The latest

This summer, we’re highlighting leaders who are shaping Oregon’s future. Today, we are pleased to introduce board member and Legacy Circle member Ken Hayes, who is also an active influencer for discretionary grantmaking through his mother’s foundation.

How we build homes and other structures is critically important for whether they survive a wildfire. This can also make a meaningful difference in whether firefighters can save a neighborhood or community. Building homes “wildfire smart from the start” is also financially smart—for both the homeowner and the public.

Cities and counties can review and amend local land use codes for new development to ensure safe evacuation and efficient firefighting response. Building subdivisions and neighborhoods that are easier to evacuate and less fire-prone is building "wildfire smart from the start."

Portland City Council voted 9-3 to approve the Bull Run Water Filtration Plant as-is. Find out who voted for it, what this means for you, and five ways we can take action together this month to continue the fight for affordability, accountability, and alternatives that work for water filtration.

During too many fires across the western United States, we have seen life-threatening traffic snarls. This can happen because incoming emergency vehicles and people fleeing wildfires are using the same routes, or because there is only one available route away from a wildfire that is quickly clogged with people escaping in vehicles and on foot. Oregon’s land use planning program provides the tools to address this.

Since 2012, our Land Use Leadership Initiative has mentored more than 250 community leaders across the state on Oregon’s land use system. This year's spring cohort is centered in the Portland metro region, gathering 31 community members together to explore diverse land use issues across both sides of the urban growth boundary.

On May 29, we celebrate the anniversary of Senate Bills 100 and 101 being signed into law. We also are celebrating decades of impactful work by Working Lands Policy Director Jim Johnson and board member Jeff Mapes, who recently talked with our 2026 Land Use Leadership Initiative cohort and about facilitating intergenerational collaboration and ensuring that our land use system remains strong for the next 50 years.

The increased frequency and severity of wildfire in Oregon is not just an abstract possibility. Some communities—like Talent, Phoenix, Detroit, and the Santiam area—have had to rebuild after significant wildfire damage, and many others have faced wildfire-related impacts to public health. Oregonians are facing these significant challenges with characteristic toughness and ingenuity. Here are just a few examples of well-planned wildfire recovery and resilience measures that cities around the state are taking.

Woman-owned and operated, Est Wines uses organic, regenerative farming practices to create wines that are vibrant, expressive, and deeply rooted in the land. Plus, they grow in the exclusive farm use (EFU) zone and manage a tasting room within the urban growth boundary (UGB)!

In early May, 1000 Friends of Oregon cohosted a webinar focused on accessible housing policy for advocates, alongside partners at AARP Oregon, Community Vision, and Sightline Institute.