WORC Education Project

About the WORC Education Project

The WORC Education Project seeks to achieve a democratic, sustainable and just society through community action. The WORC Education Project is creating long-term social change by building a grassroots base of skilled citizens directly involved in working for stewardship and conservation of land, water and natural resources, economic and social justice for rural communities and empowering local citizens to participate in civic life

Founded in 1989, the WORC Education Project is a 501 (c)(3) corporation that supports the charitable and educational activities of WORC, the Western Organization of Resource Councils.

WORC is a network of eight state organizations that includes 22,750 members and 38 local chapters. The WORC Education Project has a grant agreement with WORC to undertake strategic research and analysis, public education, leadership and staff development (within the limits of the Project’s tax-exempt status).

WORC Education Project Board

Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks – Nancy has been a member of Dakota Rural Action for close to twenty years. She is currently co-chair of the DRA Small Farms committee. Nancy and her husband live on a small acreage on the edge of Toronto, SD.  Nancy is currently the coordinator of disability services at South Dakota State University.

Norm Cimon – A resident of northeast Oregon since 1980, Norm has a degree in mathematics from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He’s worked for UNLV, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, and the private sector. A member of the board of directors for the Grande Ronde Model Watershed, he has a keen interest in water resources. Norm lives in La Grande with his wife, Shelley.

Linda Weiss – Linda lives in Belfield, North Dakota, where she is a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician. A former Chair of DRC, she is active in DRC’s campaigns on agriculture and oil and gas issues.

Dena Hoff – Dena Hoff raises sheep, cattle, alfalfa, corn, and edible dry beans, among other crops, on her farm in Glendive, Montana. She is a past chair of Northern Plains Resource Council and a past chair of her local Northern Plains affiliate, Eastern Montana Resource Council. She serves on Northern Plains’ Agriculture & Food Task Force, and believes deeply that we can build a better and more equitable food system. She also led Northern Plains’ fight against the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. Dena represents Northern Plains Resource Council on the National Family Farm Coalition, and is former co-chair of the North American region of La Via Campesina. She’s traveled from Morocco to Geneva representing the various groups she leads, and stands in solidarity with peasant farmers’ movements around the world.

Marielena Vega – is the current chair for Visión 2C Resource Council and vice-chair for IORC. Marielena was born and raised in southwest Idaho. She is the proud daughter of immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico and comes from a farm-working background.

Lynne Huskinson – Lynne is a retired Campbell County Wyoming coal miner, having spent 39 years in the profession. Huskinson attended classes at Northwest Community College. Lynne is a member of a variety of conservation and social justice organizations in Wyoming. She was a candidate for the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2020. She lives with her family in Gillette.   

Charlene Alden – Bio coming soon