Supporting Partners

We always say that relationships are critical to making things happen in rural Oregon and that goes for us as well! We are grateful for our programmatic statewide partners who help inform, guide, and support the work we do: Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Main Street Program, Travel Oregon, Energy Trust of Oregon, The Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Sustainable Northwest, Lake County Resources Initiative, Geos Institute, and Black Rural Network. These statewide partners provide topically focused expertise to RARE members and community partners via training, support, monthly calls, and direct consultation. Our partners provide funding to support community-based projects, initiatives and training opportunities and we lean on their experience to help us identify and select successful RARE community placements.

Following is a summary of each organization and how they support the RARE AmeriCorps Program:

Oregon Food Bank (OFB) has the following mission: “To eliminate hunger and its root cause… because no one should be hungry.” Oregon Food Bank collects food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. OFB distributes food through a Statewide Network of 21 Regional Food Banks and approximately 1,200 food assistance sites serving all of Oregon and Clark County, Washington. OFB funds between 2-5 RARE placements on an annual basis. Additionally, OFB staff provide topically focused expertise to RARE AC members and community partners via topically focused training, support, monthly calls, and direct consultation.

The Oregon Main Street Program provides assistance, training, and technical services to communities who want to strengthen, preserve, and revitalize their historic downtown commercial districts. The goal of the proven Main Street Approach is to build high quality, livable, and sustainable communities that will grow Oregon’s economy while maintaining a sense of place. The OMS Program is part of Heritage Programs in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. OMS staff provide topically focused expertise to RARE members and community partners via training, support, monthly calls, and direct consultation. Additionally, OMS provides access to additional grant funds for community partners to access for an array of downtown development projects.

The mission of the Oregon Tourism Commission (Travel Oregon) is to encourage economic growth and to enhance the quality of life in Oregon through a strengthened economic impact of tourism throughout the state. Travel Oregon (TO) partially (~50%) funds two to five RARE placements on an annual basis. TO staff provide topically focused expertise to RARE members and community partners via training, support, monthly calls, and direct consultation. Additionally, TO provides access to additional grant funds for community partners to access for an array of destination development projects.

Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) is committed to providing comprehensive, sustainable energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Customers’ energy-saving and renewable power projects put money back into households’ pockets and grow Oregon’s clean energy economy. ETO partially (~20%) funds two to five RARE placements on an annual basis. ETO staff provide topically focused expertise to RARE members and community partners via training, support, monthly calls, and direct consultation. Additionally, ETO provides access to additional grant funds for community partners to access for an array of renewable energy related projects.

The Ford Family Foundation’s (TFFF) mission statement is “successful citizens and vital rural communities.” TFFF serves the people and the communities of Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. TFFF partially funds up to 10 RARE placements on an annual basis. TFFF staff also provide access to their training facilities in Roseburg, Oregon, and offers at least one training on community building methods to all RARE Members.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management coordinates and maintains a statewide emergency services system for emergency and disaster communications. OEM is made up of four Sections: Director’s Office, Technology and Response, Operations and Preparedness, and Mitigation and Recovery Services. It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to lead collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters regardless of cause.

 

Sustainable Northwest (SNW) works at the intersection of environment, community, and economy, brining entrepreneurial solutions to natural resources challenges to keep lands healthy and provide economic and community benefits. SNW works on the ground in communities, collaborating to create long-term benefits. Their work focuses on: forests, farms, and ranches; clean energy; green markets; and water throughout the Greater Northwest. SNW staff provide technical assistance, training, and resources to 7-10 RARE AC members whose service projects align with SNW’s work.

Lake County Resources Initiative’s (LCRI) mission is to demonstrate an economic, ecological, and sustainable approach to natural resource management, climate disruption solutions, youth and community education, and increased economic development in the pursuit of continual improvement of the quality of life for present and future generations. LCRI works closely with RARE AC to implement and execute development of a statewide energy planning strategy, hosting a RARE AC member on an annual basis to support this work. In addition, LCRI provides training and technical assistance to RARE AC members serving within the renewable energy arena.

Geos Institute is a dedicated team of climate resilience practitioners that uses its technical and process expertise to help local leaders build climate resilience in their communities, with a strong mission to help communities build resilience in the face of climate change using science and local knowledge. Geos Institute uses a holistic approach to prioritizes the needs of ecosystems and those on the frontlines of climate change impacts. Geos Institute will provide training and topically focused expertise to RARE AC members addressing climate and resilience oriented projects.

 

Black Rural Network is a new Oregon-based network that is focused on knitting together the state’s small number of Black rural residents into a larger system of support. RARE AC will work closely with its founder, LaNicia Duke, to conduct trainings and offer support to members of color serving in rural Oregon.

 

In summary, the RARE consortium enhances our capacity through partnerships. Consortium members provide topically focused expertise, have broad networks that expand our reach, and are attuned to the needs of rural communities.