NAO is excited to spotlight nonprofit members, share their success stories and exciting news, and raise awareness of their mission and the impact these amazing nonprofits make in our communities.
The sun is out in Oregon and we are shining a light on High Desert Partnership in Burns, a proud NAO member since 2015!
High Desert Partnership (HDP) brings people together to find common ground in addressing rural challenges and opportunities. Their role is to bring people together to solve local problems, cooperatively. Headquartered in the heart of Harney County, they believe that collaboration—the simple practice of working together—is the best way to find common ground solutions for the benefit of all. They accomplish this by creating opportunities to listen, be heard, foster understanding, build trust, and forge unexpected relationships. By working together, they ensure that our local economy, natural environment, and uniquely rural way of life meet today’s needs, while creating a roadmap for future generations to follow.
HDP does this through a unique model: Community partners identify the priorities and work that need to be done, while HDP provides the necessary support and resources to make it happen. They currently have six collaboratives that are focused on different priorities:
- Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative
- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan
- Harney County Wildfire Collaborative
- Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative
- Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative
- Youth Changing the Community Collaborative
“The Harney Internship is a program developed to enhance career opportunities, and it has grown each year since it began in September 2020. Yes, we started a high school student-business partnership in the middle of a pandemic! The dual objectives were met when students had a place to earn elective credit outside the school and business had access to the workforce in a shortage environment.
The 70 registered businesses volunteer to develop learning objectives specific to their business or agency, mentor the students in employee soft skills such as time keeping, customer service, showing up on time and engaging with other employees and the public. In return, many have found that perfect employee for the school year, summer break or post-graduation. Students get elective credit from the high school, and job skill placements are generally paid. This spring we are partnering with Treasure Valley Community College to provide college credit for those willing to work with an instructor to set objectives so that students complete a positive internship experience. Since the pilot project began in 2020 with 10 students, 148 seniors and juniors have successfully completed an internship (approx. 50% of the eligible students in Harney County).”
Brenda also spoke with us about HDP’s move towards developing a physical Collaborative Center in Eastern Oregon to further support their efforts.
“We are currently planning to develop an Eastern Oregon Collaborative Center to expand our collaborative work in the region. The Eastern Oregon Collaborative Center in Harney County, led by High Desert Partnership, will build upon the innovative and effective collaborative work to date. These efforts have transcended deep seated conflicts, survived generational transitions and resulted in real progress on the ground in one of Oregon’s most historically conflicted regions.
The center will provide permanent physical space to take this work to the next level and sustain it over time. It will create capacity to take on new issues by creating a facility that will draw practitioners, subject matter experts, university classes, researchers and a vast array of stakeholders to Harney County. This is a robust goal but one that we believe can not only serve eastern Oregon but provide benefits to the entire state. We are happy to talk to people who are interested in finding out more about our plans for growth. ”
Thank you to Brenda Smith for her time and all the work High Desert Partnership does to support Oregon in assisting rural communities by uniting community partners. This community work, done by community members and for community members is essential for addressing the specific needs of eastern Oregon.
If you would like to support this work, you can learn more about High Desert Partnership here and donate to their efforts here.