A RESILIENT REGION HAS,ATITS FOUNDATION, THRIVING COMMUNITIES. PURDUE UNIVERSITY AS THE HOST OF THE NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NCRCRD) USES A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO BUILD THRIVING RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS AND INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. THE NCRCRD IS FOCUSED ON THREE INTERCONNECTED SYSTEMS: COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, AND HOUSEHOLDS. A ROBUST NCRCRD ENABLES THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EACH SYSTEM'S GOALS BY CREATING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS.CREATING RESILIENT ECONOMIES AND COMMUNITIESRESILIENCE REQUIRES MANY AND COMPLEX INTERCONNECTING DECISIONS MADE BY INDIVIDUALS, HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES. THE RESILIENCE OF THESE INTERCONNECTED SYSTEMS RELIES ON THEIR ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK BETTER AFTER MAJOR SHOCKS TO THEIR VARIOUS CAPITALS SUCH AS HUMAN, BUILT, FINANCIAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL.PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESSMANY FACTORS INFLUENCE HEALTH, INCLUDING HEALTH BEHAVIOR, CLINICAL CARE, THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT; HEALTHY LIFESTYLE; WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; AND TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ARE LAGGING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS ON RURAL RESIDENTS' OVERALL WELLBEING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENTAT ITS CORE, LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MUST INCORPORATE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TO POSITION HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE LOCALLY AND IN THE NCR. THE NCRCRD IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO ADDRESS CONSTRAINTS AND ENHANCE THE CAPACITY FOR INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION.