Serving the local Community.

About Fourth Plain Forward

ABOUT


The Fourth Plain District

Our diverse community, comprising over 21,000 individuals from various backgrounds, reflects a tapestry of cultures and experiences. However, amid this diversity, we confront substantial challenges – systemic racism, enduring poverty, and pronounced health disparities.

These challenges are not abstract concepts; they shape the daily reality of our community. Fourth Plain Forward serves as the driving force that brings together established systems, grassroots initiatives, residents, and businesses. Our shared goal is to break down the barriers that have hindered our communities progress.

Vancouver Ballet Folklórico Performing.

ABOUT


Uplifting Communities

Our commitment extends specifically to uplift Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, alongside those facing resource limitations and exclusion from mainstream services. We recognize that the conventional narrative often fails to encompass the full spectrum of human experience.

While we are rooted in the Fourth Plain corridor, our impact is not geographically tied to the area. We actively collaborate with communities and organizations across Vancouver and Clark County.

Children in Community participating in Art in the Park.
Fourth Plain Forward 501c3 Accelerating Equity for our Community.

Our Long term goals

Guiding our actions, our three Goals shape our programming, steer our initiatives, and inform our decisions.

People

Socio Economic Autonomy - Empowering individuals to achieve financial independence and control over their economic futures, education and wellbeing.

Place

Thriving, well-resourced neighborhoods - Creating vibrant, resource-rich environments where community members flourish.

Policy

Inclusive & equitable policy transformation - Advocating for and implementing policies that promote fairness, inclusivity, and justice for all community members

OUR FIVE VALUES


Sakura 39ers Youth Association Celebrating Graduation Day.

In parallel, our Five Values detail the ethical and strategic routes we take towards community development and social change

  • Racial Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice: We stand with and for our Black, Brown, and Indigenous community members as well as folks who are under-resourced and excluded from mainstream services, and those whose social capital does not meet the expected norms and standards of mainstream society. By promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect, we seek to make a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

  • Our approach is rooted in the wisdom and strength of our communities. We do not take a top down approach, but are facilitators, committed to amplifying the voices of our residents in every decision we make. We believe the keys to meaningful change are found in the hearts and minds of community members. We are here to support their vision, fostering an environment where they lead the charge towards growth and betterment.

  • We believe in the power of unity. We are more than an organization; we are part of a larger community that includes residents, businesses, and other local organizations. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners, combining our strengths to create a collective impact that surpasses what any of us could achieve individually. We foster an environment of shared goals and collaborative action, united for the common good of our communities.

  • We champion development that values people over profits. Our goal is to ensure that growth and progress benefit all community members, without causing displacement or disrupting our diverse social fabric. We advocate for policies and initiatives that make our community a place where everyone can thrive, regardless of their economic status.

  • We are dedicated to nurturing an environment that respects and adapts to our changing climate. This means encouraging practices that reduce environmental impact and enhance our community's resilience. We believe that by embracing sustainable living and understanding our role in the ecosystem, we can make our communities more adaptable and sustainable for generations to come. Underlying these pillars is our dedication to empowering the people we serve. We envision communities that are resilient, self-determining, autonomous, and fully capable of shaping their own futures. This vision fuels our commitment, shaping our approach, and driving our actions.

Our Five Priority Areas

Our five priority areas provide the programmatical direction for Fourth Plain Forward. They align directly to our long term goals and are managed by our Program Managers.

01 Community Wealth Building

Empowering our community by enhancing workforce development opportunities, promoting educational access, fostering small business innovation and growth, and improving financial wellness. Our initiatives include:

Business Incubator and technical assistance for entrepreneurs and small businesses

Career Center & Job Board

Financial Wellness for residents

02 Thriving Neighborhoods

Creating culturally congruent transportation and mobility solutions, health programs, climate adaptation strategies, and initiatives to improve food access. Our initiatives include:

Climate Adaptation Task Force

Culturally Congruent Birth Doula training

Culturally Specific Food Access

**03** Affordable Housing and Asset Development

Advocating for inclusive housing policies, development of affordable housing, fostering of inclusive and accessible community assets. Our initiatives, geared towards fostering inclusive, accessible, and well-resourced neighborhoods, include:

Housing Advocacy

Research and Development of Affordable Housing

**04** Learning and Evaluation

Our commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and impact. We promote community engagement and civic leadership, and build capacity within Community Based Organizations. Our initiatives include:

Fiscal Sponsorship & capacity building of Black, Brown and indigenous-led CBOs

Neighborhood Association Capacity Building

Monitoring & Evaluation Systems

**05** Art, History, and Culture

Celebrating the rich cultural heritage that binds our community together through public art, music, historical interpretation, cultural interpretation and more. Our initiatives include:

Grandmother Camas

Summer of Art programming

Historical Research and interpretation

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet The Team

Paul Burgess, the Executive Director.

Paul Burgess

Executive Director
Linkedin >

Angelo Adside

Community Employment Manager
Linkedin >

Paris Nelson, the Strategic Development and Policy Manager.

Paris Nelson

Strategic Development and Policy Manager 
Linkedin >

Wil Fuentes, one of the Program Managers.

Wil Fuentes

Program Manager 
Linkedin >

Miryam Valdivia, one of the Program Managers.

Miryam Valdivia

Program Manager 
Linkedin >

Michelle Tan, the Fourth Plain Community Commons Operations Manager.

Michelle Tan

Fourth Plain Community Commons Operations Manager
Linkedin >

Angela Jenkins, the Fourth Plain Community Commons Kitchen Manager.

Angela Jenkins

Fourth Plain Community Commons Kitchen Manager Linkedin >

Kiana Coburn, the Fourth Plain Community Commons Marketing Coordinator.

Kiana Coburn

Fourth Plain Community Commons Marketing Coordinator
Linkedin >

Almendra Velazquez, the Social Media Coordinator.

Almendra Velazquez

Climate and Health Coordinator
Linkedin >

FOURTH PLAIN FORWARD

Meet The Board

Michele Cruise, the Board President.

Dr Michele Cruse

Board President
LinkedIn >

Mariana Zaragoza, the Board Vice President.

Mariana Zaragoza

Board Vice President
LinkedIn >

Kyle Roslund, the Board Secretary.

Kyle Roslund

Board Secretary
Website >

Bill Steiner, a Board Member.

Bill Steiner

Board Member
Website >

Javier Navarro, a Board Member.

Javier Navarro

Board Member
Website >

Nicole Peppers, a Board Member.

Nicole Peppers

Board Member
LinkedIn >

Sharif Burdzik, a Board Member.

Sharif Burdzik

Board Member
Linkedin >

Lourdes Salmonte GarcÍa, a Board Member.

Lourdes Salmonte García

Board Member
LinkedIn >

Rudolfo Serna, a Board Member.

Rudolfo Serna

Board Member
Website >

Melissa Williams, a Board Member.

Melissa Williams

Board Member
LinkedIn >

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