Running an arts, architecture, and rural investment nonprofit (Epicenter), building homes, and avoiding booms and busts in Green River (UT) with Maria Sykes

Running an arts, architecture, and rural investment nonprofit (Epicenter), building homes, and avoiding booms and busts in Green River (UT) with Maria Sykes

From The Rural Towns Project Podcast by Dax Jacobson

November 9, 2025 · 28 min · Episode 46

About this episode

Maria Sykes discusses her work with Epicenter in Green River, UT, focusing on arts, affordable housing, and rural investment.

In this episode, I talk to Maria Sykes, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Epicenter (https://ruralandproud.org/) in Green River, UT. Maria shares with me how and why she came to Green River from the Deep South 16 years ago and why she stays. We talk about the nonprofit Maria co-founded and leads, Epicenter, and its focus on art, affordable housing, and rural investment in Green River. Maria describes art residencies and events, like Green River Rocks, and housing design and development t...

People in this episode

Host: Dax Jacobson

Guest: Maria Sykes

Topics covered

  • nonprofit
  • arts
  • architecture
  • rural investment
  • affordable housing
  • community development

Keywords

  • nonprofit
  • Green River
  • Epicenter
  • affordable housing
  • arts
  • community development
  • rural investment
  • architecture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Epicenter

Places: Green River, Deep South

More episodes of The Rural Towns Project Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Rural Towns Project Podcast podcast page.