When ALF Oregon launched the Urban Rural Connection Project, our aim with the Regional Dialogues was to create spaces with a high-level of trust and candor so that we could report back on these conversations. We also wanted to support three volunteer committees dedicated to completing three projects around prominent issues contributing to or representative of Oregon’s urban rural divide.
We hope that the website, the report chapters, and projects, as presented on this website, are reviewed and shared broadly. We also hope that they contribute to a better understanding and potentially inspire collaboration across the urban rural divide.
What may be the most fascinating piece of information coming out of the Regional Dialogues is the consistent and frequent expression that people sitting down together to share their own and learn about other’s perspective and lived experiences is the best way not just to bridge divides but solve the biggest challenges in their own communities.
Dialogue across differences is a core part of the ALF Oregon Fellows Program. In our Fellows Program and other programming, we have always looked to advance listening, not just to then reply, but listen to understand.
From here, ALF Oregon looks to provide more opportunities for our Fellows and Senior Fellows to learn about Oregon communities different from theirs and to create spaces for conversations of learning. For now, our efforts will remain within the ALF Oregon network.
With the Fellows Program, we will continue to:
Include urban rural differences and perspectives in our curriculum
Recruit Fellows that are seasoned leaders and also represent Oregon's diversity, including race, geography, sexual orientation, gender, professional sector, religion, and income level.
Visit communities and invite speakers to highlight distinct challenges, economies, and successes across Oregon
With the Senior Fellow network (graduates of the ALF Oregon Fellows Program), ALF Oregon will:
For the 2021-2022 Fellows year, invite to a meal or gathering with Executive Director Lisa Watson and Program Manager Kelley Whitmore when we visit the following communities: Klamath Falls, Sisters, Roseburg, Hood River, Warm Springs and Burns.
Host two Zoom events focused on urban or rural issues in 2021-2022 where Senior Fellows learn about prominent issues facing rural and urban communities.
Support and host our White Leaders for Racial Justice, Conversations on Houselessnes, BIPOC Check-in hour, and LGBTQ+ Power Hour.
Are you a Senior Fellow with an idea for engaging the network? Please contact Kelley Whitmore (kelley@alfo.org). We love to hear from Senior Fellows! For the above events, details forthcoming over ALF Oregon's regular communications.
If you are interested in learning more about ALF Oregon, first take a look at our organizational website, www.alfo.org. Then, reach out to Executive Director Lisa Watson (lisa@alfo.org) or Program Manager Kelley Whitmore (kelley@alfo.org) if you have questions or want to talk about our work. For this URCP, please contact Kelley.