What started out as a vision by CAPACES network leaders to build a leadership institute in sustainable practices to mirror its principle in building long-term sustainable leadership, has finally received national recognition. The CAPACES Leadership Institute has received Passive House construction certification.

According to PHUIS (Passive House Institute U.S), the authority on Passive House construction certification in the U.S, the CAPACES Leadership Institute is the first school or training facility west of the Mississippi to meet Passive house standards and just the second in the U.S. Overall, the CLI building is fifth non-residential PH structure in the nation.

What’s Passive House? Dylan Lamar from Green Hammer, a Portland based design-build firm leading in sustainable building practices and architects of the CLI building, explains “The Passivhaus [Passive House] Standard is the world’s most advanced building energy-efficiency standard and it centers around three simple principles: insulation, air-tightness, and heat-recovery ventilation.”

What does this mean for Oregon and the Sustainable building movement?

“This is not just a milestone for Woodburn, or Oregon, or even the Pacific Northwest… it’s a milestone for the advancement of sustainability in the entire United States. It represents a forward-thinking approach. An approach that deeply considers the future our children will inherit. And I think there could be no better application than an educational building, where future leaders of the migrant farmworker movement will be trained.”

What does this mean for the CAPACES Leadership Institute and the CAPACES Network movement? Laura Isiordia, CLI’s executive director, explains: “It means a lot! It means that the countless hours and materials donated by our many partner organizations, businesses, donors, and volunteers met a high standard. That we can now celebrate the fact that not only were we able to build this building with zero debt, but that our building meets Passive House standards. How many people can say I helped build a Passive House?”

For a complete list of passive house certified buildings, visit http://www.passivehouse.us/projects.php.

Want to Check It Out Yourself?

You’re invited to take part in a special event on March 20th for the Tom Ruhl Scholarship Fund. Our special guest will be Former Governor Barbara Roberts who will be reading from her autobiography, Up The Capitol Steps. The event program will be held at PCUN’s Risberg Hall then move to the CLI’s facility for a reception and book-signing. Click here for more information: http://capacesleadership.org/events/event/former-governor-barbara-roberts-to-speak-at-tom-ruhl-scholarship-fund-gathering-at-pcun/

What began as an effort in fall of 2011 to ask the city for permission to paint the outside walls of the CLI, turned into a year-long campaign that has now become known as the CLI Mural Civic Engagement Campaign.  The goals of the campaign are: 1) Paint a mural that would reflect the contributions of the farmworker community, 2) Work with farmworker families to engage the Woodburn City Council to change its city ordinance, 3) Bring in a well-rounded muralist in Juanishi Orosco, who painted PCUN’s mural, to paint the CLI mural and mentor for young local artists, 4) Foster a community  building activity that would bring together the Woodburn community and facilitate a dialogue about farmworker contributions.

The campaign achieved its first victory back in August when CLI mural Organizer Dalila Ortiz and supporters persuaded Woodburn City Council members to pass a city ordinance that would allow publicly displayed murals for the first time. The ordinance however called for the development of an art’s committee before any mural could be painted

Woodburn’s Mayor and city council followed the announcement of the committee by revealing the community member’s who would serve on the art’s commission. Long-time PCUN supporter and former farmworker Lazaro Ybarra was announced as one of the arts commissioners (pictured below).

Colleen Vancil, a retired teacher; Merri Berlin, a historic district resident with a degree in arts; City Councilor Frank Lonegran; and City Councilor Jim Cox were also announced as members of the newly established Woodburn’s Art Commission.

“The formation of the Committe is an essential part for getting our process going,” remarked CLI Mural organizer Dalila Ortiz, ” We are one step closer to making a CLI mural a reality.”