Hood River
News
Hood River, Oregon
June 7, 2008
Residents
Committee Receives Grant Funding
Hood River Valley Resident's Committee (HRVRC) received two
grants this spring. The first was a capacity building grant
from Meyer Memorial Trust for $13,250 that will go towards
educational opportunities, rebuilding www.hrvrc.org and
updating technology. The second, from Oregon Community
Foundation's (OCF) Grey Family Fund and Hope Fund, is for
$6,600 and will go towards a collaborative community based
field trip with Hood River high school students this fall,
updating technology, and a farm tour.
HRVRC was founded in 1977 and is a non-profit, member
driven organization whose mission is to protect Hood
River County’s farm and forestland and the livability
of its cities and rural communities through advocacy,
research, education and monitoring land use processes and
decisions.
Jonathan Graca, Executive Director of HRVRC is excited
about the news and opportunity to work in schools. "I'm
hoping to expose 160 HRVHS students to some of the tools
our community is currently using to solve land use
controversies – like land trusts, city and county
planning, and land owners themselves.” "Students need
to see there are two sides to every issue and recognize
that a whole host of new issues and collaborative problem
solving is going to be critical for the coming generation."
Steve Fisk, Principal of Hood River High school thinks
highly of the proposed educational programs at the high
school. "The type of collaboration and connection to our
young people will foster a greater sense and understanding
of our communities need in the future." Kristen Uhler,
teacher at HRVHS is helping HRVRC develop the curriculum.
She says her students "are looking toward their future and
are well-aware of the changes occurring due to
environmental factors." "Hands-on learning creates a
positive connection between community and education."