Meet Our Sunrise Volunteers

Volunteer Information

Name: Jacob Reese
Role in the Sunrise Community Coalition project: Member of the Leadership Cohort and Coalition Leadership Group

Your Sunrise Story

1. What is your connection to the Sunrise Corridor community (Example: resident, business owner, community organization, etc.)?
   I have been a resident in the Sunrise Corridor for over four years now. I love to pursue recreation here – running, biking, and spending time by the Clackamas River. Also, my child attends school here and has participated in activities at local businesses such as Precision Elite Gymnastics, Thunder Elite, The Hive Athletic Arts, and RECS Clackamas. This area is my home, and it has a lot to offer people – natural beauty, thriving businesses, restaurants, and crucial transportation routes that connect people to destinations all over the state.
2. Why did you decide to volunteer for the Sunrise Corridor Visioning process?
   I first heard about the project about two years ago, and I immediately became excited that the area was getting some attention (and financial investment!). I am generally drawn to community-oriented work, and I decided to volunteer to ensure that some of the things I am passionate about (walkability/safety for children, access to natural areas, and housing retention) were considered during the process.
3. Which of the Vision Plan’s priorities (transportation; jobs and economy; neighborhood and places; and open space, public health, and environment) are you most excited about, and why? 
   I feel passionate about the current plan’s focus on neighborhoods and places. We are having really invigorating discussions about how to cultivate a sense of identity and belonging within the area, which is certainly a challenge given its diverse (and beautiful) mix of residential and commercial spaces. We are also very aware of the concerns about displacement among many residents in the area, and prioritizing the belonging of all residents has been a critical lens the group has applied throughout our discussions. I truly want people to see this area as unique, especially for those who do not live here, because I think the current perception of the Sunrise Corridor area is that it is primarily highway 212/224. Of course, the highway is a major transportation artery, but the area has so much more to offer, and I am truly enjoying our discussions about how to bring those identities to the forefront.
4. What do you hope this project will bring to your community in the future?
   I would love to see more people being active and recreating in the area, especially children who may want to walk or ride their bikes to places in the area. I think this could be achieved by improving access to the river, improving bikeways, and making better walking and biking connections. I am also hoping to see more economic growth in the area, with businesses and restaurants.
5. What’s something you’ve learned or enjoyed most while being part of this volunteer group? 
   When I first started volunteering for this project, I honestly knew very little about development and land use. I am still not sure I have a strong grasp of many of the concepts, but I have been learning a lot about how the organizing effort unfolds through fundraising and meetings with stakeholders and community members. Through this process, I have come to see that change is slow when we define it only by physical, tangible outcomes; however, the relational work within it has been immediate and fruitful, and I treasure the relationships I have made with other volunteers and staff who are supporting it.

Wildcard Question

Coffee, tea, or something else — what powers your volunteer spirit?
I have to go with coffee on this one – no shade to tea, which I also love! Before entering my career as a clinical social worker, I spent many years working as a barista in the third-wave coffee scene. Yes, it is as pretentious as it sounds, and yes, I absolutely went to coffee cuppings to discuss the terroir and flavor notes of specific light-roasted varietals (please don’t judge me – actually, you should definitely judge me). As much as I love a fancy cup of coffee, though, I have learned to appreciate all the various delightful ways coffee can be brewed, and the energy boost provided by caffeine is a massive bonus!