The Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program seeks to serve 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 our members with the planning and public policy needs of Oregon’s rural communities.

Our 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. The RARE AmeriCorps Program is now in its 21st year; over the years we have placed more than 450 volunteers and served every Oregon County.

Duties

Each RARE member focuses on community specific projects that fall within the following focus areas: downtown development, public health, transportation planning, community education, economic development, land use planning, food systems planning, and natural resources planning.

Qualifications

RARE members are required to be either U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. In addition, you will need to hold a Bachelor's Degree and demonstrate six months applied community experience as well as coursework or equivalent experience in three or more of the following areas: planning or statistical analysis, planning or economic theory, project management, community or economic development, environmental planning, geographic information systems and grant writing.