Mary-Elizabeth Harper, Sophia Luettke, Cassaundra Edwards, Chelsea King, Aaron Woods, Jay Edwards, Garet Prior, Kamran Mesbah, Jerry Greenfield, Kate Greenfield, Cat Allard, Andrew Engel, Paul Diller, and Sarah Finke.
Land Recognition
We acknowledge that we are learning, living, working, and organizing on the common ground and ancestral lands of the First Nations of this region. We recognize the Atfalati, the Kalapuya, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Click here for more information.
Vision
Wilsonville as a diverse, inclusive, and equitable place.
Mission
People pursuing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable Wilsonville through intentional dialogue, advocacy, and the celebration of human dignity and belonging.
Our Purpose
Diversity is the presence of differences within a setting, which aids in greater productivity, problem-solving, enriched perspectives, and efficiency. We pursue diversity through recognizing gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, physical and mental health, and other attributes.
Inclusion is all about individuals feeling welcomed, respected, valued and involved. As with equity, inclusion is not a natural derivative of diversity. The act of inclusion seems simple: involve others. However, there is much more to it.
Equity is giving attention to the advantages and disadvantages that exist among groups and individuals, identifying a correction of those inequities, and working through relationships to increase access to resources and opportunities in the pursuit of just outcomes. Equity is equally about the process, as it is the outcome (e.g. housing, transportation, education, etc.).
Our Actions
Intentional dialogue that is open, authentic, fact-based, and information seeking. We know that we will make mistakes, but the importance is to lean into awkward and tough conversations. We are information seeking and look to create safe spaces for conversations with all viewpoints.
Advocacy that is relationship-based and serves to pursue equitable solutions and increase diversity in systems of decision making and power. We are non-partisan and non-denominational.
Celebration of the rich diversity within our community. We want to have fun and further inclusive events, celebrations, and spaces in Wilsonville.
The Team
We are a collection of newly arrived and life long residents, workers, and business owners. Read this Wilsonville Spokesman news article to get an idea of the stories behind our formation.
Through our dialogue-based decision making process, we have decided that the following people will represent WAIC as representatives of the organization:
Co-Chairs: Garet Prior and (OPEN)
Treasurer: Jay Edwards
Secretary: (OPEN)
Process Inclusion: (OPEN)
We are actively looking for people to take the next step of involvement with the Wilsonville Alliance and fill open officer roles. If you are interested, please read the position descriptions and email us with any questions or if you would like to discuss this further!
Not Our Action
Direct mediation of volatile situations. Our role will be to serve as a resource to community assets and resources.
Distribution of immediate need resources. We may partner with events and service providers, but the Wilsonville Alliance was not created to recreate what is already happening in the community.
Shame, blame, or slander others for their points of view or mistakes.
Settle for non-impactful diversity efforts that amount to face-level multiculturalism.
Guidelines for Intentional Dialogue
Non-partisan: We will not make this about politics.
Non-denominational: We will not make this about religion.
Openness: We will seek first to understand and will engage in active listening.
Authenticity: We will respond from a place of depth and honesty.
Asking questions: When we are triggered, we will stay curious.
Confidentiality: What we disclose during our meetings won’t be posted on social media or shared with others.
Safety: We can be vulnerable and won’t be judged.
Security: We will recognize that not everyone has good intentions and we disclose our efforts after consent/ consensus from the members.
Space: We give time for others to speak and think, and will be inclusive of one another in the conversation.
Focus: We will stay on task and consider time management.
Facilitation: A person may take the role of facilitator and the group agrees to follow the lead of the facilitator.
Non-profit status
WAIC receives our non-profit status as a project of the Charitable Partnership Fund.