We hope to see you this Thursday evening!

Our "Housing & Belonging" event is on February 29 at 7:00 pm at Clackamas County Community College Wilsonville Campus

Housing and homelessness is a visible and divisive issue in local media, politics, and across every community in Oregon. Many experienced housing instability and economic uncertainty even during the “boom” times before the current crisis. This conversation will explore assumptions and perspectives about the experience of homelessness and seek to answer the question...How do we decide who “belongs” in our community?

Event details:

Thursday, February 29, 2024
7:00 to 8:30 PM
Clackamas Community College Wilsonville Campus (29353 SW Town Center Loop E)

Help us spread the news!

Please use this link to share with your network. Bonus points if you download the poster, print a few copies, and place them in community gathering places.

RECAP: February 21 WAIC Gathering

Five of us gathered last Wednesday evening. We got to learn more about each other, ate snacks, and listened to Andre 3000’s jazz album.

Our theme of the night was intentional action. We started off sharing our responses to the question, “Where in Wilsonville do you interact with people who are different from you?”

Garet then shared about his experience in communities with wide racial and income differences. He then shared his thoughts on Wilsonville, which led to a discussion on the following questions:

Without more physical apparent racial and income differences in Wilsonville, how can we be intentional about searching for diversity and difference?
How do we approach these divides with an approach of learning and full respect, instead of ego imbalance?

We reviewed the “2023 recap and looking forward to 2024” article and talked about next steps, which includes:

Housing & Belonging event on Feb 29
West Linn Wilsonville School Distrcit’s Equity Summit on April 20
Supporting the Juneteenth event
Support the City’s DEI committee and other efforts through our communications network
Support the housing services coalition and participate in Department of Land and Conservation Department’s rulemaking advisory committee
Need to find new WAIC leaders

We have a quality structure for a non-profit in place and have funds in the bank, but we are in need of people to step up and become WAIC leaders. Garet is going to step back from his position of Co-Chair in April.

BIG ASK FOR 2024

We’re going to need others to step into roles to represent the organization and keep the wheels running. If you are interested, please read the position descriptions and reach out to us (connect@wilsonvillealliance.org) if you would like to discuss this further.

Process for new WAIC representatives

Feb 21 meeting

Communicate process and need (Chair vacancy starting in April)
Looking to fill at least 3 positions: Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary (we could also split this into Co-Chairs and we have a description for an Inclusion Process Officer)

Feb - April

Recruit nominees and interested people
Discuss positions and interests

April 17 meeting

People have to be nominated by one other person, although they can voice their interest
New officers are elected by those who attend the meeting
Strive for a consensus vote