Stories

I've been in Portland, Oregon almost 20 years now, half of my lifetime, so to say the least, I consider Portland my second home. And I want to make sure that I leave this place better than when I first got here, so I began volunteering.

I've come to the understanding now that life is not about me, it's about we.

At United Way, we are working hard to build a region that lives up to the ideals of inclusion, opportunity and racial equity. We believe hate has no place in our communities. Now, more than ever, is the time to stand united. That’s why we’ve joined a coalition of our community partners, local businesses and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, in publicly denouncing the groups planning to spread hateful rhetoric and violence in Portland on August 17.

One year ago, Taji and Britt, two Portland high school students entering their senior year, sat down to complete a custom curriculum inspired by the community around them; a curriculum dedicated to training the Portland Police Force to interact with youth in more effective and impactful ways.

United Way of the Columbia Willamette is committed to a fair and accurate census count. We recognize that many key safety net programs which support our kids and families are funded via census data including SNAP, school lunches, Head Start, short-term rental assistance and many more programs.

June 20 marks World Refugee Day, an international day commemorating the resilience, courage, perseverance and impact of millions of refugees globally. 

How do children learn, grow and succeed? By giving little ones the chance to play, explore and discover new tools that will encourage learning, we're not only investing in today's kids, but investing in the future of our communities.

With over 250 volunteer opportunities this year alone, Washington County is playing a major role in serving our community through dedicated volunteer work.

In honor of March 21 being International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we asked our supporters to share a selfie with their role model, someone who inspires them to be #UnitedToEndRacism in their community. From a family member to a neighbor to an activist they admire, the possibilities of highlighting an important person who has left a lasting impact on eliminating racism are endless. 

Once all photos were submitted, it was up to you to vote on your favorite photo, and the results are in! 

As a civil rights activist with a powerful voice in the census, Karen Narasaki, Commissioner of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights appointed during the Obama administration, is an advocate for immigrant rights and race relations.