About
The Arabella Mansfield Institute for Rural Advocacy combines research, education and advocacy in a uniquely rural approach to improve the quality of life of rural Americans.
Arabella Mansfield
Arabella “Belle” Mansfield was a trailblazing rural legal scholar, professor and civic leader who directly challenged the barriers facing women in public life. When Iowa law limited the bar exam to men, she sued the State of Iowa, won the right to sit for the exam, and became the first woman licensed to practice law in the United States. Beyond the courtroom, she played a central role in organized civic reform, chairing Iowa’s first statewide suffrage convention and helping to professionalize and coordinate the movement fifty years before the 19th Amendment was ratified. Her legacy reflects a belief that structural change requires legal action, education, and organized civic leadership.
Research
The research arm of the Arabella Mansfield Institute for Rural Advocacy functions as an applied think tank focused on rural democracy, civic participation, and equity. Its work centers on translating academic research, field data, and lived rural experience into practical insights that inform messaging, policy development, and organizing strategy. Research may include white papers, landscape analyses, narrative testing, pilot program evaluation, and original studies on information flow, trust, and participation in rural communities. The Institute prioritizes research that is usable rather than abstract, designed to directly support advocates, educators, organizers, and local leaders working to strengthen democratic engagement and public understanding in rural America.
Education
The educational programming of the Arabella Mansfield Institute for Rural Advocacy is built around the principle that people are most persuaded by voices they already know and trust. Programs range from in person and virtual workshops to extended trainings that strengthen civic understanding, narrative development, and communication skills rooted in local context. Participants learn how information actually travels through rural social networks and how to translate complex policy and civic topics into clear, relatable stories. Instruction emphasizes hands on storytelling, content creation, and effective use of social media so participants can communicate authentically within their own communities rather than relying on institutional or abstract messaging.
Advocacy
The advocacy work of the Arabella Mansfield Institute for Rural Advocacy focuses on advancing equity and democratic participation through community centered engagement. The Institute supports issue based advocacy that elevates rural perspectives, aligns research with lived experience, and prioritizes peer driven communication. Advocacy activities may include public education campaigns, narrative and message support for local leaders, strategic convenings around priority issues, and the development of practical tools that help individuals engage lawfully and effectively in civic and policy processes. This approach is designed to build trust, increase participation, and strengthen rural influence in public decision making.
Contact us
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