Idaho Horizons is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in small, rural towns in Idaho. The program is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation in partnership with University of Idaho Extension.

Horizons is focused on poverty, leadership and community. The program focuses on poverty, because poverty impacts everyone in a community. During the 18-month program, Horizons participants explore the perceptions and the sources of poverty. Poverty is multi-dimensional and must be solved in multiple ways. Horizons builds stronger community leadership, acknowledging that leadership is as important as good roads, great schools and clean water. This initiative embraces the entire community: everyone is needed and everyone has something to contribute. For communities to thrive, everyone has to have an opportunity to prosper.

The Ririe Days Festival was one of the first initiatives undertaken by our local Ririe Horizons chapter of the Idaho Horizons.

Over the course of the year or so following Ririe Days in 2009, the Ririe Horizons group has been in the process of becomming The (RCCD) Ririe Coalition for Community Development. By design, the Horizons program is meant to be temporary in nature (1 - 2 years) and provide training and expertise for rural communities like Ririe to help themselves establish a more permanent community organization run by local leadership. The RCCD is in the final stages of succesfully completing the Idaho Horizons program and has laid down permanent roots that stand to benefit the greater Ririe community for many years to come. The RCCD is actively seeking new members. Please contact Annika Davey @ 208-538-6662 for more information on joining the RCCD.

For more information you may read our blog at: www.ririe.communityblogs.us