FOR 10 YEARS, WE’VE ASKED ONE QUESTION AT PORTLAND LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION.
WHAT IF?
WE'VE SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS ASKING BIG QUESTIONS.

WHAT IF INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN STARTED MUCH YOUNGER, ALLOWING A NEW PATH TO BE FORGED?

Over 200 Champs are flourishing academically and athletically as a result of being a part of Portland’s only leadership community for diverse student athletes.

WHAT IF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE EXPERIENCED THE LOVE AND CONNECTION OF A FULL AND ROBUST COMMUNITY?

Over the last 12 months, 879 families inquired to become foster parents. Embrace Oregon is recruiting Oregonians at a record number!

Every Child is scaling PLF’s Embrace Oregon model to all of Oregon’s 36 counties by 2022. Oregonians are showing up to care for kids and families from Bend to Burns to Beaverton.
We have committed to spending every ounce of energy to find a safe, loving, strategic home for every child in foster care. Last year, we committed to scaling the effort to every county in Oregon by 2022.

WHAT IF WE EMPOWERED PEOPLE TO ENGAGE AND PERSIST IN COLLEGE?

Since 2006, Act Six has trained 164 scholars in 19 cadres with 81 percent of them having graduated or are still enrolled.

Ready to Rise is SW Washington’s only initiative focused on recruiting, training, and empowering diverse leaders to rise into leadership in Clark County.

Empowering young pre health leaders currently enrolled at Portland State University (10 students annually) with leadership training, mentorship and a $5,000 scholarship.

Serving 50 students with pre-college training and mentorship. City Builder Scholars have received $75,000.00 combined in annual scholarship funds allocated to their education.

Facing an uphill battle of a national 2.7 percent graduation rate, 65 percent of Avenues to College Scholars (all students aging out of foster care) are still enrolled in higher education since 2014.

WHAT IF WE EQUIPPED DIVERSE LEADERS TO RISE AND LEAD IN THE MARKETPLACE THROUGH REAL-WORLD JOB EXPERIENCE AND MENTORING?

In 2018, ELI recruited almost 1,000 of the finest diverse college students to apply for 147 elite paid internships.

WHAT IF WE WORKED TOGETHER TO BRING THOSE SAME LEADERS TO THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY?

The Civic Forum brings together faith and government leaders to consider how we work together to solve our region’s most vexing challenges. The next Forum will be in Summer 2018!

PLF is spearheading the effort to bring together a statewide table of faith leaders to demonstrate the power of the faith community across Oregon. More to come in 2019!

Over the last six years, PLF has hosted 17 Gap Year Fellows; 13 of them will have long-term careers in the non-profit sector.

At any given time, PLF is providing capacity building services for small, rising non-profits. We help Oregon’s non-profit leaders bridge good intentions to more effective outcomes.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE, WE ARE ASKING
BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IF
BY 2040, THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR CITY REFLECTED THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE?
PLF imagines a day where a “Portland Pathway” exists to ensure diverse leaders from historically marginalized communities are rising into leadership roles across all sectors.
WHAT IF
IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE HAVE RECRUITED SO MANY FOSTER FAMILIES THAT EVERY CHILD IN FOSTER CARE IS PLACED IN THE MOST STRATEGIC HOME POSSIBLE WHEN ENTERING CARE?
PLF imagines a day when every child can be placed in a home that can serve their needs and care for them well.
WHAT IF YOU JOINED US?

LEARN
Read about the impact of these initiatives through stories and experiences of Portland youth
GIVE
Partner with PLF financially and help make these WHAT IFs reality
ENGAGE
Connect with us about volunteering and joining the conversation about the future of Portland