Paige Crenshaw

Meet Paige Crenshaw:

Originally hailing from Chicago, IL, Paige studied Sustainable Community Development and Sociology & Social Justice at Northland College in Ashland, WI. After working on both urban and rural farms of different scales during her undergraduate years, Paige developed her own food ethic and understanding of what the relationships between and across food, soil, regional development means for community resilience and long-term sustainability. This understanding led her to explore other facets of community work, spanning multiple sectors — public health, sustainable food systems, and cross-community collaboration. Paige is thrilled to dig into potential and existing possibilities for community development in Southern Oregon. Paige is also jazzed about swimming in natural bodies of water, tidal pools, contra dancing, and garlic.

Community and Organization:

The present life experiences of Southern Oregonians vary greatly from urban to rural, affluent to low-income neighborhoods, and ethnic backgrounds. Southern Oregon’s food system, rich with history and once robust in pears, wineries, and ranches, is undergoing a period of transition and tension with the rapid onset of hemp production. The region experiences disproportionate rates of homelessness, social isolation, and substance abuse. Based in Medford, The Gordon Elwood Foundation is a private charitable foundation that invests in children, individuals, families and communities in southern Oregon. The Rogue Valley Food System Network is a nonprofit collaborative that brings together businesses, nonprofit organizations, government entities, farmers, and passionate community members between Jackson and Josephine Counties to improve the food environment in the Rogue Valley. The Jefferson Regional Health Alliance is a collaboration of regional community leaders from all sectors learning and working together to improve the health and healthcare resources of Southern Oregonians.

Project:

This position will support the Gordon Elwood Foundation by fostering relationships, strengthening collective capacity, and creating pathways for collaboration and resource sharing between networks. The Rogue Valley Food Systems Network is reinvigorating its regional vision and organizational plan & activities. The RARE, Paige Crenshaw, will assist in facilitating in-network communication development, as well as in the development of new pathways for engagement and education about food systems with Southern Oregon. The Jefferson Regional Health Alliance (JRHA) acts as the convener and coordinating neutral party for the regional multi-partner Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The RARE will engage in the continued development of the CHIP. The Foundation’s work plan for the year is based on several strategies for carrying forth the mission and vision. Paige Crenshaw will provide support in implementing the foundation’s collaboration strategy as part of our overall community building plan.