A Pledge to Our Community
The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation exists to support and empower our Oregon and Washington communities financially, creatively, and strategically. Together with our nonprofit partners, we work to facilitate and nurture human connection, learning, healing, and joy for every member of our community. We pursue partnerships that value and empower those involved, yield ongoing positive outcomes, alleviate human suffering, and promote thriving communities, all in the spirit of remembering Marie Lamfrom.
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Diversity is the dissimilar and often intersectional presence of varied social identities, belief systems, values, ideologies, perspectives, and experiences at a given time. Diversity can be considered in many ways, but often refers to one’s race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, age, origin, religion, varying abilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, housing status, education, marital status, language, veteran status, physical appearance, and health. Additionally, diversity may also include the intersection of these distinctions, which beautifully enrich and benefit our communities.
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Inclusion is a state in which individuals are safe, welcomed, respected, supported, and valued as fully participating members in an organization or group. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people, such that diversity can thrive.
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Belonging reflects an active and evolving practice of fostered acceptance, inclusion, security, and support – extended to everyone. As a result, a sense of belonging allows individuals to bring their authentic self to all interactions and experience community as an integral and valued member.
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Social justice is an active response aimed at correcting the flaws, gaps, and inadequacies within our current systems and policies. Social justice work seeks to counter and address the wrongs of society (inequity, systemic racism, oppression, disenfranchisement) at individual and systemic levels.
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Equity includes policies, practices, and operations that systemically or structurally prioritize inclusion, promote diversity, and secure fair and just opportunity for all. Equity acknowledges that there are systemic and structural inequalities that historically and presently harm select populations. Equity will be achieved when fair, systemic, and social change occurs in response to these unbalanced conditions, and basic rights and opportunities are afforded to all groups.
We recognize the persistent racial, social, spatial, economic, and environmental system disparities, inequities, and injustices in our communities. These same disparities, inequities, and injustices yield complex human suffering and prevent our community from thriving. The pursuit of equity and social justice is challenging, complex, and essential.
We continue our efforts, informed by our understanding of diversity, inclusion, belonging, social justice, and equity:
With this in mind, we commit to:
Building Intentional Partnerships: utilizing our relationships and resources to support and elevate our presently and historically underserved, disenfranchised, and marginalized neighbors and community members
Ongoing Learning & Dialogue: ongoing and structured learning, dialogue, and development – for both our Foundation team and those organizations with whom we partner
Setting Clear Goals & Objectives: the development of clear, measurable strategic goals that inform our path forward and communicate our vision publicly to partners and community members
Regular Assessment & Growth: regular self and organizational assessment, such that our efforts today evolve with the goals and needs of tomorrow
Valuing Diverse Perspectives: understanding the value of different perspectives and lived experiences, including and in addition to those held by our staff and Board; to push our thinking and expand our understanding of the needs in a community; and to work together to address complex social problems. We commit to doing so with an open mind and open heart, and to doing the difficult things required to improve our community for all of its inhabitants.
In committing to this, we pledge to be there for our neighbors, to see our communities positively transform, and to achieve thriving, joyful communities. Together, we eagerly and urgently look forward to updating, improving, and measuring our goals in the days, months, and years ahead.