The cutting-edge, community-driven Verizon Community Forward initiative creates opportunities for digital access and workforce development, STEM education, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial learning               

PORTLAND, Ore., May 3, 2024 — Adults and youth in Southeast Portland have access to new and vital connections to cutting-edge technology, STEM education, and career development opportunities with the launch of a community-driven learning center at Portland Community College. The community is invited for an open house at the new learning center on May 8 from 3:00 to 7:00PM.         

The Verizon Community Forward Jade District Learning Center, one of three centers launched by Verizon in partnership with Hacienda CDC, intends to remove barriers between low-income Portlanders and the tech resources they need to succeed in a digital world. These learning centers are designed for all ages, with high-speed internet access, advanced technology, and educational and career programming. This location on Portland Community College’s southeast campus will reach traditional and nontraditional students with an increasingly diverse population.

"Everyone deserves access to the technology and resources they need to be successful in today’s digital world,” says Rudy Reyes, West Region Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Verizon. “On behalf of Verizon, we are proud of our partnership with Hacienda to enable both youth and adults to develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities for a more promising future in the Portland community."

In partnership with Verizon, Hacienda CDC was selected to support the development of three learning centers in Portland. Open to students, community members and the public, the centers are in spaces that cater to different demographics: at Hacienda’s headquarters in Cully, mostly BIPOC youth and adults; at New Columbia, mostly high school students, and at Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus, a diverse student body and community.

“More than 60% of the families Hacienda serves in its affordable housing and programs access the internet only through their smartphones. That’s a huge barrier when you’re trying to participate in school, fill out a job application, or manage your business only through your phone,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO, Hacienda CDC. “Latinos, who are a large portion of families served by Hacienda, are among the communities who are under-resourced when it comes to technology. They make up only 8% of STEM workers despite being 18.5% of the U.S. population.”

Known for developing affordable housing throughout metro Portland, Hacienda takes a holistic approach to building communities that goes beyond housing. The new Verizon Community Forward learning centers exemplify how Hacienda’s programs and pathways remove barriers to education, careers, and wealth building for low-income families — especially for Latinos and communities of color who historically have been shut out of opportunities.

Everyday challenges continue to magnify the barriers that low-income households face — such as not having internet or devices at home— which unfairly limit their opportunities to succeed at school and at work.      

“Thanks to Verizon and a partnership with Hacienda, the learning center will help increase digital access, literacy and STEM learning opportunities for low-income families and communities,” said PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings. “PCC is Oregon’s largest post-secondary institution and one of the most diverse institutions in the state. With a focus on equitable student access and success, it is our mission to drive outreach and support for underrepresented populations. This is just another example of that effort.”

The Verizon Community Forward Learning Centers are helping Hacienda remove those barriers with advanced tech including computers, 3D printers, audio/video recording tools, and more. These resources are coupled with programming offered through partners like Portland Community College, Free Geek and iUrban Teen that will help community members use the space and launch opportunities — whether that’s learning to use a computer, developing critical STEM skills and connections to secondary education, or launching a new career or small business.

Schools and community groups who want to participate in programming opportunities at the Verizon Community Forward learning centers or learn more should visit haciendacdc.org/community.

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About Verizon    

Citizen Verizon is the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Citizen Verizon empowers Verizon to deliver on its mission to move the world forward through action by expanding digital access and resources, protecting the climate, and ensuring people have the skills needed for jobs of the future. Through Citizen Verizon, and the key pillars of Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity, the company's responsible business goals include providing 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030, supporting 1 million small businesses with resources to help them thrive in the digital economy by 2030, achieving net zero emissions in its operations by 2035, and preparing 500,000 individuals for jobs of the future by 2030. Learn more at CitizenVerizon.com.      

About Verizon Community Forward

Verizon Community Forward works with local non-profit partners to create innovative learning spaces in community centers, powered by 5G.  Verizon Community Forward expands existing local education resources around the country to deliver education and skills training needed to prepare youth and adults for the digital economy and jobs of the future. There are nine Verizon Community Forward learning centers in 4 cities: Portland, Pittsburgh, Houston and Cleveland.

About Hacienda CDC

Hacienda CDC was formed in 1986 to provide necessary housing and supportive services in NE Portland’s Cully neighborhood. At that time, Cully was home to the largest Latino population in Oregon. Since then, Hacienda has grown to provide affordable housing in 10 communities in Northwest Oregon and provide supportive services to over 1500 individuals, children, and families.

As Portland’s Latino population has grown rapidly, Hacienda continues building capacity to offer our bicultural services to Latinos and other low-income families. Hacienda embraces a holistic approach, providing culturally specific services that provide opportunities to access needed resources like growing or starting a business, and buying a first home. Hacienda is Oregon’s largest Latino-led, Latino-serving housing organization and remains a trusted name in the community.

About Portland Community College

Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news at www.news.pcc

Made up of local leaders with diverse interests, skills, and backgrounds, OCF’s board of directors provides guidance for strategic planning, financial stewardship, initiatives and grantmaking. 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Community Foundation’s Board of Directors has two new members who bring extensive experience in community engagement and housing development. Karis Stoudamire-Phillips is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Community Initiatives at Moda Health and Delta Dental of Oregon. Ernesto Fonseca is CEO of Hacienda Community Development Corporation, a long-time OCF partner that strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities. After a unanimous vote, Stoudamire-Phillips and Fonseca join the 15-member board that oversees Oregon’s statewide community foundation.

"On behalf of Oregon Community Foundation Board of Directors, I welcome Karis and Ernesto into this exciting evolution of philanthropic potential in Oregon,” said Lane Shetterly, Board Chair of Oregon Community Foundation. “New leadership means new opportunities for discovery and meaningful impact in a state hungry for positive change in Oregonian’s daily lives.” 

"The foundation’s next stage of growth will depend upon our ability to bring Oregonians together around the state to deliver bold solutions with innovative resources,” said Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation. “Karis and Ernesto bring tremendous experience and insight to advance our work.”

Stoudamire-Phillips and Fonseca replace former board chair Kimberly Cooper and board member Patrick Criteser, who both served 8 years on the OCF Board of Directors. 

Karis Stoudamire-Phillips is a native of Portland. In her role at Moda Health and Delta Dental of Oregon, she develops, directs and implements community engagement strategies and action plans throughout Oregon and Alaska. She works to increase workforce and corporate cultural diversity, equity and inclusion, while ensuring product offerings across all businesses meet the needs of a diverse customer population. 

She has served on OCF’s Portland Metro Leadership Council since 2017, becoming chair in 2023. She also played pivotal advisory roles for OCF in the Albina Arts Community Visioning Committee and Connecting to Black Communities.

Ernesto Fonseca joined Hacienda as CEO in April 2017, bringing his passion for community development and a belief in the power of connecting families to opportunity. 

Ernesto’s own story reflects the potential that can be unleashed by investing in all our community members. Raised in central Mexico, Ernesto watched his parents take advantage of educational opportunities and their own initiative to build careers in construction and nursing. They passed on their values of hard work and education to their children, and Ernesto embraced those values to gain a foothold in this country by initially working in kitchens and restaurants as he pursued his educational goals, culminating with a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Environmental Design and Planning. 

His extensive board service includes Northwest Outward Bound School, The Prosperity Agenda, Housing Oregon, Energy Trust of Oregon and Two Worlds Community Foundation. He also services in an advisory capacity to ASU Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family. 

Since 1973, the Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF strengthens communities in every county in Oregon through grantmaking, scholarships and research. In 2023, OCF distributed $225 million in grants and scholarships. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them.

To learn more, please visit oregoncf.org

Hacienda’s vision will bring 55 new affordable apartments to Lake Oswego

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.— Clackamas County has granted preliminary funding for Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) to proceed with its proposed affordable housing community in Lake Grove. Hacienda CDC, Oregon's largest Latino-led community development organization, is dedicated to addressing the critical need for affordable housing, particularly for underserved populations. This significant development will be Hacienda CDC's third community in Clackamas County and furthers their commitment to provide affordable housing and holistic programming to communities across the region. 

Hacienda CDC's proposal envisions a three-story, elevator-served building on Boones Ferry Road that will provide 55 new affordable rental units and include on-site resident services provided by Hacienda CDC, as well as a host of culturally-specific support and programming for youth and families. 

Mackenzie and Access Architecture have united to design the community project that Colas Construction will build. The project site will include open and covered seating, an art-filled plaza, a nature-based playground, and a native plant garden. The community will also feature energy-efficient appliances, 100% electric building systems, rooftop solar panels, passive solar design, and incorporate universal design principles and trauma-informed design, ensuring accessibility, and comfort.

"We are excited to bring much-needed affordable housing options to Lake Oswego and continue our work in Clackamas County. We are honored to have been selected by the County to provide community members with the housing they need and deserve," said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC.

The final community design will be informed by Hacienda’s community engagement process beginning in Fall 2023 and will ensure that the building aligns with the needs and desires of residents and community members. Hacienda is currently seeking community-based organizations and support agencies in the area that would like to be involved in community engagement efforts. Following community engagement, the project will seek approval through the City’s land use development review process. 

"Creating housing that is accessible to our full community means creating housing affordable to a wide variety of families through non-profit led development partnerships. The Boones Ferry Road location - with access to high quality schools, premier parks and natural areas, close to employment, transit, and regional access - is exemplary of a high opportunity location befitting the needs of future residents,” stated City of Lake Oswego Mayor Joe Buck. “We are grateful to the neighbors and community members who served on the developer selection committee and are excited to welcome both Hacienda and our future neighbors into our incredible city.” 

The Lake Grove project will provide affordable housing to a diverse population, including families and individuals facing homelessness or imminent displacement who require permanent supportive housing (PSH). Out of the 55 apartments, 20 will be rent-restricted to 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 10 of those units dedicated to PSH through coordination with the Housing Authority of Clackamas County (HACC). Supportive services will be provided by New Narrative. The remaining apartments will be comprised of varying unit sizes and rents accessible to low-income and working-class individuals and families earning 60% AMI or below. 

“We are delighted that our affordable housing bond dollars will provide 55 more affordable apartments in Lake Grove,” says Board of County Commissioners Chair Tootie Smith. “I applaud Lake Oswego’s commitment to affordable housing, which allows the local workforce community to live closer to their jobs in high-cost areas. This new project helps Clackamas County meet our goals to address homelessness and ensure a safe community for everyone who lives here.” 

While Clackamas County's approval is a significant milestone, the project's final endorsement is pending from Metro. Hacienda CDC remains committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to move the development forward and provide much-needed affordable housing options for the Lake Grove community. The project is expected to break ground in Fall of 2024.

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About Clackamas County

 We are building a safe Clackamas County where all people thrive, are celebrated for their diverse identities, and know they belong. Our strategic priorities are to build public trust through good government, grow a vibrant economy, build a strong infrastructure, ensure safe, healthy and secure communities, and honor, utilize, promote and invest in our natural resources.

About Lake Oswego

Lake Oswego, Clackamas County’s largest city, is known for its peaceful neighborhoods, natural beauty, recreational and cultural amenities, highly-rated schools, and sense of community. With a population of approximately 41,000, an extensive parks system, and a full range of retail and commercial services, Lake Oswego is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in Oregon. Lake Oswego is proud to be a full-service City with a complete range of municipal departments including police and fire protection, an award-winning library, and a well-maintained parks system. There is a strong sense of community pride as evidenced by the range of City Boards and Commissions, more than 20 neighborhood associations, and a number of civic and cultural organizations. We strive to be a community where any family or individual feels a true sense of belonging. Whether you live in Lake Oswego, work here, or visit, Lake Oswego hopes you see yourself reflected in aspects of our diverse community life.

The modular homes made from Oregon-grown mass-timber, arriving in communities this summer, may offer a speedier solution to state’s housing crisis

OTIS, Ore., June 7, 2023 — This morning in Otis, a small Lincoln County community near the Oregon coast, Barbara and Scott Benedict stood on their rural property and watched as a crane lifted a pair of large boxes off of two flatbed trucks. By early afternoon, workers had placed the two boxes, or modules, together to form the Benedicts’ new home, replacing the one destroyed in 2020 by the Echo Mountain Fire near Lincoln City.

The Benedicts’ new “Mass Casita” is one of six prototype homes developed by Hacienda CDC and built from Oregon-grown mass timber. Last month, they began arriving in Oregon communities; nearly all will be ready for their owners to occupy them later this summer. 

The home deliveries are the latest chapter in the story of Mass Casitas, an innovative pilot project that is among the first of its kind in the nation. Led by Hacienda CDC, a statewide housing organization based in Portland, the project aims to demonstrate how modular housing built with mass timber could provide a more efficient, faster and less expensive way to build housing and ease Oregon’s housing shortage. 

Oregon is short 140,000 housing units and needs to build more than a half-million homes over the next 20 years in order to keep up with demand. Gov. Tina Kotek has set a construction target of 36,000 units per year, an 80% increase over current production. Reaching that goal will require innovative solutions that can generate housing much faster than Oregon does now.

“Oregon urgently needs more homes, not only for families displaced by disasters like wildfires, but for our many rural and urban communities that simply don’t have enough housing,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda. “With Mass Casitas, we’re developing a process that could add many more homes throughout the state, at a faster pace than traditional construction.”

From design to delivery

Beginning in June 2022, the six prototype Mass Casitas were designed and developed at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 2. So far, three of the six prototypes have been delivered to Otis (one home) and Talent (two homes). A fourth home will be delivered to Madras in June; the remaining two homes will be installed in Portland later this summer.

At the Port, large panels of mass timber plywood were assembled into the boxes, or modules, that form the homes. After the walls were framed, crews installed mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as windows, insulation, and roof structures. The boxes were then placed onto trucks and delivered to their new communities.

On site in Otis, the two modules for the Benedicts’ home were lifted by crane off of two flatbed trucks and placed together on a concrete foundation to form one 1,136 sq. ft. structure. Over the next four to six weeks, crews will affix the two modules to the foundation, join them together, and complete a range of finishing work — such as insulating the crawl space, hooking up utilities, and completing interior doors and trim. The Benedicts will move in by late July.

Over the next year, the Mass Casitas team will work with Mass Casitas residents to monitor how the structures perform in different Oregon climates. The team will use what they learn to improve the design of Mass Casitas and inform the production process.

Potential to scale up, community partners

Hacienda’s Mass Casitas project includes the design, development, delivery and field-testing of six prototype homes. Going forward, Hacienda continues to explore how to produce Mass Casitas on a larger scale, potentially as part of a federally funded project that envisions the Port of Portland’s Terminal 2 as a new Mass Timber Innovation Hub.

In communities, Hacienda has worked with nonprofit partners to help identify and/or select the families who will live in the Mass Casitas. The six homes (which range in size from studios to 3-bedroom models) have been or will be delivered to these four communities:

• 1 home arrived today in  Otis (Lincoln County); partner is Cascade Relief Team

• 2 homes are on site in Talent (Jackson County); partner is Casa of Oregon

• 1 home is going to Madras (Jefferson County); partner is Casa of Oregon

• 2 homes are going to Portland (Multnomah County); partner is Community Vision

During the December 2021 special session, the Oregon Legislature allocated $5 million for Mass Casitas to the Port of Portland, which has provided the warehouse space and fund management and partnered with Hacienda, the housing organization leading the project. Other key team members are: Salazar Architect Inc. (design), Walsh Construction Co. (general contractor), and Freres Engineered Wood (mass timber supplier/expert).

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Hacienda CDC is excited to announce that it was selected by Portland General Electric’s 2022 Drive Change Fund to receive funding for two electric vehicles to support ongoing programming and vechicle access to community members. The PGE DCF is funded via the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program. Funded by the sale of Oregon CFP credits, which PGE aggregates on behalf of residential customers who charge their electric vehicles at home, the fund supports projects aimed at expanding electric mobility options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The DCF prioritizes projects focused on serving vulnerable populations and underserved communities.  

“Portland General Electric is excited to support our partners in expanding cleaner transportation systems across the state,” said Maria Pope, president and CEO of PGE. “Transportation electrification plays an essential role in accelerating the clean energy transition. It is going to take all of us working together to achieve a cleaner and more equitable future for all Oregonians.”

Transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and a major source of other air pollutants. Hacienda CDC is excited to partner with PGE to accelerate the conversion to electric transportation through this investment in our mission and community.

 In addition to the positive impacts on our environment and communities, EVs are a better consumer choice

• Cleaner air. EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and reduce carbon monoxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions and other toxic compounds

• Safety and comfort. EVs are quiet, reducing noise pollution in our communities

• Cost of ownership. Less maintenance—no more oil changes or trips to the gas station! And the price of electricity is regulated unlike gasoline

About Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 2 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas. For over 130 years, PGE has delivered safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are working with customers to build a clean energy future. In 2020, PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.6 million and volunteered 18,200 hours with more than 400 nonprofits across Oregon. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/news. -30-

Hacienda CDC is proud to announce the rename of its early childhood education program, Portland Niños, to Sembrando Semillitas (sem-BRAN-do Se-mee-YEE-tas).

Hacienda CDC is proud to announce the rename of its early childhood education program, Portland Niños, to Sembrando Semillitas (sem-BRAN-do Se-mee-YEE-tas), meaning sowing little seeds in Spanish. This new name reflects the program's mission to cultivate the growth of parents and their children by planting the seeds of knowledge and nurturing their development. 

At Hacienda CDC, we are dedicated to providing affordable housing, economic development, and educational opportunities to our communities. Our focus on education is driven by our belief that high-quality resources and educational opportunities set our community members on a path to success. 

The Sembrando Semillitas program, formerly Portland Niños was established in 2005, and has been a cornerstone of Hacienda’s education initiatives, providing bilingual, culturally responsive early childhood education throughout Multnomah County to parents and their children ages 0-5.  

“Our early education support and programming is a fundamental part of our work in the county and has supported families and their children for nearly two decades.”" Says, Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda CDC. “We are so proud of the work that this team does every day and look forward to seeing them deepen their impact in their new permanent programming space.”

Through home visits, play-based learning, and intentional instruction to both parents and children, our staff are a pillar of support for families and help children develop the skills they need to thrive in their early years and beyond. Our bilingual, bicultural approach ensures that all families, regardless of their background or language, feel valued and supported. 

Thanks to the incredible community support, Sembrando Semillitas program will be housed in its first-ever permanent location in Hacienda’s Las Adelitas. The new space, called Las Abejitas, which means "the little bees," is a play on the Las Adelitas name and is inspired by bees as the pollinators contributing to plant’s growth and development who collaborate to create a strong community together. We hope that this new space will inspire parents and their children to explore, learn, and grow together. 

We are thrilled to continue our early education work as Sembrando Semillitas!

Click here to learn more about Sembrando Semillitas