South Wasco Welcomes New AmeriCorps RARE
South Wasco Alliance (SWA) is very pleased to announce the arrival of Clint Zarnosky, SWA’s second full time Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program service member.
The mission of the RARE program is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions, through the assistance of trained graduate-level members who live and work in communities for 11 months. Clint is able to serve our community through the University of Oregon’s RARE program and generous funding from the Ford Family Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, and the Roundhouse Foundation. He will be advancing work supported through July 2021 by Emily Wingard (SWA’s first full time RARE, 2021-2022), and part-time RAREs Emily Whittier and Eva Kahn (2020-21).
We asked Clint to introduce himself to the South Wasco community. We hope everyone will warmly welcome Clint and his dog pal (Gus) once they arrive September 12th to begin work here with SWA and our community.
Photo courtesy of Clint Zarnosky, August 25, 2022
Message from Clint
Hello everyone!
I am joining you all in South Wasco county as a part of the RARE program from across the country, where I have lived and worked in Washington, DC for the past six years, and I could not be more excited!
Coming from international humanitarian assistance work, I know the RARE program and my time with South Wasco Alliance will be an exciting change - as much as I enjoyed the work I did with the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, managing emergency food security programs in Ethiopia, I have longed for a role where I am closer to the work being done, and I have long wanted to be closer to the people being served. And, since I last farmed, I have longed to once again work closely with local food systems - I spent two years working on vegetable farms in New Jersey before serving as an Agriculture Volunteer with Peace Corps in Madagascar.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my dog Gus, and we’ll surely be getting out to explore all Oregon has to offer. I love riding my bike just about everywhere, and play a few obscure sports when given the chance (Australian Rules Football, hurling, and rugby). I also love climbing and bouldering, hiking, and snowshoeing in the winter.
I’m looking forward to getting to meet all of you soon!
