrospective look at the IERD and want to share it with you before I seek publication. The IERD was a defining point in my career, and at 75, I want to be on record about the influence the IERD had on global rural development. Wishing you all the best, Vann

Read these three IERD Series books summarizing the IERD four years:

Volume I:  Directory of Rural Development Projects (1985)

Volume II:  Voices of Rural Practitioners (1987)

Volume III:  Approaches That Work in Rural Development (1988)