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About Us

The mission of Jacksonville Community Center (JCC) is to create a community center to serve as a gathering place for all ages in Jacksonville and its environs, with programs that meet community needs, enhance the quality of life, and promote community involvement through education, cultural activities, music, arts, recreation, and wellness, in a facility that is well maintained, accessible and safe. JCC is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our Mission

The mission of the Jacksonville Community Center (JCC) is to create a community center to serve as a gathering place for all ages in Jacksonville and its environs, with programs that meet community needs, enhance the quality of life, and promote community involvement through education, cultural activities, music, arts, recreation, and wellness, in a facility that is well maintained, accessible and safe.

JCC is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our History

Since 1998, the Jacksonville Community Center has been housed in a small 842-square-foot cottage on City-owned property at Fourth and Main Street in Jacksonville. The two-room cottage was remodeled by volunteers and has been used by local organizations for meetings, crafts, music, social activities, and the staging of parades and other events.  The Jacksonville Community Center was incorporated in 2000 and received its tax-exempt status in 2005 with the purpose of establishing a larger community center for adults and children in this area.

For many years, the profits of the Jacksonville Collectibles and Thrift Store, operated by the Jacksonville Seniors, Inc., as well as the funds from the Celebrate the Arts festival were conserved in anticipation of constructing a larger Center.

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In November 2014, JCC signed a 50-year lease with the City of Jacksonville for the cottage and surrounding land, enabling JCC to develop plans for the new Center. In July of 2016 JCC initiated its capital building campaign with a pledge of $153,200 from the Jacksonville Seniors and funds of $60,000 conserved from JCC and Celebrate the Arts.  In total over $744,000 has been raised from foundations, organizations, individuals and businesses.

In May 2017 JCC held a groundbreaking ceremony that was attended by nearly 100 people including residents of all ages, JCC founders, the Mayor, City Councilors, funders and media representatives. In 2017 and 2018 dozens of volunteers donated thousands of hours of work on demolition, remodeling, painting, landscaping, walkways and pollinator gardens of the community center. In January 2019 the Jacksonville Community Center celebrated its Grand Opening and officially opened its doors for business.

JCC Today

The Jacksonville Community Center has hosted dozens of public and private events that have been attended by thousands of people. Samples of our current monthly program may be viewed under our programs page. In addition, we have hosted community members’ private events through facility rentals, including:

  • Weddings
  • Baby and bridal showers
  • Anniversary parties
  • Birthday parties from 1-year-old to 90-year-old
  • Quinceañera and graduation parties for students of all ages
  • Holiday parties for business, office and personal occasions
  • Foundation retreats & staff meetings
  • Conferences

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Public events and activities have included:

  • Large and small community meetings
  • Tai chi and yoga classes
  • Music and singing classes for kids and adults
  • Art classes & projects for the young and old
  • Music jams
  • Concerts
  • Educational classes

JCC is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Board & Staff

The Jacksonville Community Center is operated by a dedicated Board of Directors and two Staff members.

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Board of Directors

Sue Miler

President

Sue is a retired nonprofit executive with more than 25 years’ experience with local organizations in Minneapolis and with large national programs through the AARP Foundation in Washington, DC. She has a special passion for the immense contribution volunteers can make in our society. Sue recently concluded the effort that raised the funds for (over $750,000 for) JCC’s capital campaign.

Donna Schatz

Board Member

Donna is a retired accountant and IRS enrolled agent who has also served on the Jacksonville City Council for 16 years. Since JCC’s inception Donna has managed the organization’s finances and accounting. Donna was instrumental in establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with the Jacksonville Seniors, Inc. which helped ensure JCC’s success in the capital campaign and continues today.

David Doi

Secretary

Dave is a retired nonprofit executive who has more than three decades’ experience leading national advocacy organizations in Washington, DC and Minneapolis.

Kristine Rose

Treasurer

Kris is a retired degreed accountant who worked in public accounting as an auditor, in corporations and most recently as Finance Director in local governments including the City of Jacksonville. Kris manages JCC’s donor database and has computerized JCC’s financial recordkeeping and accounting.

Margaret Pashko

Vice President

Margaret’s career involved 34 years in the utility business where she managed teams in Marketing, Customer Service, Human Resources and Public Affairs. She happily retired to Jacksonville and has spent the last few years “paying it forward” by volunteering with a variety of non-profit groups. A recent addition to the JCC board, Margaret has brought her marketing experience to the organization and is working to promote JCC in the community.

Laura O'Bryon

Board Member

Laura is the former Director of Senior and Disability Services (Area Agency on Aging) at Rogue Valley Council of Governments; Executive Director of Community Works; and Dean of Students at Southern Oregon University. She has been a resident of Jackson County, Southern Oregon for 38 years and has remained a committed advocate for equal access and equity across all community resources.

Staff

Executive Director Julie Raefield

Julie Raefield

Executive Director

Julie has been leading or fundraising for nonprofits for over 30 years, recognizing that communities need places to gather, learn and create. Prior to her most recent position leading Rogue Community College's community and government relations efforts, Julie served as development director for Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, generating strong philantropic support for the region's only residential hospice care facility. She has led arts, education and health nonprofits that have expanded access to resources for limited-English speaking residents, seniors, and youth. She also recently team-led fundraising efforts to build a new museum in San Diego's Balboa Park.

Sarah Greco

Child and Youth Coordinator

Sarah is an experienced educator and youth program leader, with a background in Developmental Psychology and Early Childhood Education. She is also a mother of two young children who attend Jacksonville Elementary School. She is passionate about programs that bring people together. She is here to create more opportunities for local children and families to connect as valued members of the Jacksonville community. She is looking forward to collaborating with local parents to better serve our youth.

Rebecca Owston

Rebecca Owston

Facility Rental and Communications Coordinator

Rebecca brings her many years experience in professional writing, marketing and communications to her work with JCC. She has served in leadership and service roles in several nonprofits in and around Jacksonville, including Sanctuary One and the Land Stewards program through OSU Extension Service.

Original Founders

of Jacksonville Community Center

We honor their vision, commitment and foresight in planning a center that will be a treasure for our community.

Lynn Boening
Don Cady
Eloise Cady
Ann Clausen

Dave Clemens
Pete Dahl
Viola Davis
Jerry Ferronato

Willard Fike
Theresa Gieg
Jack Pfeifer

Liz Pursell
Donna Schatz
Nichalus Vorona

Our Community Supporters

Many individuals, organizations, foundations, businesses and groups have been generous donors to the Jacksonville Community Center (JCC). In addition, dozens of volunteers have and continue to donate their time to the Jacksonville Community Center. The hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been contributed by donors and the thousands of hours that have been donated by volunteers have made possible the wonderful Jacksonville Community Center we celebrate today.

We are grateful to the following foundations and organizations that have donated generously to JCC:

View Sponsors

  • The Carpenter Foundation
  • Robert and Frances Chaney Family Foundation
  • Ben B. Cheney Foundation
  • City of Jacksonville
  • The Collins Foundation
  • Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation
  • Driscoll Family Foundation
  • The Ford Family Foundation
  • Jacksonville Boosters Foundation
  • Jacksonville Garden Club
  • Jacksonville/Applegate Rotary
  • Jacksonville Seniors, Inc.
  • Jacksonville Woodlands Association
  • The Oregon Community Foundation
  • Raymond Family Foundation
  • Rogue Disposal and Recycling
  • Warren Lodge 10 AF and AM of Oregon
  • West Family Foundation

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