Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After attaining her Bachelors Degree, Laura began a term of service as an AmeriCorps Land Protection Associate at Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. As an AmeriCorps volunteer she coordinated educational events, built community support for a conservation planning effort, and delivered presentations to local government and non-profit committees to garner support for conservation projects. Following her year with the RARE Program, Laura plans to apply to the University of Oregon’s Masters in Community and Regional Planning Program.
Placement: City of Roseburg
Population: 21,181
Location: Roseburg
Sponsor: NeighborWorks Umpqua
Supervisor: Virginia Elandt
County: Douglas
NeighborWorks Umpqua / Southern Oregon. Food Systems.
NeighborWorks Umpqua is a private rural 501(c)(3) organization established in 1991 to develop affordable housing for low and moderate income residents in Douglas County, Oregon. NeighborWorks Umpqua began as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, with development of their first affordable multi-family rental housing complex in nearly 20 years. In 1999, the organization added community-based economic development to their mission. In addition, NeighborWorks Umpqua expanded their service area to include Coos and Curry counties.
The RARE participant placed with the NeighborWorks Umpqua will conduct a comprehensive inventory of regional food systems and resources in Douglas County. The participant will examine local food self-sufficiency including local retail, livable wage farming, and local farmers markets. Additionally, the participant will work to form partnerships with the local farming and agricultural community as a means to increase involvement, and to increase the ability to produce and market locally grown products.
More on RARE
Meet more of our RARE participants here!
More on Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon.
Now accepting applications. Applications must be received by April 26, 2013. Apply Now!