Capaces, also known as the CAPACES Leadership Institute (CLI) was established in July of 2011 to prepare emerging leaders in the Latina/o communities of the Mid-Willamette Valley to lead community-based non-profits and for public service.  In Spanish, CAPACES means both “we are capable” and “capabilities”. The acronym stands for Colaboración Adelantando a Personal de Apoyo para Capacitarnos, Enlazarnos y Solidarizarnos (Collaborative Assisting Personnel to Advance our Capacity, Engagement and Solidarity). However, the work began as a project out of PCUN, one of our sister organizations, back in 2003.

Capaces was founded to prepare leaders with the political consciousness and skills needed to lead and support social justice work. We envision a Latina/o community with equitable leadership representation in all sectors that is working to address social disparities. Our guiding values are commitment, courage, humility, equity and justice, sacrifice, and sustainability.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Woodburn, Oregon at the center of the Mid-Valley of Oregon. Capaces currently has 25 staff members and a seven-person Board of Directors.

• Mission – Capaces strengthens the wellness, capacity, and political consciousness of individuals, organizations, movements, and community to eliminate social disparities.
• Vision – Equilibrium, harmony, prosperity, and abundance for our communities and our planet while honoring our history, our present, and future generations.
• Values – Holistic Wellness, Fluidity, Tequio (Collectivism, Community, Giving Back), and ‘El Espíritu de la Abuela’ (The spirit of the grandmother).