About Rogue Advocates
Mission & History
Defending rural communities and natural resources in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley.
Our Mission
Cultivating livable, sustainable communities.
Rogue Advocates is dedicated to cultivating livable and sustainable communities in southern Oregon's Rogue Valley region. Through advocacy, education, and outreach around local land use issues, we work to preserve productive rural lands and promote vibrant urban centers.
As development pressures intensify across the valley, our work focuses on protecting working farms and forests, encouraging compact and walkable city centers, and making sure everyday residents have a real voice in the decisions that shape this place.
Oregon's Framework
Built on Oregon's land use system.
In the 1970s, Oregon adopted a bi-partisan land use planning framework that's nationally recognized for protecting farms, forests, and natural resources while encouraging compact, livable cities.
At the heart of that system is Goal 1 — citizen involvement — which guarantees the opportunity for residents to participate in every phase of the planning process. We help southern Oregonians use that voice.
Local decisions, made with the public at the table, shape what the Rogue Valley becomes.
Read Oregon's GoalsOur Story
Born from citizen action.
Rogue Advocates was founded in response to Oregon's Measure 37 — a ballot initiative that threatened decades of land use protections. From the beginning, we were a coalition of neighbors, farmers, and advocates determined to keep the valley livable for the long haul.
Although Measure 37 was ultimately repealed, the pressures that gave rise to it — rapid population growth, urban sprawl, and the temptation to trade rural character for short-term development — have only grown more acute.
Today our team continues that founding work by giving residents the information, tools, and voice they need to shape the valley's future.
What We Do
Four ways we protect the valley.
Our work spans monitoring, education, advocacy, and — when negotiation isn't enough — the courtroom.
01
Monitor
We track county planning decisions and zoning changes across the Rogue Valley — keeping the public informed about what's coming.
02
Educate
We translate complex land use law into clear, actionable information so residents can engage with confidence.
03
Advocate
We organize community outreach, public testimony, and coordinated comment on development proposals that affect the valley.
04
Litigate
When negotiation isn't enough, we go to court — pursuing legal action to defend Oregon's land use protections.
Help us defend the Rogue Valley.
Your voice and your support make this work possible. Join us in protecting what makes southern Oregon worth calling home.