Meet Our RARE AmeriCorps Participant: Alina Launchbaugh

Alina Launchbaugh RARE Resource Assistance for Rural Environments

Alina Launchbaugh received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies/Theology from Manhattan Christian College. As a student, the main focus of her studies was new venture creation and marketing. After graduating from college, Alina lived and worked in Nyeri, Kenya as a Youth Enterprise Volunteer. In Kenya, Alina assisted youth at the Children and Youth Empowerment Center by working on business plan writing and development. Following Alina’s second year with RARE AmeriCorps – Resource Assistance for Rural Environments, she plans to attend law school.

Alina is placed with Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance (MFDA), a newly created organization under the umbrella of the Community Development Partnership, which is a group built of community members who are from service organizations, clubs, and business and property owners or city officials. Recently, MFDA joined the Oregon Main Street Program. Five months after MFDA was created, the organization accomplished the administrative tasks necessary to move forward with their established goals and objectives. Specifically, MFDA formed an executive board, assigned committees, compiled by-laws, obtained financial and in-kind resources for the hiring of a RARE participant, and garnered the support of the City of Milton-Freewater, Milton-Freewater Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Development Partnership, The Milton-Freewater Area Foundation and the N. Main Street Merchants & Property Owners.

With Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance, Alina will work as the organization’s Main Street Program Manager. Specifically, Alina will conduct research needed to identify available commercial space in the business district. Alina will also take the lead on moving forward the City’s newly developed Main Street Program via an array of advocacy and outreach efforts.
Organization: Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance
Community: Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Population: 6,740
County: Umatilla

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *