Our Approach
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center cultivates vibrant and prosperous rural communities in Eastern Oregon.
Local Solutions
There are a number of factors people use in determining where they will live and work. The Rural Engagement & Vitality (REV) Center connects communities with university resources in order to provide rural Oregon residents with more opportunities. This fosters a brighter future and creates opportunities for the next generation of rural leaders to envision lives for themselves in the region.
In eastern Oregon, we work…
to address issues and produce research-based solutions for communities,
provide project-based teaching and learning experiences for Eastern Oregon University faculty and students,
so problems can be addressed using the talents of students who will become the next generation of rural leaders.
The Rural Engagement & Vitality (REV) Center is a nonprofit started in 2020 by Wallowa Resources and Eastern Oregon University. REV cultivates vibrant and prosperous communities throughout eastern Oregon connecting partners with much needed capacity and resources, including assets at EOU, to advance community and economic development.
A few examples of our approach are:
Most rural Oregon cities don’t have a full-time city planner. This hampers rural Oregon’s ability to secure state resources and meet housing demand while preserving small community charm. The REV Center’s Rural Planning Program is currently working with the City of Joseph as part of the REV’s efforts to provide small rural communities with access to planning services and create career pathways for EOU students interested in public service and local politics.
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In Morrow County, Eastern Oregon University faculty and students conducted community engagement to reach transportation disadvantaged populations in the county using surveying and data analysis to improve outcomes. This state-funded initiative’s goal was to improve mobility and access to transportation in rural areas.
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Using the talents of faculty-led students at Eastern Oregon University, for the Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC), the REV Center produced a regional socioeconomic analysis to provide insight into the potential economic impact of changes in forest management activities.
OUR NETWORK
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center is a member of the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N), an international network of more than 60 universities and colleges partnering with localities throughout the United States and world.
EPIC-N members unite the human capital of universities with local governments, and communities, to improve the quality of life and social wealth for all involved.