Alex Valle shares how he passionately serves Our community youth and his personal development as an educator. Read more about his experience as an After-School Program Coordinator and his contribution to Hacienda’s Expresiones program.
Photography by Héctor Salazar @hectorsalazarphotography. Courtesy from the group IDEAL PDX.
Alex Valle has always had the desire and passion to work with youth. He is driven to make a difference in the lives of future generations using his gifts of teaching and relationship building. From educating and helping students through art as well as physical education in local schools, to his current role as an Expresiones After-School Program Coordinator, Alex nurtures his talents daily and finds that his work includes more than just teaching, rather he goes further to impact his community and the youth involved.
Alex began his career at Hacienda in 2019 and transitioned into his role as an After-School Program Coordinator recently. After two years supporting organizational events and entrepreneurs in our Empresarios program, he was drawn to this particular position due to his natural ability to teach and desire to work with youth. Alex describes his current role as being a central person who “… provides a safe space for youth from the community to gather, someone who provides educational assistance with homework, develops cognitive developmental activities and connects them with programs, places, and activities that they would normally not have access to. Needless to say, After-School Program Coordinators serve as “… mentors and teachers for the kids that they work with while also being a resource center for families.”
“…Expresiones has a vital role in the communities we serve. Not only for the educational value but also because it serves as a support for families involved.”
One of the most compelling ways Expresiones is making an impact is by allowing children to be in a safe environment upon returning from school. Parents oftentimes have busy schedules which prevent them from picking their children up. Youth are dropped off thanks to school transportation near program sites, and head to Expresiones without needing to head home beforehand. They go to their classrooms and parents have peace of mind knowing their children are well taken care of.
Alex explained that as a result of his personal involvement with Expresiones growing up, he stayed away from trouble and difficult situations. Having experienced the impact of this programming firsthand, Alex is sure to make every day count with his youth and quickly learned that every day is a new adventure in Expresiones. The most meaningful part of his work is relationship-building, from activity planning to talking with families.
“The most rewarding part of this position has been to connect with the community, both the kids and the families. Through building this connection I have been able to learn about the needs of the communities and how Hacienda and myself can help. When we are not able to provide help, we connect them to outside programs or resources that can support them. To me, this is the most rewarding part because I know how much help that brings to a family in need.” Alex has built rapport among children and families by being a support system and providing a safe environment for children to access.
“To me, this is the most rewarding part because I know how much help that brings to a family in need.”
After a short period of time, Alex saw that his impact extended beyond after-school activities. Building trust is a crucial component in his work. “When I first started in this position, I imagined it to be much simpler than it truly is. As months have passed, I’ve realized that our goal in the Expresiones program is to provide much more than just help with school and homework. I have developed relationships with the kids as a mentor and role model and relationships with the parents as a guide and family friend. While performing my duties I want the families to see me as someone they can trust and someone that will be there in case they need something. Not just an after-school teacher.”
Meanwhile he teaches children within the classroom, Alex also provides relief to families in moments of need. During the 2022 holiday season, Alex and his Expresiones team provided gifts to families they serve, which primarily encompass low-income households. The holidays can put a strain on families who cannot afford to provide their children and family with gifts. Thanks to the Youth and Family Services team as well as our partnering programs, KGW 8 and Fox 12 Oregon, gifts were given to all the youth within the program—providing help and relief for residential families.
Expresiones provides additional academic support, but its central goal and impact have evolved into something much deeper; its developed into a support system for residential families and a space to cultivate relationships—where community members are listened to. As Alex describes it, “…our goal is to build and strengthen the community and voice the needs of the people we serve… I believe that we are doing just that.”
Beyond being a mentor and educator, Alex is an incredibly talented multimedia artist. Growing up, he had teachers and mentors who encouraged his artistic pursuits and he believes it was through their support he continued with art. He teaches his love of art to his students on a daily basis in the hope they too feel motivated to foster their individual talents. Overall, Alex shares that by teaching art, he demonstrates “the value of having someone who values and believes in your work…” ensuring to practice this value with the youth he serves.
Alex Valle is an example of a passionate and driven individual that helps Hacienda offer bilingual and bi-cultural academic support to youth in our communities.
Expresiones is an Hacienda CDC program available to residential families. Learn more about Expresiones and Youth and Family Services by clicking here.
Hacienda CDC’s Empresarios programming supports entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Read more about our featured Empresario and learn about our amazing community of small business owners.
Name of Business:
Creole Me Up
Country of Origin:
Haiti
Significance of Name:
The name Creole Me Up came from the language and and traditions from Haiti. In the perspective of Elsy, the Creole food made and cooked here is not up to par thus she decided to “Creole Me Up” some food.
Goals for Business:
“My goal for the next five years is that when anyone thinks of Haiti, they think of the food, drinks and flavors and not the negative stuff depicted in the media. I want people to have that connection of the food with Haiti and not the poverty and negative perspectives of Haiti. I want people to know Haiti through food and to make Pickleez known.”
Elsy’s Story
Meet Elsy Dinvil she left a decade-long career in the financial sector to start Creole Me Up, a restaurant and catering service specializing in the foods and experiences that Dinvil grew up on with ingredients such plantains, beans and rice and other staples from her Haitian upbringing. Her restaurant was part of an ongoing trend in the industry toward temporary "pop-up" restaurants, which offer customers unique food items and experience for only a few days, or a few hours, at a time prior to Covid-19. With a growing audience base and popularity lost, it is clear that Dinvil has taken a huge hit to her business, however, she is currently focusing on selling packed products such as her delicious Pickleez.
“My name is Elsy and I am originally from Jérémie, Haiti. Haiti is divided into departments, much as the US is divided into States. Jérémie is the third largest city of Haiti and is part of the Grand’Amse department. In 1991, I came to America with a full ride scholarship to study in the United States. I was among just 20 Haitian students selected for this great opportunity. I studied Food Science Technology, graduated, and then, as part of the scholarship agreement, returned to Haiti for two years. I came back to the United States in 1999 after working at the United States Agency for Development (USAID) for two years and at CARE-Haiti for six years.Currently, I am in the process of completing my MBA with a concentration in strategy. I grew up in the kitchen. In fact, in Haiti, girls don’t have a choice. As soon as my mother started cooking, my sisters and I were in the kitchen helping with all sorts of chores and my main task always was to crush the ingredients to make the épis (marinade) of the day to marinate the main meat for dinner.
Needless to say, I love to cook and enjoy bringing close and new friends together over tasty food. My business, Creole Enterprises LLC, was launched on August 21st, 2017 after a six-year-long struggle with digestive issues and a colon surgery. I have a solid understanding of how foods can nurture and heal the body, and at the same time, negatively affect someone’s health. I am especially focused on helping people overcome health challenges through simple choices in the food they eat. My goal is to provide chemical and allergen-free plant-based products with rich flavors, which offer an alternative in the kitchen, all while staying true to my Haitian roots, culture, and background. This is the biggest inspiration behind my business.
I recently published a book, Cooking With My Mother that is available on Amazon. This book is filled with over 100 easy-to-follow popular Haitian recipes. My company also offers cooking classes. If you would like to participate in one of the classes, you can either follow us on Instagram, visit this website often, or join our email list. If you cannot attend our classes, just get a copy of the book! My company also caters for small and big events. Reach out to us if you would like to serve Creole foods cooked with the simplest ingredients that sink well with your guests’ bellies.”
About Creole Me Up
Creole Me Up focuses on bringing and highlighting the flavors and the true culture of Haiti to the Northwest. The goal is to expose a different perspective of what Dinvil knows as home vs what is portrayed by the media. She wants the community to see Haiti for its beauty and culinary excellence vs the hardships and poverty.
Learn more about our Empresarios program and other businesses at the Portland Mercado.
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Portland, OR - Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) is pleased to announce that the first residents have moved into Las Adelitas, the organization's newest affordable housing development.
Located at the corner of Killingsworth Street and Cully Boulevard in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, Las Adelitas includes 142 affordable rental apartments and a community event space. The development is designed to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals, with a mix of efficiency, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments as well as amenities such as a playground, bike storage, electric vehicle car-sharing, and a solar buyback program. The complex was designed with community in mind through various community-led workshops that spoke to the needs of families and individuals.
Applications opened September 2022 and are open on a rolling basis for individuals and families that fall below 60% of the area median income.
Las Adelitas is the outcome of a 5+ year community-driven process to transform a former vacated lot that was negatively impacting the vitality of Cully. After a grassroots effort from community and various supporters, in 2015, Hacienda, Verde, and Habitat for Humanity came together to form the coalition, Living Cully to buy the property with the support of CRAFT3, Prosper Portland, Oregon Community Fund, Meyer Memorial Trust, over $50,000 donated directly from community members, and many others. In 2017 Hacienda purchased the entire property to create affordable housing that is so desperately needed.
Aptly named after feminist Mexican revolutionaries, the building brings deep social, economic and environmental benefits to the Cully community. Inspired by community design in every detail, the community also features a large-scale mural by notable artist Michelle Angela Ortiz which features Cully community members and a poem written by a local neighbor.
First resident to Las Adelitas receives keys from Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda Chief Executive Officer
"We are thrilled to welcome the first residents to Las Adelitas," said Chief Executive Officer, Ernesto Fonseca. "This development was once just a dream, and many people thought it couldn’t be done, now we are welcoming our first residents and celebrating it as an important step in our efforts to provide affordable housing options for low-income families and individuals in the Portland area."
In addition to affordable housing, Las Adelitas also includes a community event space and space for Portland Niños, Hacienda’s program for families with children age 0-5.
Hacienda will be celebrating the official grand opening of Las Adelitas in early Spring. For more information about Las Adelitas and our full list of funders, please visit www.lasadelitas.org.
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Re-experience an amazing year of community gatherings after two long years apart. Scroll through our favorite photos from a great year at the Portland Mercado.
Makers De Mayo
What better way to support local businesses than in our Makers De Mayo event? Makers De Mayo hosted over 20 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) makers and small-businesses.
In addition to showcasing amazing makers, live entertainment and music brightened up the Portland Mercado for people to enjoy. Thanks to the support from Kuto, not only did attendees support their local vendors, but each received a $50 digital gift card to spend at Makers De Mayo and throughout the Powell-Foster neighborhood.
Portland Mercado’s 7th Anniversary
2022 was an important year for our community as we gathered to celebrate 7 years of the Portland Mercado!
Incredible vendors and makers and local partners joined us to make this event a success and EducateYa hosted an on-site vaccine clinic for community.
Since 2015 Hacienda has offered this space as the hub of our business advising and incubation programming that began in 2006. We can’t believe how much we have grown and are honored to have built this community that is created and loved by many.
Thank you to Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley for their continued support and for being a part of the celebrations!
Summer Fest
This family-friendly event was a perfect way to beat the heat and join in fun festivities where neighbors, families, friends, and the broader community came together to enjoy live music by Oleada, Refugio, DJ Buena Suerte, and OC Note of Alta Vocez. Attendees enjoyed deicious food, drinks, and wares from artisans to celebrate summer fun!
Sin Maíz No Hay País
SIN MAÍZ NO HAY PAÍS was an open-to-the-public performance in partnership with Heidi Duckler Dance and Hacienda CDC staged on the performing grounds of the Portland Mercado. The performance seeks to capture the rich cultural history and vibrant beauty of the community that resides there. Watch the video to experience the amazing performance by the Heidi Duckler Dance Company!
Taste of Latin America
We gathered at the Portland Mercado to celebrate over thirty-five Latin-American artists, musicians like Frankie Simone, Gata Galatica, Grupo Latitudes, LUVJONEZ, and DJ Lapaushi, and vendors that showcase the flavors from across Latin America!
It was a special day to support our incredible community and showcase nuestra cultura.
Brazillian Festival
We brought a bit of Brazil to Portland and celebrated its vibrant and beautiful culture in partnership with Favela Brazillian Cafe. Attendees had a chance to support vendors, makers, and taste the flavors of Brazil all while enjoying music and Samba dancing lessons!
Comunidad Viva
This annual fundraiser is an opportunity for our community to gather in support of Hacienda’s mission and impact in our community. In 2022 we were joined by renown author and activist, Julissa Arce, for a keynote speech and celebrated our successes and achievements over 2022. AleCocina, Kotiax Catering, Kitchana Kitchen, and Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine, vendors from Hacienda’s Portland Mercado and Empresarios program, joined us to serve delicious meals as we danced the night away to Son de Cuba!
Día De Los Muertos
Dia de Muertos is a time for us to celebrate the life of those that have passed. We honor and connect with their spirit by offering flowers, treats, and gifts that allow us to connect and call them back from the spirit realm. During this time it is believed the veil is thinnest to facilitate this connection. Community members joined us at the Portland Mercado to contribute to a communal alter and family-friendly music and festivities from Elle Bosque, a Juan Garcia impersonator, Lanessa Long, and Juma DeJesus.
Las Posadas
The event nods to traditional holiday celebrations from around Central and South America and offers a unique opportunity to support Portland’s small businesses. Visitors were greated by music from Elle Bosque, Gerardo Calderon, and Ariel DJ. With a great selection of vendors—Las Posadas was a unique opportunity to shop small this holiday season and enjoy all the Portland Mercado has to offer!
These events were made possible thanks to our incredible community of supporters and sponsors— AAA, Comcast, Metro, Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, and Reach CDC.
We look forward to seeing you in 2023!
View the 2023 Portland Mercado Events calendar!
Want to Support events in 2023? contact beckie lee at blee@haciendacdc.org
The PDX 311 program is an initiative by the City of Portland to connect residents to city and county services.
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Thank you to our donors and business partners for investing in Hacienda this winter!
Give!Guide is the centerpiece of our year-end giving campaign. It’s the opportunity for community members and businesses to come together to support Hacienda – and we can’t thank you all enough for your generosity!
In just two short months, we received 295 donations totaling over $39,000! We appreciate each and every one of you and want to give a special shout out to our partners this year! Huge thanks to:
Nico’s Ice Cream for donating gift cards for our first 50 donors!
Nico’s Cantina, a new neighbor in Cully, donated 15% of their proceeds on November 16th!
Brew Dr. Kombucha, who donated $500, “buy one, get one free” coupons for all our donors, and 4 3-month supplies of Brew Dr. Kombucha!
Lime kicked off our campaign with a $1,500 contribution!
La Villa Bar & Grill donated a portion of their proceeds on December 8th to Hacienda and Wallace!
Portland Tacovore donated 15% of their proceeds on December 7th!
Wonder Ballroom donated 2 tickets to their New Years Eve show.
And last but not least, special thanks to the Winquist Family who generous matched the first $10,000 in donations!
You all wrapped your arms around Hacienda this holiday season. Thank you!
Hacienda CDC’s Empresarios programming supports entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Read more about our featured Empresario and learn about our amazing community of small business owners.
Business Name: Jesmar Spices
Country of Origin: Santa Cruz Tacache de Mina - Oaxaca, Mexico
Significance of Name: The name is a mix of the only daughters fist and last name, (Jes)sica (Mar)tinez: “Jesmar” Spices.
Goals for Business: Silverios goals are to expand his packaged salsa business to sell in retailers. He plans on focusing only on packaged products but would also love to work more at farmers markets to sells tacos as a way for people to try his marinades and packaged goods. His long term goal is to have a place to produce and package his products such as a restaurant, or grocery store with a butcher shop!
Silverio’s Story
My name is Silverio Martinez, I was born in a town called Santa Cruz Tacache de Mina that in the beginning was dedicated to shepherding sheep and growing cotton, that's why the name of Tacache which in the Mixtec dialect means sheep behind the cotton field.
In my childhood I worked in the fields planting corn, beans and peanuts. My house is located one kilometer from the Mixteco river in Oaxaca, Mexico. My housewife mother and my peasant father. At school time I would leave school and go with my father to plant and care for the goats. My mother made a sauce with spices to dry the meat, because there was no refrigeration and we also covered the cheese with the leaves of a plant so that it stayed longer. It was from her that I learned to mix chilies with spices to create the marinades that I sell today. In addition to giving a very good flavor to the meat, it is preserved for a longer time.
My maternal grandfather was a butcher or "matanzas" as we called him in my town. Thanks to him I learned to work meat and that is why my marinades are special for preparing roasts.
Due to the economic situation of my family, I only studied elementary school. I emigrated from Oaxaca to the Federal District at the age of 16 where I worked in butchers and improving my work. When he was 26 years old, he emigrated to the United States. I worked in a restaurant for 5 years and then in a Mexican store for 12 years. In the Mexican store I prepared the marinades and they sold very well. That was how I decided to start my own business and stop working for someone else. Now they are my clients.
My business is called Jesmar Spices after my only daughter Jessica Martinez. I chose the word Spices because I make hot sauces and use 100% natural spices. My marinades are made from dried chili peppers, spices and citrus fruit juices such as lemon, orange and pineapple. Right now I am selling my wholesale marinades at butchers in the Portland Metro region and the current plan is to make my marinades in cans for the consumer to use their creativity and marinate their meats at home.
Jesmar Spices
Jesmar Spices is a company based on true traditional recipes mixed with years of experience. The man behind it all is Silverio Martinez. His story with spices began as a kid when he would learn by seeing his grandfather cook with spices and marinades to help preserve meats. Where Silverio is from refrigeration was a commodity that not many had, thus the use of spices to preserve food is very common. His grandpa himself had many years of experience and many perfected recipes that he passed on to Silverio. Due to the bad economic states of his hometown, he decided to migrate to the United States in 1997, with the hopes of finding a stable job to help out his family back home. His dream however was always to earn enough money to establish a grocery store business with a butcher shop back home to go back and run it with his family.
During the first few years in the U.S, he worked regular restaurant jobs to make ends meet. In 2004 he began working at a butcher shop at a Mexican store. He would use his own recipes to marinade the meats sold at this shop and realized there was a high demand for his products. This is where he began to realize that his work had more value than what he was being compensated for. He constantly asked for a raise and in all his years there his max pay only reached thirteen dollars. This sparked his entrepreneurial spirit and slowly began looking for ways to begin his own business.
In 2016 he began working with the Portland Mercado trough the Empresarios Program where he learned about how to properly establish a business here. In 2017 he got his license and began selling his marinades and spices to local stores. During this period he was working a regular job at night and focused on. growing is business during the day. As time went on his business began picking up to the point where he decided to spend his savings on a work truck to help deliver his products.
Jesmar Spices currently has products in 11 stores and supplies 4 food carts around town with his marinades. As his business continued to grow, he began to sell tacos at local farmer's markets. His first event ever was the street fair in Milwaukee, Oregon. He began selling food as a way to fund his spices business and to promote them as well since he uses his marinades to add flavor to his meats. This part of his business brought some though challenges for Silverio to face since he had never sold as a vendor himself. He undervalued his products but thanks to feedback from peers and customers he raised his prices to make a better profit margin which reflected the quality of his work. Sadly, COVID-19 has brought a halt to this part of his business but his entrepreneurial spirit has led him to evolve along with the tough times.
Silverio is currently focusing on selling his packaged products has recently begun developing packaged salsas made with secret recipes that he has slowly developed using his roots and traditional recipes as inspiration. YUM!
The three salsas are Salsa Verde, Salsa Diabla, and Salsa Puya! Currently only available at select restaurants. For inquiries or samples please contact Silverio personally.
Learn more about our Empresarios program and other businesses at the Portland Mercado.
Manuela and her family are owners of Loncheria Los Mayas, a staple food cart in the Cully neighborhood, located at Alder Commons. Read more about how she and her family found housing, after-school support, and got on the path to starting their business thanks to support from Hacienda’s affordable housing and holistic programming.
Manuela moved to Portland and hoped to find a safe, affordable space for her husband and three children to live in. Her and her family eventually made it happen when they moved into apartments in Northeast Portland, but soon began facing troubles when their home did not provide adequate living conditions. Her youngest son developed asthma from the walls in their home. This situation caused worry and concern and Manuela knew they would have to move elsewhere to ensure the health of her children.
Although Manuela recognized the necessity to leave their home for the safety of her family, affordability was a priority. Up until that point, she had heard through friends and neighbors about Hacienda CDC and knew about the various programs and services. Community members encouraged Manuela to look into the possibility of renting through the community development organization as it would offer her the opportunity to live in a better environment at a price she and her family could afford. Soon, Manuela and her family of five were welcomed to one of Hacienda’s communities.
Slowly but surely, Manuela regained much-needed hope and began to look into additional Hacienda programming. In doing so, she learned about Expresiones; an after-school and summer enrichment program for youth in Hacienda communities. Even though Manuela helped her three children in whichever way possible, due to her busy schedule and limited schooling in Mexico, she knew she needed additional support for their academics. Her daughters soon obtained on-site homework help from bi-lingual and bi-cultural staff that understood them and their community and had a safe place to go spend their time after school.
Both Manuela and her husband Freddy aspired for more and wanted to build something of their own for their family. Since moving to the United States many years ago, they always dreamed of starting their own business and fulfilling this desire. With a goal and ambition in mind, they began saving to pursue this life-long dream. They soon found it difficult to navigate the many steps of starting a business alone.
“I feel like when you start something big it’s like walking in the dark...Hacienda is a like a light, a beacon, that appeared on the road”
It was at this point that they looked into the Mercado Empresario’s program, Hacienda’s program to support small businesses, from raising captial to business advising and provides bi-lingual and bi-cultural technical support to clients. Once they began the program themselves, they found clarity and a sense of direction to continue on their journey and start their own business with confidence.
In 2016 they opened Loncheria Los Mayas, a food cart in the Cully neighborhood inspired by Manuela and her husband’s indigenous Mexican roots. This one-of-a-kind food cart can be found in Alder Commons where guests enjoy authentic regional foods—from a classic Yucatan Panucho to handmade tortillas. Every dish at Los Mayas celebrates their love for their home country and is a testament to their culture and their dreams.
Loncheria Los Mayas is far more than just a food cart. As Manuela says, “Our dream is to teach people about our culture and traditional flavors originating from the Mayan times.”.
Manuel now encourages others to learn more about Hacienda, as it is more than just proving affordable housing. She that Hacienda supports many facets of a person’s life and reflects on the support she received by saying, “I feel like when you start something big it's like walking in the dark...Hacienda is a like a light, a beacon, that appeared on the road.”
The success of their business embodies the completion of heartfelt goals. It signifies the challenges and perseverance Manuel and her family endured. From leaving their homeland to making their dreams a reality, Manuela’s journey is a roadmap for others looking to reach their dreams and Hacienda is proud to have been a part of her story.
Follow Loncheria Los Mayas on Instagram and pay them a visit at Alder Commons (4212 NE Prescott St, Portland, OR 97218).
The 171-unit community from Hacienda CDC and Community Development Partners is designed for a diverse group of residents of all ages to thrive
Oregon City’s newest community is swiftly taking shape, bringing 171 units of much-needed affordable rental housing with integrated on-site services and support. With a special focus on serving larger families and older residents; agricultural workers employed nearby; and adults and children at risk for or transitioning out of homelessness, the Las Flores development reflects the reality that Oregon’s housing challenges affect a diverse mix of residents in smaller suburbs, cities and towns beyond Portland and Salem. The community expects to welcome its first residents in summer 2023.
This is the second community that is co-owned and co-developed by Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Hacienda CDC), an Oregon-based, Latino-led community building organization with a holistic approach and client-centered services, and Community Development Partners (CDP), a mission-driven affordable housing developer. Together they are helping to fill Oregon’s need for affordable housing with a model that goes beyond providing a roof over people’s heads.
“Las Flores will be more than apartments. This will be a community that provides what individuals and families need to find stability and reach their goals,” said Ernesto Fonseca, CEO, Hacienda CDC. “This will be a place where residents can find after-school and summer programming for their kids, start on a path to buying a home through homeownership counseling, or connect with small business advising.”
“The affordable housing shortage burdens our smaller, more rural areas too, so we’re excited to be taking our successful partnership with Hacienda CDC beyond Portland to serve the diverse communities who live and work in Oregon City and Clackamas County,” said Eric Paine, CEO, CDP. “Las Flores will not only offer a beautiful place to live, but a place where individuals and families can connect and build community.”
The key ingredients of the CDP-Hacienda partnership that make Las Flores a different kind of affordable housing community include:
Community-informed from the start. Before design or construction began, CDP and Hacienda engaged with Salazar Architect and the Center for Public Interest Design (CPID) at Portland State University to conduct a thorough survey of assets and challenges in the surrounding area. This included many meetings with Oregon City community members and organizations, whose input shaped the design of buildings and other spaces at Las Flores and the kinds of services and support that will be available to residents.
A physical campus that promotes health and well-being for all ages. Las Flores has been designed using the people-first, “Communities for All Ages” (CFAA) approach, which embraces the benefits of intergenerational living and creates homes and spaces where all people can be respected, cared for, and given tools to explore their interests. This includes buildings clustered around a park-like gathering space, tree-dotted walking paths, children’s play areas, outdoor picnic areas, a community garden, and a community building with a kitchen and multi-use spaces where residents can hold events, take classes, and enjoy spending time with their families and neighbors.
Integrated on-site services that support families and help them move ahead. As co-developer, Hacienda will offer on-site services to Las Flores residents that help them thrive and pursue goals like getting on the path to homeownership or building a brighter future by starting their own business — including after-school and early childhood education, homeownership counseling, and small business advising.
Significant funding for Las Flores comes from Clackamas County’s share of the Metro Regional Affordable Housing Bond, approved by voters in 2018.
“Across this region, we are in the middle of multiple housing crises,” said Metro Councilor Christine Lewis, who represents District 2, which includes Oregon City. “It may look and feel a little different than downtown Portland, but we're part of all the same problems. We have a lack of affordability, we have homelessness. We have folks who are getting displaced from their current housing and they don't know where to turn.”
Location and residents
At Las Flores, seven attractive, high-quality apartment buildings will encircle a wide-open green space and a community building for events and classes. The 4.5 acre site is northeast of Highway 213 and South Beavercreek Road, where dense retail and housing on Oregon City’s eastern border begin to give way to farmland and rural areas of Clackamas County.
”Achieving the housing progress we seek as a state must mean shared progress for Oregon’s farmworkers and their families,” said Andrea Bell, Director of Oregon Housing and Community
Services (OHCS). “Our economies and communities are strongest when everyone has their basic needs met — this centers our humanity as a state and upholds self-determination, human dignity and respect. Las Flores is yet another manifestation of what is possible when all of us come together in service to our communities.”
Las Flores is designed for low-income families and individuals in the Oregon City area, who are the least likely to find housing they can afford:
Las Flores’ mix of unit sizes (from one to four bedrooms) will allow for small and large households and residents of all ages, especially important given the region’s shortage of 3- and 4-bedroom units.
Residents must earn 30% to 60% of the area median income (in Clackamas County, that’s $31,950 to $63,900 for a family of four).
12 units will be set aside for people who work in the agricultural industry and their families, including those who work on farms, in nurseries, at dairies and on reforestation projects. Clackamas County has the sixth-largest population of migrant and agricultural workers in the state, according to state figures.
9 units will be permanent supportive housing, with services provided by Northwest Housing Alternatives. Those units will be reserved for families transitioning out of NHA’s Annie Ross House in Milwaukie. Nearly 600 people are experiencing homelessness in Clackamas County, and more than 300 of them are unsheltered, according to the most recent Point-In-Time count.
“Through NHA’s Annie Ross family shelter program, we are grateful to have the opportunity at Las Flores to facilitate new affordable housing for families transitioning from homelessness,” shared Trell Anderson, Executive Director of Northwest Housing Alternatives. “Our established working relationship with Hacienda CDC in resident services will translate into seamless programming, long-term housing stability, and support for kids, for all the families making the Las Flores development their home.”
Las Flores is funded by a 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocation with equity investment by Aegon, OHCS Market Cost Offset Funds, Clackamas County’s share of the Metro Regional Affordable Housing Bond Funds administered by the Housing Authority of Clackamas County, Agriculture Workforce Housing Tax Credits, and a Section 8 contract for 70 project-based vouchers. Construction financing is being provided by US Bank and permanent financing is being provided by Citi. The project was designed by Salazar Architect and is being built by LMC Construction. Guardian Management will be the property manager.
Video note: CDP and Hacienda CDC created a highlight video to show the Las Flores site, with interviews from partners and supporters, including Lewis (Metro), Bell (OHCS), Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff, Bryan Guiney (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) and Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader.
About Hacienda CDC
Hacienda CDC is a Latino Community Development Corporation that strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement, and educational opportunities. Hacienda owns 381 affordable housing units in North and Northeast Portland and Molalla, providing safe, stable homes for over 1,500 individuals each year, over half of whom are children. Hacienda embraces a holistic approach to development with programs in Community Economic Development, Homeownership Support, and Youth and Family Support Services.
About Community Development Partners
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long term community engagement and innovative design. As a mission-driven, forward-thinking organization, CDP is focused exclusively on creating vibrant affordable housing communities that incorporate art, public parks, gardens, fresh food, and cultural and social programming. Today, CDP has successfully built or preserved 44 unique projects comprising over 3,500 units throughout Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona.
Jaclyn Sarna, Chief Operating Officer at Hacienda
Hacienda has named Jaclyn Sarna as our newest Chief Operating Officer!
Jaclyn joined Hacienda in 2009 w s an After-School Program Coordinator in our Youth & Family Services programming. Throughout her time in Hacienda, she has served her community through Hacienda’s Youth & Family Services programming and has served as Director of Youth & Family Services since 2014. In October of 2022, Jaclyn was named interim chief operating officer, and Hacienda is honored to announce her now permanent placement as Chief Operating Officer for the organization!
Jaclyn Sarna, helping students through the Expresiones Program.
In her role as Director of Youth and Family Services Jaclyn served on the organization's Leadership Team and oversaw the Resident Services Program (serving over 2,000 residents in 10 housing communities), Expresiones (after school program for youth K-8), Portland Ninos (early childhood), and Arrobas (STEM, digital literacy, workforce readiness). She worked closely with her team to lead community engagement that informed Hacienda's housing developments, from pre-development through lease-up. Jaclyn earned her Bachelor’s in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Iowa in 2007 and graduated with her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University in 2012. Jaclyn is bilingual in Spanish and feels deeply proud to work in the Latinx community in Oregon. When working with community Jaclyn employs a trauma-informed approach and believes deeply in the power of popular education.
“We are lucky to have this team of dedicated, passionate teammates and Jaclyn continues to be a role model and exemplify what it means to commit to the betterment of our programming and organization”, says, Ernesto Fonseca, Chief Executive Officer of Hacienda CDC. ”She has served as a community leader for many years, and it is our honor to have her serve in this position where she can continue to apply her skills and deepen our impact in the communities we serve.”
We appreciate Jaclyn’s thoughtful leadership, stewardship, and tenacity and are grateful for her tenure and impact on our community and organization!
Hacienda is increasing its impact and growing its team.
Want to learn about new opportunities to build community? Visit our careers page.
Hacienda CDC’s Empresarios programming supports entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Read more about our featured Empresario and learn about our amazing community of small business owners.
Business Name: La Porteña
Country of Origin: Buenos Aires, Argentina | Los Angeles, CA
Significance of Name: In Argentina “Porteño” is what you lovingly call someone from Buenos Aires. It also pertains to any port city so as Portlanders we hold the same title so that inspired the name “La Porteña”.
Goals for Business: The goal is to get into as many retailers as they can and to expand into more stores. In the future she also plans on releasing more products but her current focus is on the two current products out.
Jessica’s Story
Meet Jessica, Causey, she is the owner of La Porteña. Originally from Los Angeles, California, she has been resident of Portland Oregon for about 25 years. Born of Spaniard and Argentinian decent, she grew up eating traditional meals all her youth which have inspired her recipes today.
Jessicas Mother who is from Galicia, Spain—the North Western part of Spain—moved to Argentina with her family right after the Spanish Civil War. It is there where her mother met her father. He was born in Argentina from Italian parents. After marrying and living, and having a child together, they decided to migrate to the United States in the 70s in search for a better life. Is here where they had Jessica, who grew up in a household full of tradition and delicious foods, inspired by the culture of both parents.
After growing up and going to school in LA for a degree in Early Childhood Education, she decided to move to Oregon in search for a fresh start. Upon arriving, she began working in a Spanish immersion kinder garden. Eventually she got burned out of that carrier and decided to test her luck in the food industry. She worked multiple restaurant jobs where she learned different aspects of that business. During this time she was simultaneously brewing the idea of starting a food cart. She found help from Mercy-Corps but that idea never flourished. However, her goal of creating a business in the food industry to highlight her culture and family traditions was always there. Thanks for the feedback from her peers and family, she decided to package her famous Chimichurri and fine tuned her recipes alongside her mother.
Her packaged business began after randomly meeting Mike Adams, a food scientist who worked for the Food Innovation Center and setting up a consultation. This is where she got the help and direction to properly package and label her product which she brought to market initially through farmers markets and other local events. During this time she reach out to the Portland Mercado after hearing about it from a friend, but unfortunately missed the enrollment date for the Empresarios Bootcamp. The following year she was part of the program and also began to utilize the commercial kitchen to make, and package her products while meeting other likeminded entrepreneurs in the Portland Mercado community. Thanks to her hard work and the help of multiple organizations, her business quickly evolved but due to COVID-19, many of her exposure opportunities vanished. Luckily her Chimichurri “Moms green” and “Spicy Red” can now be found at Portland Farmers Markets, Peoples Co-ops, Local Milk Run, Market of Choice, Montavilla Market, and Masa Fresh so you are still able to find it in stores.
About La Porteña
La Porteña is a small batch Argentine Chimichurri company made in Portland, Oregon. With the use of traditional ingredients and a flavorful spicy twist, this Chimichurri is sure to spark a flair at your future asada BBQ gathering.
With the help of organizations like Hacienda and Portland Mercado, Prosper Portland, GYRM, Built Oregon, and the OSU Food Innovation Center, La Porteña was born in May of 2019. La Porteña is committed to growing a diverse food economy, supporting our local farmers, and building strong communities between growers and producers.
Chimichurri is an uncooked sauce used both, in cooking, and as a table condiment for grilled meat. A specialty of Argentina and Uruguay, the sauce comes in a green and a red version—the red being the spicy one. It is made of finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano and red wine vinegar and certain family recipes vary. La Porteña is company whose product output possibilities are wide but their current focus is only on packaged Chimichurri but plans to venture on other products in the future once her brand presence is well established.
Her two current Chimichurris Are:
-The “Spicy Red Chimi” which is inspired by the rich latin flavors they grew up with . Made with sun drenched heat of chilis grown in the Andes of South America and combined with traditional fresh ingredients, this smoky, savory chili will transform any meal. Spoon over your favorite grilled foods, combine with roasted potatoes or veggies, mix with grains or simply use as a dip or spread. Love it with empanadas, pizza or any other meal. It’s the “everything sauce” you won’t want to live without!
-The “Mom’s Green Chimi” is inspired by tradition of offering you a seat at the family get-together—Argentinians are very welcoming! The garlic herb finishing sauce will elevate your meal with its bright, fresh flavors. With the use of locally sourced ingredients and specialty Argentine spices, it delivers a truly authentic taste you can’t find anywhere else. Mom’s Green Chimi is great drizzled over grilled foods, mixed into rice and pasta or simply a delicious dipping oil for bread. It’s simply delicious!
Learn more about our Empresarios program and other businesses at the Portland Mercado.
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., December 1, 2022 — Adults and youth in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland are experiencing new and vital connections to cutting-edge technology, STEM education, and career development opportunities with three community-driven learning centers opening today.
The new centers were created by Verizon in partnership with Hacienda CDC to remove barriers between low-income Portlanders and the tech resources they need to succeed in a digital world. These learning and innovation hubs are designed for all ages, with high-speed internet access, advanced technology, and educational and career programming.
Hacienda CDC and Verizon were joined by Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio and guests at the grand opening celebration held at the Verizon Community Forward New Columbia Learning Center on the New Columbia campus of Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center & Rosemary Anderson High School (POIC & RAHS).
"So many families across the nation long for 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 excited to partner with Hacienda and Portland leaders to enable youth and adults to develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities for a more promising future."
Hacienda CDC — In partnership with Verizon, was selected to support the development of three learning centers in Portland. Open to students, community members and the public, the centers are located in remodeled spaces at Hacienda’s headquarters in Cully, Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus, in addition to the New Columbia campus.
“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.
"I’m committed to closing the digital divide — especially in underserved communities where we see access to technology and tech education is much lower than other communities,” said Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio,” I commend Hacienda for its commitment to ensuring that all Portlanders — especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low-income communities and those living with disabilities — have access to government, and a voice in determining their own lives."
The COVID pandemic has only magnified the barriers that low-income households face — like not having internet at home or laptops, desktops and tablets — which unfairly limit their opportunities to succeed at school and at work.
The Verizon Community Forward Learning Centers are helping Hacienda remove those barriers with advanced tech including laptops, tablets, desktops, 3D printers, audio/video recording tools, and more. These resources are coupled with programming offered through partners like Oregon State University, Free Geek and Day One Tech 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 use the learning centers can stay tuned to future learning center events at haciendacdc.org/events. For more information on each learning center, 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 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.
Program Provides $200,000 in Flexible Funding to Each Organization and Leadership Development Training to Advance Economic Mobility in Portland
Portland, Ore. – Programs and services that address economic mobility and community development in Portland will be able to expand and scale their services, helping more people chart a path toward economic opportunity with help from multi-year grants from Bank of America. Hacienda Community Development Corp. (Hacienda CDC) and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and Foundation (Virginia Garcia) have been named as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the Portland Metro region removing barriers and advancing economic opportunity.
Each organization receives a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, joins a network of peer organizations across the U.S., and gets the opportunity to access capital to expand their impact. The program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development. Hacienda has proudly named Andréa Guedes, Hacienda’s Communications and Events Manager, as the 2022 Emerging Leader for this award.
“Nonprofits are vital to community resilience and prosperity. By addressing our critical local needs such as affordable housing and workforce development, they are helping to alleviate barriers so that individuals and families can chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability,” said Roger Hinshaw, president, Bank of America Oregon and Southwest Washington. “It is important that we direct capital, other necessary resources and training to support Hacienda CDC and Virginia Garcia for long-term success so they can continue to grow strategically and address the most pressing needs of our region.”
Hacienda CDC is the largest Latino-led housing organization in Oregon. Their mission is to strengthen families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities for BIPOC and low-income communities. Hacienda CDC serves over 3,000 community members through affordable housing and a wide array of services such as homeownership classes, after-school programs, and small business advising and technical assistance. They will use their grant funding to launch a new home lending program, which will provide 100% financing for first time-homebuyers that meet participation and income qualifications to provide them with a secure pathway to homeownership.
“We are honored to be the recipient of the Neighborhood Builders grant which will increase our capacity to help community members reach their dreams and goals. For far too long, our Latino and underserved communities have experienced economic hardship and systemic barriers head on; and for the last 30 years Hacienda has been doing the work to provide them with new opportunities and support to build a brighter future,” said Ernesto Fonseca, chief executive officer, Hacienda CDC. “Whether its housing, business advising, and in the near future, home lending, we continue to provide new, innovative pathways that lead to success and stability for our communities. Thanks to investment like the Neighborhood Builders grant, we can continue to deepen our impact and look towards a brighter future for all.”
Virginia Garcia is the largest non-profit community health center in the state that ensures high quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate access to health care for those who need it most. Virginia Garcia serves more than 52,000 patients in 18 clinics across Washington and Yamhill counties, providing primary care, dental care, pharmaceutical services, and more. They will use their grant funding to expand their new Virginia Garcia Healthcare Workforce Training Program, focused on medical assistants and dental assistants, and help pilot an expansion to include pharmacy technicians.
“We are grateful to Bank of America for their tremendous partnership and support of our Workforce Development efforts. These programs allow us to support staff and community members from our target populations as they start or advance their careers right here at Virginia Garcia. This generous funding will help us restore and rebuild our care teams, whose dedication in the face of all challenges, keeps our mission alive,” said Stefanny Caballero, executive director, Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation.
In Portland, 29 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders since 2004, with the bank investing $5.4 million into these local organizations.
The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders honorees.
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $280 million in 50 communities through Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,400 nonprofits and helping more than 2,800 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Neighborhood Builders is just one example of how Bank of America deploys capital in communities, builds cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth.