Courtney Yones is the founder of We Must Mustard, a small-batch condiment brand reimagining how mustard shows up on the table—not just as a spread, but as a flavorful, versatile dip.
With support from Hacienda CDC’s Empresarios program, Courtney is able to turn a passion for food into a growing business rooted in creativity, community, and bold flavor.
What started as an experiment in the kitchen quickly became something more, but Courtney’s connection to food began much earlier. Growing up in a family where her parents owned restaurants, she developed a deep respect for pure, natural ingredients and the role food plays in bringing people together. That foundation continues to shape We Must Mustard today. Courtney began exploring how mustard could be elevated beyond its traditional uses—crafted with thoughtful ingredients and designed to pair with everything from meats and cheeses to vegetables and snacks.
As interest in her products grew, Courtney faced the realities that come with launching a food business—navigating regulations, production requirements, and building a brand from the ground up. That’s when she connected with the Empresarios program.
Through Empresarios, Courtney received a micro grant that helped cover essential early-stage costs, including her Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) business registration and support for building her website. The program also supported a professional photo shoot, helping Courtney bring the We Must Mustard brand to life visually and elevate how it shows up to consumers. These foundational steps were critical in turning her product into a market-ready business.
Equally impactful has been the ongoing mentorship she receives. Courtney meets monthly with Empresarios Program Manager, Melina Romero, who has helped guide her through the culinary industry—an entirely new space for Courtney.
“Melina has been instrumental in helping me think through how to grow the business the right way,” Courtney shared. “She challenges me, supports me, and pushes me to expand thoughtfully while staying true to the brand.”
With this support, Courtney has continued to refine her products and grow her presence in the local food community. We Must Mustard is now carried by respected regional grocers, including New Seasons Market and Market of Choice, as well as beloved specialty retailers such as Classic Foods Outlet, Elephants Delicatessen, Tender Loving Empire, and The Meadow—marking an exciting step forward in bringing her unique “dipping mustard” concept to a broader audience.
Courtney’s connection to the Empresarios community extends beyond business support. In partnership with Hacienda, she donated nearly 250 jars of mustard to support its youth and family services programs, reflecting her commitment to giving back to the community that has helped her grow.
As the business evolves, Courtney remains focused on building something sustainable and meaningful. From expanding her flavor offerings to deepening her retail partnerships, she is committed to growing intentionally while maintaining the quality and creativity that define the brand.
“The support from Empresarios has been incredibly meaningful—not just financially, but in giving me the confidence and guidance to keep going,”
Looking ahead, Courtney is excited to continue introducing We Must Mustard to new audiences, experimenting with new flavor profiles, and building a brand that brings people together around food in a fresh and unexpected way.
These business success stories are made possible thanks to our Empresarios team. Thank you for helping our entrepreneurs create sustainable businesses!
Progress, Resilience, and What’s Ahead
Estimada comunidad,
As we reflect on FY25, I’m grateful for the residents, partners, supporters, and community members who continue to believe in Hacienda CDC’s mission and help bring it to life every day.
I’m proud to share Hacienda CDC’s FY25 Impact Report, highlighting the collective impact we made together over the past year and the momentum continuing to shape our future.
This past year tested many communities across Oregon. Families navigated rising costs, housing instability, and a climate of fear and uncertainty that has deeply impacted many immigrant and Latino communities. Yet even in challenging moments, our community demonstrated extraordinary resilience, care, and determination.
In FY25 alone, Hacienda CDC served more than 4,000 residents and community members through our programs and initiatives.
Building on this momentum, we are continuing to advance several important initiatives in FY26 that reflect our ongoing commitment to social and economic mobility for all communities:
Dolores—Celebrating the grand opening of our newest affordable housing community in Hillsboro and expanding Resident Services to Washington County
Arrobas Digital Access Initiative—Updating technology across our Learning Centers and piloting a device lending program to improve digital connectivity and access for program participants and the broader community
Mass Timber Workforce Training—Launching one of Oregon’s first residential mass timber workforce training programs to connect community members to emerging industries and quality careers
Portland Mercado Rebuild—Continuing the restoration and reimagining of a vital cultural and economic hub for Portland’s Latino community
27th Annual Latino Home Fair—Building on nearly three decades of creating pathways to homeownership through trusted resources, education, and financial empowerment opportunities
These efforts are part of a larger vision for a stronger, more equitable Oregon where families and communities can thrive for generations to come.
I invite you to explore our FY25 Impact Report and learn more about the people, partnerships, and progress shaping Hacienda CDC’s next chapter.
Thank you for being part of this work and for investing in our community.
Siempre Adelante,
Dr. Ernesto Fonseca
Chief Executive Officer
Hacienda CDC
We are deeply troubled by the recent reporting in The New York Times regarding longstanding allegations of abuse of women and girls involving César Chávez. We also honor the courage of Dolores Huerta in speaking publicly about these experiences.
César Chávez and Dolores Huerta co-led a movement that advanced the rights and dignity of farmworkers and inspired generations. That legacy remains meaningful to many in our community. At the same time, the accounts described–spanning many individuals and decades–are devastating and cannot be ignored.
We also recognize that in many movements, including our own communities, harm has at times gone unspoken or unaddressed in the interest of protecting a broader cause. That context does not diminish the experiences shared–it underscores the power, and often the cost, of coming forward.
We believe survivors and the truth of their experiences, and we take seriously what they have shared.
The experiences described, particularly by women who have carried these stories over time, reflect the courage it takes to speak truth in the face of power, silence, and stigma. These truths reflect the profound and lasting impact on the lives of those affected.
As a Latino-led organization rooted in community, Hacienda CDC is committed to upholding the dignity, safety, and humanity of all people.
We also recognize the importance of continuing to examine the histories we inherit, ensuring that the leaders we uplift reflect not only impact, but integrity. And as we do, we must be clear: the burden of shame and stigma does not belong to those who come forward–it belongs with those who cause harm.
Moments like this call on us not to look away, but to listen, reflect, and reaffirm our values. We stand with those who have come forward and with all survivors whose voices deserve recognition, dignity, and care.
If you or someone you know needs support, confidential resources are available, including Línea UNICA (24/7 support for survivors of interpersonal violence). You can also access the national RAINN hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
Nos preocupan profundamente los recientes reportajes en The New York Times sobre denuncias de larga data de abuso contra mujeres y niñas relacionadas con César Chávez. También reconocemos el valor de Dolores Huerta al hablar públicamente sobre estas experiencias.
César Chávez y Dolores Huerta co-lideraron un movimiento que promovió los derechos y la dignidad de las y los trabajadores agrícolas e inspiró a generaciones. Ese legado sigue siendo significativo para muchas personas en nuestra comunidad. Al mismo tiempo, los testimonios descritos—que abarcan a muchas personas a lo largo de décadas—son devastadores y no pueden ser ignorados.
También reconocemos que, en muchos movimientos, incluidas nuestras propias comunidades, en ocasiones el daño ha permanecido en silencio o sin abordarse con el fin de proteger una causa mayor. Ese contexto no disminuye las experiencias compartidas—más bien subraya el poder, y muchas veces el costo, de alzar la voz.
Creemos en las personas sobrevivientes y en la verdad de sus experiencias, y tomamos en serio lo que han compartido.
Los testimonios descritos, particularmente por mujeres que han cargado con estas historias a lo largo del tiempo, reflejan el valor que se requiere para decir la verdad frente al poder, el silencio y el estigma. Estas verdades reflejan el impacto profundo y duradero en la vida de las personas afectadas.
Como organización liderada por latinos y arraigada en la comunidad, Hacienda CDC está comprometida con defender la dignidad, la seguridad y la humanidad de todas las personas.
También reconocemos la importancia de seguir examinando las historias que heredamos, asegurando que las personas líderes que reconocemos reflejen no solo impacto, sino también integridad. Y al hacerlo, debemos ser claros: la carga de la vergüenza y el estigma no recae en quienes alzan la voz—recae en quienes causan daño.
Momentos como este nos llaman a no apartar la mirada, sino a escuchar, reflexionar y reafirmar nuestros valores. Estamos con quienes han hablado y con todas las personas sobrevivientes cuyas voces merecen reconocimiento, dignidad y cuidado.
Si usted o alguien que conoce necesita apoyo, hay recursos confidenciales disponibles, incluyendo Línea UNICA (apoyo 24/7 para sobrevivientes de violencia interpersonal). También puede comunicarse con la línea nacional de RAINN al 800-656-HOPE.
Hacienda’s co-founders and our CEO, Ernesto Fonseca share the rich history behind our mission and culture within the Cully Neighborhood.
by Ernesto Fonseca, Clara Padilla & Maria rojo de steffey
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Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Hacienda CDC) is a cornerstone of the vibrant Cully neighborhood in Portland, OR. From its founding, the visionary leadership at Hacienda has made a lasting impact on the neighborhood, helping transform it into a thriving, family-oriented community.
The Cully neighborhood was named after Thomas Cully, who settled in the area in 1847. For much of its history, it remained unincorporated, only becoming part of Portland in 1985.
For decades, Cully lacked essential infrastructure like sidewalks, lighting, and sewer systems. During the 1950s and 1960s, developers took advantage of cheap land and minimal regulation, building modest multifamily projects throughout the area. By the mid-1980s, when annexation into Portland finally came, many of these apartments had fallen into despair. Absentee landlords, focused on profits, ignored upkeep and basic occupancy standards. While this neglect created unsafe conditions, it also made the apartments affordable to low-income families, predominantly Latino, Black, and White working-class households who, despite the challenges, made Cully their home because rents were lower than elsewhere. Yet as a newly annexed neighborhood, Cully was overlooked by city planners and policymakers.
With the advocacy of Hacienda’s early board, issues of crime, neglect, and disinvestment began to draw attention and investment. Over time, this persistence became a reality. Today, Cully stands as an inspiring example of what sustained advocacy can do. Hacienda’s efforts have not only secured resources but also strengthened social bonds, empowering neighbors to support one another and shape their own future. Cully remains Oregon’s most diverse neighborhood, a rich cultural tapestry, while continuing to grapple with longstanding infrastructure challenges, including unpaved streets and missing sidewalks.
When Hacienda acquired its first properties in the early 1990s, complexes like Cully Manor and Galaxy Apartments had already become home to many Latino families. At the same time, the infamous Sugar Shack, a strip club on the corner of Cully Boulevard and Killingsworth Street. The club was allegedly a hub for illicit activity, from drug dealing to human trafficking, and became a magnet for police calls. Its presence created an atmosphere of crime and insecurity, undermining the safety of nearby families. For decades, Hacienda sought to acquire the site, finally succeeding in 2017. A few years later, in 2022, it was redeveloped into Las Adelitas.
As Hacienda began advocating for change, families living in Cully Manor, Townhouse Apartments, Wendorf Apartments, and Galaxy Apartments faced unsafe conditions. Children couldn’t even play outside without fear.
Recognizing this, Clara Padilia Andrews, former New Mexico Secretary of State, a well-experienced organizer and then assistant to Multnomah County Chair Gladys McCoy, brought her deep experience in community organizing to Cully in the late 1980s. She partnered with Maria Rojo de Steffey, who would later serve as Multnomah County Commissioner, to push for city, county, and state intervention to purchase the troubled complexes. Baltazar Ortiz (Buz Ortiz) and Dan Steffey were tasked with locating the owner and slumlord of these apartments and traveled to California to negotiate the purchase of these complexes. When the apartments were finally secured, Founding Board Chair Buz Ortiz named the newly combined apartments Villa de Clara Vista in honor of Clara’s vision, work, and unwavering commitment to building a better future for Latino families.
Villa de Clara Vista
Their efforts made it clear that a new nonprofit was needed to lead this transformation; The path to forming a 501(c)(3) was long and complicated. Clara and Maria identified an exciting but dormant non-profit, the Northwest Voter Registration and Education Project, founded in 1986 by William Weisman. With Weisman’s support, the organization was renamed the Northwest Community Project in 1988, initially led by Luz Gutierrez as president, followed by Ramona Soto Rank. This name was again changed in the 1990s.
By the early 1990s, Clara’s vision of a strong, community-driven nonprofit was taking place. Alongside Maria, she again recruited Baltazar “Buz” Ortiz to help restructure the organization. On July 8th, 1992, the trio officially submitted the paperwork to establish Hacienda Community Development Corporation. Ortiz became Board Chair, with Maria serving as Vice Chair. The Founding board and its supporters included dedicated community leaders such as Baltazar, Melanie Daivs, Dan Lucero, Mary Lucero, Gilbert Rodriguez, Roslind Rodriguez, Urbano Torres, Frank Soto, Lina Garcia Seabold, Bertha Ferran, Luis Ornelas, and Rodolpho Pedraza Baldwin. At the time, no Executive Director was hired, and all the board members and administrators were unpaid.
The hundreds of families who now live in Hacienda’s communities rely on its essential services and are the direct beneficiaries of these leaders’ dedication, vision, and belief in building a stronger, safer community for all.
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Our Bold Vision for the Next 3 Years
Estimados amigos,
At Hacienda CDC, we believe in the power of community. For over 30 years, we have helped strengthen families, stabilize housing, and create economic opportunities that foster generational wealth.
Over the last year, however, we have witnessed immigration and economic equity face growing headwinds that show no signs of abating. In fact, we believe they will intensify in the coming months.
Times like these must be met with strong leadership, a bold vision, and action.
Today, I am proud to share with you our FY25–28 Strategic Plan—a clear, intentional roadmap to meet this moment and shape the future our communities deserve.
Over the next three years, we will:
Strengthen our foundation to ensure Hacienda’s long-term sustainability.
Elevate community voices through advocacy to unlock resources and political support for our communities.
Launch innovative programs, ensuring more families have access to homeownership, small business support, and wealth-building pathways.
Expand affordable housing in new markets, deepening our partnerships and long-term impact.
This plan is not just about what we aim to achieve—it is also about how we intend to get there: with discipline, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to equity and resilience.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us as we build a future where all families can thrive.
Siempre Adelante,
Dr. Ernesto Fonseca
Chief Executive Officer
