A RARE Opportunity for Professional Growth through Service Learning

Resource Assistance for Rural Environments

Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) is a unique AmeriCorps Program serving Oregon's rural communities through economic and community development and natural resource planning. Housed in the University of Oregon's Community Service Center, we aim to link the energy, expertise of the UO with the planning and public policy needs of Oregon communities.

RARE’s Mission

Important Dates

Application Due: April 29 Invited to Participate: June 3 Community Interview Week: July 11 - 15 Orientation: September 7 - 9 Start in Community: September 12

Member Benefits

Monthly Stipend of $1,500 for eleven months Health Insurance Education Award of $5,500 Nine graduate credits

RARE's mission is to assist Oregon's resource-dependent rural communities while providing supported, applied experience to graduate level students from across the US. RARE members live in rural communities for eleven months and serve cities, counties, non-governmental organizations or state agencies to improve economic and environmental conditions in rural Oregon. Over the past sixteen years, the RARE program has placed more than 365 participants in communities across the state.

Current Projects

As each community has individual needs, each participant focuses on community specific projects typically in the following areas: downtown development, public health, transportation planning, community education, economic development, food systems improvement, and watershed management. A few current projects include:

The member placed with Lake County Development is creating a county wide

renewable energy marketing plan, conducting a carbon footprint audit, and

writing several grants.

The member placed with Port Orford Ocean Resource Team developing a

community water festival, coordinating a local marine reserve designation, and

creating a plastics campaign to reduce plastic waste in Port Orford.

The member placed with Klamath and Lake Community Action Services is

completing a community food assessment, strengthening relationships between

food systems stakeholders, and supporting the growth of community gardens

and farmers' markets.

Life After RARE

Following RARE, most members begin careers in the public sector or enroll in graduate school. In recent years our alumni have enrolled in the following universities: University of Oregon, University of California at Los Angeles, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, University of Virginia, and University of Kentucky. The alumni are pursing master degrees in a variety of disciplines including urban planning, rural studies, sustainable business practices, and sustainable agriculture. Former RARE members work for organizations such as: Gorge Grown Food Network, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Rural Development Initiatives, Portland Development Commission, City of Portland, Peace Corps, and various cities and counties.

Application Deadline is April 29, 2011

For more information about the RARE program please review the flier here. If you have any questions please email us at rare@uoregon.edu or call 541.346.0259.