Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself
Apr 21 // Lily Brislen // Roseburg, Oregon
CATEGORY: Rural Life
It feels a bit funny to ‘profile’ myself, but it seems that giving you, the reader, some background on who I am and where I’m coming from is the best way to allow you to decide for yourself how many grains of salt should accompany my blog posts.
My sister (left) and me at our cousin's wedding this summer
I’ve been living in the beautiful Umpqua Valley for the past three years, working as the Micro Enterprise Development and Learning Program Manager for Umpqua Community Development Corporation in Roseburg. I came to this job as an AmeriCorps volunteer through the Resource Assistance to Rural Environments program, administered by the University of Oregon, and was then hired on as staff after completing my year of service. In my professional life I work to connect low income community members with entrepreneurial aspirations to connect with the resources, tools, and education they need to make their small business dreams a reality. We also run an Independent Business Alliance, Think Local Umpqua, that works to promote ‘Local Thinking’ (which primarily looks like choosing local, independent goods and services, but also includes celebrating all the things that make Douglas County the unique place we’re proud to call home).
Like many of my generation, I’ve been a bit of a nomad, having lived in five states in 27 years. Prior to moving to Oregon, I did six-month stint working in Ecuador with Kallari, a cooperative of indigenous communities who produce, among other things, gourmet organic chocolate. I have also worked in Appalachian Ohio, where my work focused on connecting local growers and buyers, including the facilitation of a permanent wholesale produce auction for a community of Amish farmers. Beyond that, I’ve been a waitress, a farm hand, and professional actress; sold computers, mowed lawns, filed medical records, and scrubbed down a dairy barn.
My mom, Arlene, fitting my uncle Joe with his 1st prize apron at our annual family cookoff
My immediate family resides in Michigan, where my parents live in the midst of corn and bean country, and my extended family stretches across the country and around the globe. The things that seem to tie us all together are good stories, bad jokes, big meals, an abundance of friends we can count on and who can count on us, and work we can be proud of. I’d imagine the same could be said for most of you.
My dad, Bill, buying chicken feed at our local grain elevator in Michigan
As a young professional committed to working in Rural America, I find the RIPPLE project and the partnership with OPB to be very exciting. There are many challenges facing rural communities today, but I believe they can all be addressed and overcome through effective communication, innovation, and some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease. I’m continually humbled and inspired by the community members I serve, and I see this blogging ‘gig’ as an opportunity to give voice to their successes, ideas, concerns, and dreams.
See all posts by Lily Brislen.
