DoPT Presents at Main Street Now in Tulsa, Oklahoma
In mid-April 2026, DoPT’s Creative Executive Officer Ash Hanson had the honor of attending the Main Street Now gathering with Main Street leaders from across the country in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city alive with culture, creativity, and deep commitment to place. This year's conference centered on the power of rural downtowns as the heart of both local economies and civic life.
Ash led a breakout session, “Falling in Love with Rural Places,” inviting participants to reconnect with the stories, relationships, and sense of belonging that make rural communities so vital. She left feeling energized, inspired, and reminded that when we invest in place-based leadership and shared narrative, we strengthen rural Main Streets and the future of rural communities.
About Main Street Now
Main Street Now is the largest national conference of local leaders working to advance preservation-based economic opportunity in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
This one-of-a-kind event provides local leaders with an opportunity to convene and network with peers from across the country, find solutions to common problems, and discover innovative techniques and tools to strengthen the social, civic, and economic fabric of their communities.