Working with the Gorge Commission
The Columbia River Gorge is a scenic and rural place. I knew it was special and kept special by some entity, but never found out what the entity was until well into my first RARE AmeriCorps term with the Port of Cascade Locks. With further conversations with community members, I kept arriving upon the phrase “Gorge Commission” (short for Columbia River Gorge Commission.) Conversations about the mystifying Gorge Commission often included the Commission’s importance and prominence as a regional agency. After hearing the communities within the Gorge comment on Gorge Commission, it has been very rewarding being on the other side of that conversation. I’ve learned more about the Commissions ability to act regionally. The Gorge Commission has a bi-state compact that makes it a unique planning agency, one of the only scenic areas that has this uniqueness. The compact had to be federally approved, therefore giving the Gorge Commission policy-making authority that can have federal-level implementation. Working with the Gorge Commission has allowed me to see different aspects of public policy and planning at work at an entirely different level.
About the Author: Jason Sergeant received his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University and his Masters in Architecture from the New School of Architecture and Design. Jason choose his educational path as a result of his desire to help cities and towns plan for growth and redevelopment in a manner that focuses on embracing their identity and unique attributes. Jason has worked as an intern architect, adjunct instructor, and a planning consultant. Jason joined the RARE AmeriCorps Program alongside his wife, Rebecca, and their daughter Mary. Jason was placed with the Columbia River Gorge Commission for his second year with the RARE AmeriCorps Program.