Email: braden.ravenscraft@mckenzieclt.org
Title: Special Programs Manager
Organization: McKenzie Community Land Trust
Community: McKenzie Valley
Population: 5,232
County Served: Lane County

Meet Braden Ravenscraft (he/him):

Braden grew up in a small town in Arizona and moved to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, where he graduated with his degree in Planning, Public Policy, and Management. Motivated by pragmatic optimism and a lifelong appreciation for nature, he has launched a career exploring how humans can build more sustainable and resilient communities in the face of climate change. Now in his second year of RARE, he is excited to continue learning alongside his host organization, exploring creative solutions for affordable housing and community rebuilding post-disaster. In his free time Braden likes to spend time outside biking, hiking, and camping, as well as playing sports and cheering for the Ducks.

Community and Organization:

The McKenzie Valley consists of unincorporated communities all along the McKenzie River, with McKenzie Bridge near the headwaters all the way downriver to Cedar Flat near Springfield. The region was devastated by the Holiday Farm Fire in September of 2020 and is still struggling to rebuild – four years later, less than 40% of homes have been rebuilt. McKenzie Community Land Trust (MCLT) was created by a diverse group of locals who took notice that affordable housing was not returning after the fire. Nearing two years since its founding date, MCLT seeks to leverage the community land trust model to create permanently affordable housing and spur economic development for all of the McKenzie Valley communities.

Projects:

Braden will be helping MCLT grow both project-wise and operationally, leading the development of internal procedures critical to connecting prospective homeowners to MCLT. In addition, he will regularly conduct outreach to the community and partners both local and statewide as to the mission of MCLT and the opportunities offered by the community land trust model, forging regional partnerships to enhance resiliency. Braden will work with the community of Blue River to create an entrepreneurial needs assessment, and help to further define MCLT’s role in the economic recovery of Blue River and other McKenzie communities. Last but not least, he will explore the creation of a multi-use pedestrian path in Blue River, working with partners and volunteers to create a plan for development, including MCLT holding trail easements.