I’ll be honest: I was skeptical at my RARE orientation in 2012, when Titus was going on and on about the RARE family. I was like, sure, these people seem cool and nice, but family? I wasn’t convinced. I had recently been married, and was very content spending most of my time with my husband. I had an amazing RARE placement working at a farm outside of Springfield focused on K-12 education, local food systems organizing, and training beginning farmers, and I really wasn’t looking to socialize much beyond that. I just wasn’t in the market for family. But, as the year progressed and I saw these folks at trainings, informal gatherings, and from hosting one at our house many a weekend *shout out to Katya for getting me out of the house*; before I knew it, I had become friends with this phenomenal group of people. I knew that if I needed anything they’d be there to support, and they knew they could expect the same from me. I wasn’t going on all the extra RARE trips or social gatherings, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel this closeness with this RARE cohort. That’s the beauty of RARE. It is bigger than an individual and really bigger than itself.
Since that service year, I think even more so actually, I see and feel a part of the RARE family. Working in the Oregon food systems world, I come across many RAREs. This year in my role working at Oregon Food Bank in community food systems, I get the privilege of supporting the RARE Food Systems Cohort through monthly calls. This group of women are fire. I am inspired by the amount of passion, thoughtfulness, and critical thinking they bring to the work. I also continue to connect with RARE alum and people impacted by the RARE program. Particularly during this current COVID-19 health crisis, I’ve seen how deep RARE support and reach goes. Through finding placements for RARE’s, modifying work plans, and general broad based support, the RARE network is expansive.
When reflecting on RARE, I can’t help but think about who makes up the RARE family. To be part of the RARE family is a privilege. Privilege itself isn’t inherently good or bad – it is determined by how you choose to use it. In acknowledging the privilege I do have, I want to continue to push and expand and support what the RARE family is, who is part of it and who has access to this amazing network of people. Titus, I believe you now. There is a RARE Family, and I’m grateful to be part of it.
Katy Giombolini, Year 19