Erica Mooney
Email: communitypollinator@gmail.comOrganization: Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and Illinois Valley Watershed Council
Community: The Illinois River Valley Watershed
Meet Erica Mooney:
A self-described community pollinator, Erica Mooney hails from the Great Lakes state of Michigan. They are passionate about connecting global health to personal responsibility and well-being; working at the nexus of sustainability and social justice. Drawn into planning by the Ypsilanti Climate Action Plan process, Erica sees the need to leverage plan processes in service of supporting and integrating community-led efforts. Erica was a leader of Eastern Michigan University’s campus-community garden and worked on a variety of stewardship projects, such as the launch of the annual EcoJustice & Activism Conference. After graduating in 2014, Erica continued to serve and grow her skills by serving on the board of First Fridays Ypsilanti. They then moved to nourish their permaculture and meditation practices as staff of Song of the Morning, in the Pigeon River watershed of Northern Michigan. Drawn home after travels and adventures, she dove back into civic engagement as part of Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsilanti. Erica is deeply grateful for trainings from the Climate Justice Alliance, the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan, Young People For!, Focus the Nation, Coaching for Social Change, and the vibrant culture and skilled organizers of Southeast Michigan. Seeking grounding, focus, and to deepen knowledge of watershed-based health indicators, Erica is grateful to be living in beautiful Southern Oregon and building relationships to continue collaborating for the health and well being of all living systems.
Community and Organization:
The Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (IVSWCD) is one of 45 such districts in a statewide program under the Oregon Department of Agriculture. It offers technical and financial assistance to citizens, landowners, and other organizations for efforts to restore, conserve, and enhance the natural resources of the Illinois River and watershed. The Illinois Valley Watershed Council is a nonprofit organization focused on providing landowners with technical and financial assistance in service of stream health and fish habitat. The IV Stream Team (IVSWCD & IVWC) share an office in Cave Junction. Both organizations are stewarding their partnerships to enrich and support the community through coordinated engagement.
The City of Cave Junction (2,395) sits at the confluence of the East and West forks of the Illinois River. The Illinois River Watershed drains part of the Northern California Klamath Mountains and Southwestern Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountains, running 56 miles before emptying into the Rogue River. The Illinois is a stronghold for wild coho salmon, a Wild & Scenic River, and is known as one of the most beautiful and challenging rivers to raft in Oregon.
Project:
The RARE member, Erica Mooney, will serve as Community Engagement Coordinator for both the Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and the Illinois Valley Watershed Council. Erica will increase community presence by collaborating with partners to bring the public educational, outreach, and service projects. They will engage board members in developing their skills and leadership, and communicate with the community via social media, flyering, attending events, and other methods. They will plan and facilitate volunteer projects and events, and document and evaluate program components. As the Community Engagement Coordinator, Erica will work in an office and the outdoors, gaining valuable experience in conservation and rural community engagement.