co-creating locally 

Roots of Hope :: Raices de Esperanza

Dignity: of comradery, of work, of participation, of engagement … these are some hallmarks of being well in community.

Through the statewide listening sessions that the built environment program engaged in 2023, various priorities emerged lending themselves to crafting community specific demonstration efforts with its members, in their place, in their language. Housing, houselessness, and rallying support to identify available services to help people transition back into stable housing and productive residency in the state was a consistent priority.

In August 2024, the Build Environment program partnered with Juntos Northwest to host a retreat specifically aimed at the Spanish speaking residents needing assistance transitioning towards stability: from houselessness, from incarceration, from drug addiction, from domestic violence.

Grounded in Enhancing Wellbeing, JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion), and building Capacity, relationships, and trust, the event supported nearly seventy participants from four counties: Marion, Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington.

This was the first support event in the region held entirely in Spanish and for our Spanish-speaking residents. For details see: (report)