ThirstTees

Thirst Quencher Profile: Rick Crawford

1. To start off, tell us a little about yourself.  Where you live, what you do, etc. 

My name is Rick Crawford. I was born in Salem, OR where I lived for the first 18 years of life before attending Oregon State University where I studied history and political science. Following graduation I spent a year living in Baltimore, MD as part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Throughout the year I worked as a case manager in a homeless day shelter called the Beans and Bread Center. I also lived with five other volunteers in an intentional community that focused on simple living, community, spirituality, and social justice. Once finished I moved to Portland where I worked for Neighborhood House Inc, doing energy assistance for low income families, and also doing finance on the reelection campaign of Secretary of State Kate Brown. I am currently living in Cochabamba, Bolivia studying spanish at the Maryknoll Institute.  This fall I will be attending the University of Washington where I will be working towards my masters in Public Administration - Non-Profit Management.

2. What are some of your favorites:

Vacation Spot: Tough to pick, I’d say either camping somewhere in the Oregon wilderness or spending time with my family in Philadelphia.

Song/Artist: Another tough one, right now my favorite bands are Muse and the Flobots. Favorite song though is Soul Meets Body by Death Cab

Food: Chicken parm and Reese’s…not at the same time.

Hobby: Wow lots to pick! Reading, watching movies, biking, playing sports, and talking with friends are things I do every day.

ThirstTee Design: I’m partial to the blue shirt.

3. What is a goal that you have in the next three years?

I do have a pretty good sense of what I want to have accomplished in the next three.  The first goal of mine is to obviously successfully earn my masters degree in Public Administration and to have the skills necessary to effectively run not-for-profits. I also want to gain experience in this field which I will accomplish through an internship between my two years of school. Upon graduation, I plan on working for a not-for-profit or for a government agency in either the Portland or Seattle area to gain experience while I continue to develop plans for not-for-profits of my own.

4. Who or what inspires you?

There has been a lot that has inspired me in my work in the last couple years. I am continually inspired by those who spend their whole career in the not-for-profit field. It is an incredibly selfless thing that is usually not accompanied by any sort of award. Their passion for their client and for the cause make the world a better place everyday. But even this inspiration is dwarfed in comparison to the inspiration I draw from the clients I worked with everyday in Baltimore and Portland. The strength of their faith and their willingness to only look at the bright side of things no matter the hand they are dealt is staggering. I’m continually humbled by how much I have learned from my clients and I truly cherish the relationships I’ve been able to build.

5. What impact do you want to make on the world (or city, neighborhood, etc.)?

My favorite part about this question is how in parenthesis it mentions the impact you want to have on your city, neighborhood, etc. I want to leave an impact on my community, that much I know. The problem is that I’m a part of a lot of communities. Globally, nationally, state wide, city wide, in my neighborhood, at my job, in my house, at my church, I am part of that community. And while I may want to impact all of my communities, that may not be realistic. As of right now, I’m not entirely sure what kind of impact I want to have in my communities, as long as its a positive one. By continuing to gain experience and knowledge in my field I will be prepared to find a niche in which I can make a lasting, positive impact.

Please email us at info@thirsttees.com if you want to share your story and impact on the world.