National Leaders Are Coming to the 2025 SOAR Summit, Will YOU Be in the Room?
When the nation’s top think tanks want to hear from Appalachia, you show up.
That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Anthony F. Pipa of the Brookings Institution and Brent Orrell of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) as featured speakers at the 2025 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
They aren’t just visiting. They’re coming to listen and to ensure that rural America has a seat at the table where decisions are made.
This Isn’t Business As Usual. It’s National.
Brookings and AEI don’t show up just anywhere. Their presence in Corbin this August signals something powerful: What’s happening in Eastern Kentucky matters, not just locally, not regionally, but nationally.
They’re here because of you, the doers, dreamers, and difference-makers who are building a rural economy of the future from the ground up.
Meet the National Voices Joining Our Local Movement
Anthony F. Pipa, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, leads Brookings’ Reimagining Rural Policy Initiative, pushing for smarter, more equitable investment in rural places. Pipa has shaped U.S. global development policy, advised the State Department, and now works to ensure federal resources reach the places they’re needed most.
Brent Orrell Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a leading national voice on economic mobility and workforce strategy, focuses on disconnected youth, veterans, justice-involved individuals, and neurodiverse populations. His work on the Workforce Futures Initiative, alongside Brookings and Harvard, has put rural challenges front and center in national policy conversations.
Together, they bring a rare blend of influence, insight, and intention to rural development.
Why You Need to Be There
Let’s be honest: rural places are often talked about, not talked to.
This is different. This is your chance to:
- Shape the narrative of what’s possible in Eastern Kentucky.
- Connect with national experts who are driving funding, policy, and innovation.
- Be part of a rural movement that’s gaining national traction.
Whether you’re in government, education, entrepreneurship, or community work, this is your platform to be heard, be inspired, and build something lasting.
If you’ve ever asked, “Why aren’t rural voices at the table?” This is that table.
And your seat is waiting.
What You’ll Experience at the 2025 SOAR Summit
August 26–29 | Corbin Arena, Corbin, KY
- The EKY Experience, presented by Appalachian Regional Healthcare – an immersive, interactive Expo Hall
- SOAR Inspires Awards, presented by KCTCS
- Taste of Corbin, presented by Whitaker Bank, and Toast to Corbin, sponsored by Corbin Tourism and powered by Ale-8-One
- Keynotes and breakout sessions from Brookings, AEI, the Rockefeller Foundation, and others
- Hands-on tools, networking, and momentum-building across sectors
Ticket Options
With Early Bird pricing closed, attendees now have flexible options to join the Summit:
- All-Access Pass – $300
Includes full programming, all Plenary Sessions, Taste of Corbin (Presented by Whitaker Bank), SOAR Inspires Awards (Presented by KCTCS), breakfast (August 28-29), and Lunch (August 28). - 2-Day Programming Pass (Aug. 26–27) – $150
Includes breakout sessions, EKY Experience, and the SOAR Inspires Awards (Presented by KCTCS). - 2-Day Plenary Pass (August 28–29) — $200
Includes Plenary Sessions, the Taste of Corbin reception (Presented by Whitaker Bank), breakfast (August 28-29), and lunch (August 28).
🔗 Register now at soar-ky.org/summit
Eastern Kentucky Isn’t on the Sidelines Anymore. We’re on the Radar.
The SOAR Summit is where national meets local, where ideas become action, and where Appalachians lead the conversation.
Don’t wait for change.
Be in the room where it happens.