Alianza Poder Community Wealth Building Fellowship
The Alianza Poder Network (AP) has created the AP Community Wealth Building Fellowship as part of a larger initiative to develop the collective economic power of our communities, rooted in our cultural assets, working to improve the quality of life for all, especially the most vulnerable. The fellowship is a two year project (2022-24) being led by Lucy Escobar (Project Consultant) and closely supported by Capaces staff and the AP Community Wealth Building Fellowship Advisory Committee.
The fellowship involves four major components:
Community Building:
We know that the progress of our community is rooted in el colectivismo. For this reason, we will integrate various community building activities throughout the fellowship, especially early on, to ensure the participants feel a part of a strong team and have lasting relationships beyond the fellowship.
Learning Community:
The purpose of the Learning Community is to strengthen the fellows’ individual and collective knowledge in the areas of asset/economic development. Activities include: leadership development workshops, one-to-one coaching, peer-to-peer learning learning, and site visits to local, State, and national community wealth building models. We have also created a Digital Resource Library and a Network of Community Wealth Building Advisors & Experts to deepen the learning and social capital of the fellows.
Development of Community Wealth Building Projects:
With the support of the Project Consultant, their peers, and their support network the fellows will have the opportunity to develop and/or strengthen existing community wealth building projects. The fellows will have the choice to work individually, in partnership, or in one group.
Selection and Implementation of Community Wealth Building Projects:
AP will provide seed funding to implement a selected number of projects to ensure the fellows have some capital to successfully start or advance their community wealth building efforts. Projects selected must align with AP’s values (Equity, the Spirit of Si Se Puede, and Dignity & Respect for all) and be rooted in our communities cultural assets. AP is committed to raising additional funding to continue to support the projects selected beyond the project phase.
Why and why now? While our communities make up the majority in many spaces in the Mid-Valley, due to racism and systemic inequities, we are disproportionately overrepresented in the wrong places, especially our future—our youth. This is evident in our criminal justice system, income inequality, educational attainment, access to healthcare, and food security. Working in our environment and with our community is like building in earthquake mode—all the time.While our communities are in a constant state of survival, this is not our future. We come from abundance and are determined to share these gifts for the prosperity of Oregon.
AP is primed for this evolution of its work. We have over 20 years of history working together. Our work reaches over 350,000 Latino/indigena/afrodescendiente across the Willamette Valley. Our community organizing, advocacy, and leadership development strategies have resulted in a “growing seat at the table,” and multiple local/statewide policy victories. Building on these strategies to create community wealth will be a key part of our future.
Meet The Fellows...
Meet The Staff...
Lucy started her executive coaching and leadership consulting business after 20 years working in the banking and finance industry in order to have a greater impact by focusing on transformation, at both the individual and community / organizational level.
Although her parents are from different towns in Baja California, Mexico (Rosarito and Algodones Mexicali), she grew up in Los Angeles County, CA where she also absorbed elements of Jalisco culture from her foster family. She very fondly recalls making tamales and eating chilte, or chicle / chewing gum, of Talpa, Jalisco. Having been the “voice” for her parents growing up, translated into her passion for developing and supporting projects which give voice to and serve diverse communities.
Ashley was born and raised in Washington state. She is the proud daughter of immigrant parents, and the youngest of five siblings. Ashley moved to Oregon to attend Portland State University where she obtained her BA in Social Science and minored in Chicano Latino Studies. Ashley is passionate about helping Latinx youth and is motivated to give back to her community. In her free time, you can find Ashley exploring Oregon and dining in at the local restaurants with her husband and son.
Born in Las Ranas Michoacan, Mexico. In 1990 he immigrated to Salem, Oregon with his family. Jaime worked as a farmworker picking crops for 12 years. In 2005, he began working with Farmworker Housing Development Corporation (FHDC) as a Community Organizer and later became Director of Fund Development. From 2013-2017 Jaime was Secretary-Treasurer for PCUN and the Executive Director of Accion Politica PCUNista (APP), Oregon’s Latino progressive 501c4 organization. In 2011, Jaime was recognized by Shelterforce, the oldest community, economic development magazine in the nation, and selected as one of 6 under 36 young leaders in the country. Jaime serves on several boards including Western Oregon University’s Board of Trustees, Oregon’s Youth Development Council, and the Marion County Children and Families Advisory Commission.
