The past and historical future of the Partnership for Rural Improvement (PRI) and its model for rural planning and development are explored. Evolution of the rural-urban conceptual dichotomy is reviewed. Rural is perceived as a state of being rather than a place. Implications of the PRI experience for new knowledge and skills in rural community…

The implications of rapid change in rural areas demand an effort on the part of planner educators to prepare professional planners for new, transactive roles with skills to build the capacity of communities to become self-reliant. As one of the partner institutions working collaboratively in rural development and planning with the Partnership for…