Too often, it seems to me, negativity carries the day. Our existence is filled with exposure to dire messages, usually designed to incite us to take action against something — a candidate, a policy, a status quo. The many people devoting themselves to positive change are often lost in this negativity.
Fortunately, many entities in North Carolina are taking a forward-looking approach to the state’s rural problems.
A notable one, called the New Generation Initiative, was launched this year by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.
In the last 20 years, 54 of the state’s 85 rural counties have seen their young adult population decrease, 16 of these by more than 20 percent. It’s worth noting that as this trend was taking shape, the state’s urban young adult population grew by 20 percent.
One can hardly blame young adults for leaving rural areas. Young people want to be surrounded by a dynamic group of peers, to be in a central location and to live in a place with amenities — or at the very least restaurants that stay open past 9 p.m. Many rural areas simply don’t provide these basic conveniences.
And there’s nothing inherently wrong with young adults choosing urban over rural.
What is wrong is when these young adults feel like they have no choice.
In rural North Carolina, this exodus isn’t entirely voluntary. Many young adults who would prefer to stay in their hometowns are leaving because of a lack of opportunity.
Not only does this hurt the young people who would prefer to stay near home, it also hurts the rural areas themselves.
