TWST Blog

Still Tues, May 25
 
We rolled into Ontario from Burns by early evening, refreshed by another amazing drive through some of Oregon’s most dramatic topography.  And if you’re a bird watcher, this is the place for you.  Sally and I couldn’t identify all the birds but we’ve tried to remember all their intense colorings so we can look them up when we get back to Portland (or ask people in our office who would know, like Paul Reich).  As the largest city in Malheur County in an area also known as Oregon’s Western Treasure Valley, Ontario is famous for its agriculture, especially onions (plenty of onions), russet potatoes, and sugar beets—and, here’s a new fact for you—farmers in Ontario produce much of the world’s zinnia seeds.   Who knew?
 
Once in town we took the opportunity to make a quick visit to the Boys and Girls Club of Ontario, where staff have stepped up to manage during a leadership change, ensuring their young members have a safe place to go after school where they can stay active, be creative and busy.  A big relief for many hard-working parents.

Weds, May 26

Ontario

Before our official TWST stop this morning we stopped by the Southeast Oregon Regional Food Bank, a program of Oregon Food Bank.  Program manager Peter Lawson and RARE volunteer Chloe Rico showed us the impressive gains the program has made in the past five years to distribute emergency food throughout both Malheur and Harney counties.  The program also focuses on addressing the root causes of hunger by conducting outreach in the community and supporting efforts to increase access to local fresh food.

 
Our official TWST stop was at the Ontario Amory, a spectacular new facility run by the Oregon National Guard.  Our wonderful host, Kristi Wherry (pictured below), program director from the Boys and Girls Club, made all the arrangements, assembling an engaged group of 39 community representatives.
 
This group made us earn our keep by asking a lot of good questions about MMT, foundations and how to demonstrate community support for their projects and organizations.  While the community has been struggling in the current economy, a lot of great things are happening among the area’s nonprofit and government partners, such as more and stronger collaborations, establishment of a new relief nursery for at-risk families with young children, creative efforts to increase access to local fresh foods and efforts by local churches to address the increasing need for basic services, such as food shelter, and debt management.

One of the most impressive accomplishments in this community is the number of people who have participated in and graduated from The Ford Family Foundation’s Leadership Institute.  We had at least six graduates in the room, and discovered a few more at our visit in Nyssa.  The Leadership Institute has obviously had a profound impact on this community, as evidenced by the repeated comment that the community has really established a collaborative spirit and culture, ensuring that the “community will rise to the need if we express what is needed.”

Nyssa

Our next stop was the town of Nyssa, just south of Ontario—gateway to the Oregon Trail and within spitting distance of the Snake River and the Idaho border.   Our gracious host again was Kristi from the Boys and Girls Club, and she managed to do it again—gathering 13 community representatives at the Nyssa Public Library to learn about MMT and educate us about what’s going on in their town.  Steve Kreigh of Owyhee Riders Club and Library Assistant Kathy Hutton (pictured at left) greeted guests.

We walked in to find six youth busy at the computer stations, adults browsing the stacks, and children signing up for the summer reading program.  Pictured at right is library director Faith Adams assisting Jay Valero with registration. 

Like the group in Ontario, this group wasn’t shy and made sure to keep us sharp and on our toes.

Small towns such as Nyssa, like Ontario, find that their residents and services straddle two states with only a river in between.  The distinctions blur and members of this TWST group (shown in photo below) wanted to know if MMT would fund organizations that cross state lines (we will, but the majority of services MMT funds must be in Oregon).  We again heard about efforts to increase community food security and help residents gain access to fresh, local foods and heard passionate testimony about the benefits of the Ford Family Foundation’s Leadership Institute trainings.  We also had several representatives from the City of Nyssa who echoed the importance of collaboration and partnerships to get good things accomplished in such a small town.  As reported by one participant, the community’s close-knit, hard-working residents have created an impressive school system and managed to get the town recognized as “a US News and World Report Bronze Metal winner.”
 
The true winners from this TWST tour were Kim, Sally, and Meyer Memorial Trust.  We learned so much about the strength and passion behind small town life, and how a dedicated group of people who roll up their sleeves and work together can improve the quality of life in a community despite a challenging economy.  No pessimists in these groups. No time for that, too much good work to accomplish.
 
Tomorrow, the long drive back to Portland.

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