Tag: Stories from the Field: A RARE AmeriCorps Perspective

Reflecting on Impacts of Urban/Rural Divide Myth

Posted on by vbinnin2

By Erica Mooney, Community Engagement Coordinator, Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District

Author wearing RARE shirt, accompanied by two alumni - all smiling!
Erica Mooney with RARE alumni Anya Moucha (Year 22) and Kyle Kearns (Year 22)

I believe and feel that the greatest impact I had is intangible. I created an energy and practice of connectivity between and across organizations, as well as inspired collaborative mindset and practice. The single tangible accomplishment that feels the most rewarding to me is building relationship with some of the young leaders in the area, including connecting a high school student to the Rural Organizing Project’s fellowship, for which she was accepted and is engaged in currently. I also continued the thread of discussing and naming toxic historical feuds and assumptions, specifically related to the false narrative of the ‘hippie and redneck divide’ by calling out and debunking said myth in many varied settings.

While working long hours and being responsible for finding and applying for the funding and developing the job description for the future of my position, I was amidst applying to a Portland-based foundation. I realized that the way that Portland (urban, college educated norm) views and discusses equity, diversity, and inclusion is a far cry from what is needed to meet people where they are at, on the ground, specific to my experience in Illinois Valley, but upon discussion with friends and peers, relevant to the rural/urban divide myth across the state. I realized that if funders really want to move the needle on acceptance and dismantling white supremacy and classist norms, a lot more deep listening to organizers and community leaders who are not in cities needs to happen. This unfolded through lots of stressed phone calls and long conversations with other RAREs, friends and allies across the nation, and my fellow IV Stream Team staff. This realization allowed me to accept that we were not a fit for the vision that the foundation has of DEI and how to invest in it, as of Spring 2020. The dialog that I began with their staff, I hope and believe, was validated and is now being further recognized due to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the impacts of the pandemic, which have both showed that racism and toxic norms are alive and thriving within virtually all major institutions built on the illusion that this is a free nation, without the acknowledgement that this is broadly stolen land and realignment is only possible through deep changes to the culture that paved over said stolen land.

Photo of the author standing in front of a red flowing currantAbout the author, Erica Mooney: Erica served as the Community Engagement Coordinator for both the Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and the Illinois Valley Watershed Council. Erica increased community presence by collaborating with partners to bring the public educational, outreach, and service projects. They engaged board members in developing their skills and leadership, and communicate with the community via social media, flyering, attending events, and other methods. They planned and facilitated volunteer projects and events, and documented and evaluated program components. As the Community Engagement Coordinator, Erica worked in an office and the outdoors, gaining valuable experience in conservation and rural community engagement.

Adopting the Klamath Basin Resilience Mentality

Posted on by vbinnin2

By Lydia Ivanovic, Rural Tourism Coordinator, Discover Klamath

Crater LakeRural life is characterized is often characterized as slow and even at times stagnant, but then again many folks who don’t live in rural places don’t see the work that community members and the speed at which they can organize around the development of their hometown. In the wake of COVID-19, I have seen my community suffer economic losses that strain small town business and threaten the emerging tourism market. But, I have also borne witness to the very resilience that defines the Klamath Basin, and the opportunity to be a part of that. After the cancellation of the biggest outdoor recreation events for several small Oregon-California border towns, a $4 million loss to be precise, it seemed the bounce-back just wasn’t in our vocabulary. But, I was proven wrong. The event was rescheduled for a few more months out and we were on to the next, pushing along a marketing campaign, and installing the very first Quilt Barn panel on the Tulelake Cold Storage building, a shining beacon for the multi-panel quilt trail to come.

I quickly adopted the Klamath Basin way and resilience became my M.O., too. No longer able to host the first ever community float event bringing visitors to our waterways? We now have the opportunity to construct an industry leading event for community members themselves to the float the waterways and engage in a multi-stakeholder conversation on what story we want to tell to visitors and lift the voices in our community through the connection we have with water.

Rural Klamath CountyNo longer able showcase local producers in food trucks at the upcoming Oktoberfest event? Instead, we will create the first local food guide in the Klamath Basin and take on individual outreach to connect farmers and foodies.

Maybe we can’t showcase the restaurant procuring local products in a highly trafficked restaurant weekend right now, but come fall time, an open air market might be just the thing to give local restaurants the spotlight they deserve.

In a matter of weeks, much of the work that I came to do in my community became impossible, stalled in the planning phase. But just as quickly, we came together to identify new gaps and “offline” opportunities and new strategies were put to the test. As a RARE member, I have been at the front lines of this creative thinking, leading all team meetings, researching regional examples of the work we want to accomplish, and always serving as a a point person for every comment, query, and the occasional complement.

About the author, Lydia Ivanovic: Lydia completed her undergraduate studies at Smith College in western Massachusetts, majoring in Economics. Having worked on her school’s food sustainability campaign, Lydia is excited to see her food systems organizing skills put to work in developing the Basin’s agritourism network, among other projects. While Lydia hails from the big apple, she is excited to embrace the close-knit nature of rural communities and work alongside grassroots organizations to inspire real change. When not in the office, Lydia loves rock climbing, hiking, and playing the saxophone.