The Groundswell Way

In this final dispatch from the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow in Opelika, Alabama, The Groundswell Way closes out its on-the-ground series with a powerful conversation between host Matthew Wesley Williams and Andrew Freear, Director of Auburn University's Rural Studio. Reflecting on decades of work in Alabama's Black Belt, Freear reframes resilience as something intentionally designed over time—not just a response to crisis, but the result of long-term commitment to people and place. Through the Rural Studio, students become "citizen architects," working alongside communities to co-create housing, public spaces, and systems that are built to last. The conversation underscores a critical truth: buildings are often the easiest part. Sustaining the people, organizations, and local leadership behind them is where resilience is truly tested. From libraries operating on limited resources to adaptable, multi-generational housing models, Freear shares how thoughtful, community-driven design can advance affordability, dignity, and durability. As the Roadshow series comes to a close, this episode leaves listeners with a clear takeaway: resilience isn't just about what we build—it's about how we build, who we build with, and whether we stay long enough to see it through.

Part Two: Moving at the Speed of Trust — An Indian Country Roundtable Part Two expands the conversation with a dynamic Indian Country roundtable featuring leaders from the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, the Native American Agriculture Fund, and Groundswell. Together, the panel explores what it actually takes to build trust, move beyond transactional partnerships, and support Indigenous-led solutions in energy, food systems, and community resilience. From redefining resilience as remembrance, to centering sovereignty and seven-generation decision-making, this episode surfaces hard-earned wisdom about collaboration, accountability, and showing up in right relation. The discussion challenges institutions and partners to slow down, listen deeply, and meet communities where they are—not where systems expect them to be. This is a candid, necessary conversation about power, partnership, and the future of Indigenous self-determination.

Part One: Moving at the Speed of Trust with Governor Stephen Roe Lewis (Gila River Indian Community) In Part One of Moving at the Speed of Trust, we sit down with Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community for a powerful conversation about resilience rooted in ancestry, sovereignty, and responsibility to future generations. Recorded at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, this episode explores how Indigenous leadership bridges ancient knowledge with modern innovation—from thousand-year-old irrigation systems to solar-over-canal projects that are redefining water conservation and clean energy in the Southwest. Governor Lewis reflects on resilience as remembrance, the importance of self-determination, and what it means to govern with seven generations in mind during a time of climate uncertainty. This episode offers a masterclass in place-based leadership, showing how honoring cultural memory can generate momentum for a more just, sustainable future.

Are you passionate about rural innovation and community impact? The latest episode of The Groundswell Way podcast is a must-listen! In this episode, Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution leads a dynamic conversation with Al Puchala (CapZone), Kyle Bridgeforth (Bridgeforth Farms), and Chéri Smith (Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy). This group presented a keynote panel at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow in November 2025, setting the stage for this podcast episode, where they share expert perspectives on economic development, agriculture, and clean energy—all with a focus on empowering rural communities. Whether you're a rural leader, policymaker, or just eager to learn from forward-thinking changemakers, this episode is packed with actionable insights and fresh ideas.

Where Resilience Meets Legacy Westside Atlanta churches are carrying forward their civil rights legacy together, building local resilience with Groundswell and key partners. Episode 2 of The Groundswell Way spotlights resilience in a historic part of Atlanta, the Westside, particularly Southwest Atlanta. While Atlanta is known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement, Southwest Atlanta was its incubator. Today, it is nurturing a new movement in that same tradition: the Westside Resilience Corridor. This two-part episode shares the story of the Westside Resilience Corridor and the dynamic ecosystem of community, corporate, and civic partners dedicated to building the social and technical infrastructure that brings it to life. We discuss what the Westside Resilience Corridor is, how it came to be, and why it matters today.

Where Resilience Meets Legacy Westside Atlanta churches are carrying forward their civil rights legacy together, building local resilience with Groundswell and key partners. Episode 2 of The Groundswell Way spotlights resilience in a historic part of Atlanta, the Westside, particularly Southwest Atlanta. While Atlanta is known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement, Southwest Atlanta was its incubator. Today, it is nurturing a new movement in that same tradition: the Westside Resilience Corridor. This two-part episode shares the story of the Westside Resilience Corridor and the dynamic ecosystem of community, corporate, and civic partners dedicated to building the social and technical infrastructure that brings it to life. We discuss what the Westside Resilience Corridor is, how it came to be, and why it matters today.

New Podcast: The Groundswell Way We're excited to share the very first episode of The Groundswell Way podcast, hosted by Matthew Wesley Williams, SVP for Community Development at Groundswell. This new series explores what resilience really means, and how local communities are defining and building it in real time. Episode 1, Spinning Plates in a Hurricane, takes us to West Georgia and East Alabama, where small towns like LaGrange, West Point, and Lanett are navigating decades of disinvestment while coming together to strengthen community power. Local mayors and residents share how home repairs and energy upgrades are transforming lives for seniors and families on fixed incomes. But with $20 million in federal funding suddenly disrupted, community leaders are rallying to ask: What does resilience mean in times like these? Matthew sits down with Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell and author of Rural Renaissance, to unpack this pivotal moment. Together, they highlight three pillars of community resilience that shape Groundswell's work: Access to critical resources and infrastructure Community connection and care Participation in local decision-making This inspiring first episode widens the lens on resilience, showing how community power is built not just through technology, but through relationships, leadership, and shared care. Listen to Spinning Plates in a Hurricane and subscribe to The Groundswell Way wherever you get your podcasts.  

The Groundswell Way is a podcast about building community power through community development for wholistic resilience. Hosted by Matthew Wesley Williams, Senior Vice President of Community Development at Groundswell, this series dives into what resilience means, and what it really takes to build the everyday conditions that are built under blue skies and proven in storms. Each episode explores the principles and practices that define The Groundswell Way, how we walk alongside communities to co-create sustainable systems rooted in shared values, belonging, and participation. Through real stories from places like Baltimore, Atlanta, and the rural South, we highlight how neighbors are shaping their own futures and cutting bills in half in the process. This isn't just about weathering the next crisis. It's about building lasting connections and local infrastructure that serve communities every day. Subscribe to The Groundswell Way wherever you get your podcasts.