Impacts

Since 2006, the IAF Northwest has:

Trained over 800 people in organizing principles and practices at intensive week-long trainings in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Hosted over 150 days of retreats and trainings for staff organizers and leaders in our region’s affiliates.

Leading a successful campaign to increase funding for affordable housing in Portland by 67 million dollars, giving 670 low-income families a safe, dry place to call home within the next five years.
Helping pass an ordinance allowing new tent encampments that address the lack of temporary safe housing options for those experiencing homelessness.Advocated successfully for amendments to allow these encampments on public land, and to further study their use in residential zones.
Pioneering a self-sustaining model for long-term domestic violence survivor housing

Briefing 3700 people all across King County and helping secure a 56% yes vote on the Best Starts for Kidslevy that provides $68 million per year for prevention and early intervention programs that give all children the best chance to succeed.

Stopping cuts in funding for medical interpreters.
Running a successful two-year campaign to bring mandatory earned sick, safe and family leave benefits to 40,000 uncovered workers in Spokane. It is a stronger policy than most jurisdictions in the country.
Providing the bulk of the political muscle to pass legislation in Oregon guaranteeing health care coverage for all children.

Securing passage of one of the strongest ordinances in the nation that rebuilds trust between law enforcement agencies and immigrant communities while helping keep families intact.

Passing three Quality Jobs Ordinances that, on public works projects, create 15% rate of apprentices on projects over $350K, and give preference for local contractors, sub-contractors, and manufacturers.
Negotiating a Community Workforce agreement on a $200 million school construction project and then playing a critical role in generating an overwhelming 69% yes voteto fund the much needed investment in student learning opportunities.

Leading a campaign to pass a county levy in Spokane to prevent 40% reductions in public transportation, winning by a 69%-31% margin.

Securing key votes in a statewide legislative campaign that put $1.1 billion over 3 years into capital and environmental infrastructure projects, including $15 million into residential energy efficiency retrofit programs
Leading the statewide campaign to secure passage of legislation (called “the most comprehensive and groundbreaking green jobs legislation of our time”) that directed $15 million into creating new community-based energy efficiency retrofit programs
Negotiating agreements with Spokane Public Schools to adopt Green Building and apprentice utilization standards on its construction projects and then leveraging those agreements in statewide legislative campaigns to establish the same standards for all government buildings, public schools and higher education facilities

Conceptualized and created the Health Equity Circle, an organization for health sciences students to learn about and apply IAF community organizing practices to address the social determents of health. Health Equity Circle (HEC) now has established chapters in three different cities across the Northwest, with four more in development.
Supported HEC and local affiliates in creating a “Health Equity and Community Organizing” class, now taught at five different sites. Over 400 students have taken the class. Students carry out campaigns to protect funding for medical interpreters, expand free clinic care, increase services to the homeless and reduce immigrant detention.
Expanded health equity organizing initiatives to two residency programs and three community clinics in two different cities, working with residents, doctors, patients, and staff to build “power with” to identify and address the barriers they experience in realizing positive health outcomes in the community.

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