Known as the Nation's Museum, the Smithsonian Institution has served as the touchstone destination for American history and culture for over 178 years. However, for most of this time, our collections, objects, and stories have only been accessible for those who are able to visit Washington, D.C. Conceived in 2023, the Smithsonian's Rural Initiative aims to connect with rural and Tribal communities across the nation as a resource to tell their local stories and center them in the larger American narrative. In this keynote address, Andy Mink, Director of the Rural Initiative, will share how these efforts are being operationalized from lessons learned in a year-long Needs Sensing research project. Spoiler alert: schools and educators are key to these efforts.