In July 2014, the RARE-Resource Assistance for Rural Environments-AmeriCorps Program celebrated its twentieth anniversary of service to rural Oregon communities. Having taken the lead on a variety of city, community and regional initiatives, the program has developed a strong reputation in rural Oregon and enhanced university outreach and service to these communities. “The twentieth anniversary of the RARE AmeriCorps Program provides both a milestone and an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of this wonderful organization.” said Titus Tomlinson, coordinator for the RARE AmeriCorps Program.
RARE celebrated at the Brothers’ Ranch in Creswell, Oregon. Among the beautiful setting, amazing food, and great music, more than 150 members, supervisors, and partners came out in support of the RARE AmeriCorps Program. This event, part reunion, part fundraiser and part community service project offered a wonderful opportunity to connect or reconnect the RARE AmeriCorps family members.
The RARE AmeriCorps Program was founded in 1994 as a way to bring service-learning to Oregon and to offer the skills, experience, and idealism of University of Oregon students to many of Oregon’s depressed rural communities. Since its inception, the RARE AmeriCorps Program has placed over 400 graduate-level participants in countless rural communities across the state. RARE’s mission is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their own economic, social, and environmental conditions. To achieve this mission, every year RARE places participants in communities across the State of Oregon where they work for public agencies, special districts, and nonprofit organizations on issues of rural community building. The RARE AmeriCorps Program’s impact is twofold, building capacity in rural communities with limited resources while also providing participants with invaluable field experience in community development and planning—a true win-win situation.
The RARE AmeriCorps program is accepting 2015-2016 Applications; the deadline to apply is April 24, 2015.