“I Am Oregon” award sponsored by Meyer Memorial Trust recognizes citizen problem-solvers across the state
Cris Roberts and Shelly Bowe were named two of eleven regional representatives for the “I Am Oregon” campaign, which called on Oregonians to nominate and recognize everyday heroes doing good in their communities. The campaign received more than 1,200 nominations from across the state.
Roberts was nominated for her tireless work spreading research-based horticultural education across Tillamook County and assisting with projects that benefit the community. Roberts serves as Project Leader for the Oregon State University Master Gardener program. She volunteers every Friday and spends half the day at the Tillamook Youth Correctional Facility teaching incarcerated youth gardening skills, helping them to improve the facility and produce food that they can use for meals. The inmates receive high-school science credit for the 11-week course designed by Roberts.
"Cris is a very humble person and works quietly, often behind the scenes, however she makes a big impact. Cris is greatly respected by the young men she works with because of her dedication, compassion and wisdom. She is a creative teacher; helping the young men learn much more than simply how to garden. She is helping shape young lives that some people have given up on,” said nominator Joy Jones.
Bowe was nominated for her devotion to building a strong community food infrastructure in Tillamook County. Using her extensive personal contacts combined with her years of of experience in both farming and as a restauranteur, she started the nonprofit Food Roots. Although Shelly focuses her work locally, she collaborates with all who are willing to participate. In recent years, she's been a driving force behind the North Coast Food Web, a collection of nonprofits and food related entities across multiple counties, and she is active in the statewide small farms scene.
“Shelly is an enthusiastic, tireless community firecracker,” said nominator Jim Fanjoy. “To me, she represents not only the best of Oregon, but the good that can come of a person who selflessly gives their heart for the betterment of their neighbors.”
Roberts and Bowe were selected as the North Coast regional representatives by a group of their peers at the Oregon Unlimited Roadshow, a series of networking events that convened community-minded Oregonians in six cities across the state. They both received a $100 gift card and rain jacket from Columbia Sportswear and a trip to the Conference on Volunteering and Service in Washington, DC this June. The conference is the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. Roberts will attend the conference with other regional representatives from every corner of the state, from a teen to an octogenarian, from those working to improve access to health care in rural communities to community arts.
“I Am Oregon” was launched by Meyer Memorial Trust to kick off Oregon Unlimited, a new online tool and network designed for the “21st Century frontier” as a virtual commons enabling Oregonians to share ideas and resources and connect to take action for the public good. Haile and the other regional representatives from across the state will share what they learn from conference through Oregon Unlimited.
About Oregon State University Master Gardener Program
The Oregon State University Master Gardener Program is an (OSU) Extension Service program that educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. This program also facilitates the training of a highly educated corp of volunteers. These volunteers extend sustainable gardening information to their communities through education and outreach programs.
About Food Roots
Food Roots serves as a catalyst and advocate for change in the Oregon North Coast food system. Food Roots produces and shares local food, raises awareness and understanding, provides training and educational resources and works to increase food system infrastructure. Their programs strive to increase local food production and access, increase community assets, support beginning farmers, and strengthen our regional economy.
About Oregon Unlimited
Launched by Meyer Memorial Trust this March, Oregon Unlimited (oregonunlimited.org) is a free open platform that enables Oregonians to share ideas and forge connections to solve problems, start projects and accomplish their shared goals. From concerned citizens exploring solutions to seasoned problem-solvers already at work, Oregon Unlimited is open to all “trailblazers” who want to make a difference. The platform is a virtual commons for all Oregonians—designed to make it easy to discover people and projects by region, form teams and to host group projects.
About Meyer Memorial Trust
Meyer Memorial Trust is a private foundation that represents the personal philanthropy of Fred G. Meyer, whose will established the foundation upon his death. Meyer Memorial Trust has made close to $600 million in grants and program-related investments to tax exempt organizations primarily in Oregon since it began operating in 1982. Its corpus stands at more than $700 million in May 2013 and it expects to award around $32 million this year. The foundation has no connection to Fred Meyer Inc., the retail enterprise.
No comments:
Post a Comment