BEYOND THE CLOCK: A Learning Exchange for Rural Connectors and Cultural Workers is a monthly online series hosted by the Department of Public Transformation and Voices for Rural Resilience, in partnership with the Rural Assembly. This month's BEYOND THE CLOCK will feature a conversation with Maria Sykes!

After graduating from Auburn University’s College of Architecture + Planning, a program known for a focus on community-engaged rural work, Maria Sykes sought after a community where her skills and passions could be utilized for good. Following a summer visit to the town of Green River (pop. 952) in beautiful southeastern Utah, she moved there to co-found Epicenter with colleagues from Auburn in 2009. Epicenter is a non-profit organization focused on rural investment through arts and design. Maria has been working in rural design for just over a decade, but the work has been honored many times including by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, the Utah Housing Coalition, the Community Foundation of Utah, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and the Design Futures Council. Sykes is the Executive Director of Epicenter and has a contagious passion for working with small communities from Southeastern Utah to East Iceland and beyond.

Join us in conversation on February 8th at 4pm CST. Registration is FREE, but required! Please register at: https://tinyurl.com/btc-mariasykes

Find out more about Maria and Epicenter at: https://ruralandproud.org/