VIDEOS
Learn about some of our programs, projects, and services.
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center Center (REV) strives to cultivate vibrant and prosperous rural communities in eastern Oregon. With the diversity of work the REV does - including economic initiatives, educational programs, municipal projects, and studies - the common thread is valuing rural communities and the landscape of eastern Oregon. REV wants to show people unfamiliar with rural life its unique charms and opportunities to those who have yet to discover its treasures.
Legacy Programs
REV works to get area youth involved with the numerous outdoor experiences available in the region through the programs below.
Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute (CCSI): For one week at the start of summer, teachers gather at Cottonwood Canyon State Park for the Cottonwood Canyon Teachers Institute (CCTI)—a place where the canyon itself becomes the classroom. This year’s video, filmed at CCTI 2025, captures educators exploring hands-on projects ranging from engineering design to water quality studies to storytelling rooted in the landscape.
The Get Outside After School Activity Program (GO-ASAP) offers middle school students activities including hiking, paddle boarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, and cross country skiing. It started with a grant from the Knight Cancer Institute as a cancer prevention grant in 2015. Ten years later, GO-ASAP is still going strong. The Knight Cancer Institute visited La Grande in May 2025 to interview and produce this video to celebrate the success of this program.
Community Partnerships
Using fresh ideas and research, REV works within the eastern Oregon region on a wide variety of projects, as listed below.
The Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC) members include leaders from all 14 local counties, as well as federal, state, and tribal government entities. The diverse membership of the BIC ensures numerous perspectives and interests are represented.
Any discussion of workforce development eventually leads to a common challenge facing our communities across eastern Oregon - the shortage of workforce housing. This is our most recent video of a discussion about workforce housing.
University Projects
REV works with Eastern Oregon University faculty and students to provide local knowledge and deeper understanding.
Since 2018, the Urban-Rural Ambassadors Program has brought together students willing to go the distance - literally. This unique combined course between Eastern Oregon University and Portland University brings students from different parts of the state to explore in-depth the state they live in. They’ve crisscrossed the state in vans, shared long stretches of highway and conversation, and spent time learning in each other’s communities. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.
On June 11, 2024, Grace Donovan, Executive Director of REV, took part in a panel discussion, "College Partnerships to Fuel Rural Development," hosted by the Chronicle of Higher Education with support from Ascendium Education Group.
Faculty, staff, researchers, and clinicians are working in partnership with REV on collaborative community-engaged research, community impact projects, or community-engaged teaching courses through the REV Center.
Staff and stakeholders from regional communities work closely with EOU faculty and students to provide local knowledge and deeper understanding into the issues, guaranteeing projects are not only innovative, but also suitable to the community.
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center is building a network of affiliated faculty and researchers to support, connect, and extend the public-facing work in which faculty are engaged. We support teams and networks of faculty, other researchers, students and staff at Eastern Oregon University working together and with external partners to confront the challenges facing our communities.