aBOUT

Values & Goals

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.

  • 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

    • Workforce development programs 

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

    • Policy – Housing / Health / Education 

  • 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

  • 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 Values

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

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

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Plain Forward