Home

Year 31 RARE AmeriCorps Program Group Shot

Host Organization and Member Applications are Open for the 2025-26 Service Year!

The mission of the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions, through the assistance of trained graduate-level members who live and work in communities for 11 months.

“Just being present in the community as a dedicated servant of the public has a big impact in this small rural area. I have been surprised over and over again that my ‘reputation precedes me’ simply due to the fact that I have chosen to be here and bring my passion and background to the Illinois Valley.” – Erica Mooney, Year 26, Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District

Upcoming Events

Apr
01

Info Session: Become a RARE Member

On April 1, 2025 at 4:00 pm

More Events

News

  • Helping Rural Communities In Oregon Thrive Through AmeriCorps Program
    By Melanie Moyer, Willamette University Community leaders in rural areas of Oregon are often stretched thin, juggling multiple roles and responsibilities due to staffing shortages or other economic pressures. To support these communities, the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program places college graduates in small communities for 11 months of service. Willamette University…

More News

Connect

RARE – Resource Assistance for Rural Environments

Stories from the Field

  • Nurturing Nature: A Vision & Community Effort for Ash Creek Restoration
    By Gabriella Dominge, Environmental Education Technician for City of Dallas, City of Monmouth, and Falls City With the rising sun and the stillness of the winter air on a crisp Saturday morning, community members and volunteers gathered along a stretch of Ash Creek in Monmouth, Oregon, just west of Salem in the heart of Oregon's wine-growing region. Thi

More Stories from the Field

2024-25 RARE AmeriCorps Placements

View Year 31 RARE Communities in a larger map