In January 2003, the Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF) contacted land grant universities in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington to involve them in a program initiative to address rural poverty. After a strategic planning process, NWAF had shifted from traditional grant making to operating programs that address poverty. One program was called "Horizons." Its goal was to nurture rural leadership and mobilize local energy to address poverty. To Cooperative Extension leaders, the prospect of delivering the program was both exciting and daunting. "Horizons" mobilized everyday people in Minnesota communities to work together to address poverty. For the University of Minnesota Extension (UMN Extension), the initiative created an illuminating experience in using deliberative dialogue as a tool for poverty reduction.