We foster collaborative engagement to advance equity in Washington County.

VAN Initiatives

VAN's consultant team presented at the February 22 meeting of the Beaverton Urban Redevelopment Agency board. They shared best practices research and the results of their outreach to business owners and residents on how the City of Beaverton should invest $100 million in its downtown area. Learn more and follow the project updates here.  REC's Work on BDES Following up on our successful Thrives gathering with state legislators in January, VAN is partnering with Westside Economic Alliance to host a recap with legislators after the close of the 2022 short session. We'll focus on funding measures and policies of particular interest to Thrives and WEA stakeholders. Join us on Wednesday, March 16 at 8:00am. Register to attend!

Finding Community Podcast

Our guest for Episode 11 of Finding Community is cameron whitten, CEO of Brown Hope, a once all-volunteer nonprofit he founded in 2018 which now boasts over a dozen staff and manages the Black Resilience Fund, Blackstreet Bakery, and a variety of other programs. Cameron talks candidly about his own journey and experiences with racism and trauma, and offers insight on healing trauma, the effects of the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the subsequent racial justice movement. He explains how Brown Hope is creating a healing community for racial justice, and he shares a powerful message of love and hope. Episode 12 of Finding Community features Lamar Wise, a political coordinator for one of the largest labor unions in Oregon and co-founder of Washington County Ignite, a political action committee dedicated to building power for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, the LGBTQ+ community, and young people. Lamar talks about the need for political leaders who are responsive to the community and willing to advocate for transformative change, and he shares his observations on the importance of listening, love, and mentorship in both politics and life.

Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app or at spreaker.com/show/finding-community ‌

Get Engaged!

Visit our Community Events Calendar for opportunities to engage meaningfully in your community!

Featured Event Gala de Cultura 50th Anniversary Friday, March 4, 7-8pm Celebrating 50 years of Centro Cultural, this is a free virtual event showcasing the intergenerational impact of Centro, how it’s all connected, and why you should be a part of it.  You can join from home on March 4 at 7pm. There will also be an online auction, community awards and a special announcement for Centro’s 50th anniversary. Learn more and join here! Save the Date! Behavioral Health Workforce Summit A Community Response to the Crisis in Washington County Tuesday, March 29, 10-11:30am Vision Action Network is convening key stakeholders in healthcare, workforce development, faith, government, and the nonprofit sector to explore innovative ways to strengthen the workforce in response to the behavioral health crisis in Washington County. Stay tuned for registration info. Join VAN's Email List

VAN Live on Instagram

Your City, Your County

Tigard 2022 State of the City, Wed, March 2, 6:00pm

Washington County Budget Town Hall, Wed, March 9, 6-8pm

Beaverton State of the City, Tues, March 29, 12:00pm

WashCo Community Conversations on Shelter Sites Online, March 1, 3, 10 & 12

Beaverton Organizing And Leadership Development (Bold) Apply for March Program Cohort

City of Tualatin Equity Committee Planning Group Apply by March 11

Visit VAN's website

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