Spotlight on Verde: Building Green Power in Communities

Environmental wealth is at the center of Verde’s work.

Portland is a city known for its sustainability initiatives and ample park space, but not every corner of the city has easy access. For the past 20 years, Foundation grantee partner Verde has worked to close that gap, advocating for more green spaces and resources for underserved communities.

Environmental wealth is, most basically, everything in the environment that we value. It’s green spaces, clean air, fresh water, and other natural resources that make a city livable and healthy for people. And Verde’s mission is to make environmental wealth available to everyone.

Verde’s roots run deep in the Cully neighborhood.

Verde began with humble roots in the Cully neighborhood, one of Portland’s largest and most diverse districts. For too long, this vibrant community has persevered despite receiving less investment than other communities. Which is exactly why Verde chose to be in and partner with Cully—it’s a place where Verde’s work could have a greater positive impact.

An inspiring example of Verde’s mission in action is located at a once-sprawling landfill site in Cully. The area has been transformed into a flourishing, 25-acre public landscape, Cully Park, thanks to a broad collaboration through the Living Cully coalition, which includes Verde, Habitat for Humanity, Hacienda Community Development Corporation, and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA).

The work includes more than beautiful green spaces.

Beyond green spaces, Verde’s commitment to environmental wealth extends to the everyday lives of residents. In Portland, utility rates have risen by 50 percent in recent years. In response, Verde’s Community Solar program provides significant relief through a multi-community effort that’s trimmed 30–40 percent off electrical bills for more than 160 households. Similarly, its Home Heating and Cooling program provides essential heat pumps and AC units to residents who need economic assistance, including communities of color and seniors.

And through Verde Builds, a social enterprise, Verde takes on larger visions, like Cully Park and Community Solar, and turns them into reality. Verde Builds creates momentum to build up green urban infrastructure throughout Portland. Plus, it prioritizes and expands opportunities for minority- and women-owned firms.

Advocacy drives green power.

One of the biggest hurdles to affecting change in communities is getting the ears of policymakers. That’s where Verde steps in. It listens to and shares community voices.

Advocacy has always been a tenet that grounds Verde in community-driven solutions to advance policy change. “Our advocacy work is based on community members coming together and sharing what’s impacting them, and then we work to connect their stories with lawmakers,” says Hushbeck.

In the past year, Verde has advocated for state legislation to ensure safer industrial development near residential neighborhoods, expanding equitable and climate-friendly transit, securing safe community drinking water, and protecting residents from high energy costs.

Verde is not just building parks or saving on bills; it is actively building a more sustainable Portland that can be enjoyed by everyone.