Meet some of our Members 

Ted Magnuson, Tigard Breakfast Rotary

• Get to know Tigard Breakfast Rotary: We are a great place to connect with people active in our community and around the world. Do stop by most Tuesday mornings. Our meetings feature guest speakers and fellowship fun. Our projects include supporting high school graduates with scholarships and funding the graduation party. We support the Tigard Police K9 patrol with our annual K9-5K fun run/doggie dash. 
• Top concerns facing Tigard citizens: Affordable Housing and Employment.
• I feel a part of the Tigard Community... when I go to the library, when I visit our parks and when I do things with my Rotary Club. 
• Community members can help us by... getting to know us and working with us to make Tigard continue to happen. 
• I’ve always wondered... how can I build community spirit today?

Chief Kathy McAlpine, Tigard Police Department

What are three things the community should know about your organization? 

1. Tigard Police are the guardians of the community.  We are here for you.
2. Tigard Police is operating on limited resources. Officers have seen an increase in calls for service every year.  Please seek to learn more about our needs.
3. The police department has implemented an online citizen reporting tool, so that citizens do not have to wait for an officer to file a routine report that is required for insurance purposes.  The goal is to improve customer service and to create efficiencies.

What are the top three issues facing the Tigard community?

1. Traffic related issues (congestions, speeding in neighborhoods, distracted driving)
2. Increase in calls for service on mental health related calls (include homelessness, mental illness and/or alcohol and drug addiction.  These calls require an increase in resources and time to de-escalate the situation.
3. There are more needs than the revenue currently the City of Tigard currently takes in. 

What was your ‘aha’ moment when you felt part of the Tigard community? 
When I was hired as the Tigard Police Chief and made the decision to live in the downtown area of Tigard for the first 20 months, which gave me the opportunity to meet and connect with people both on duty and off duty.

(Complete the sentence) Community members can help us by…. Working together. Collaboration is critical to moving a City in a positive way.  I have experienced the synergy that is created when we all work together, very powerful.

Prentice Geary, CODA Inc.

What are three things the community should know about your organization? 

1. We are Oregon’s oldest not-for-profit treating opioid use disorders. We opened in 1969.
2. We served more than 5,000 people last year with evidence-based compassionate care for substance use disorders.
3. We have detoxification, outpatient and residential treatment programs in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties.

What are the top three issues facing the Tigard community? 

1. Affordable housing
2. Homelessness and associated difficulties that those who are homeless or precariously housed face on a daily basis (access to safe shelter, food security, showers/toilet facilities, laundry)
3. Community members struggling with the stigma that is often associated with accessing substance use treatment

What was your ‘aha’ moment when you felt part of the Tigard community?
We are hoping that by participating in the Tigard Community Roundtable and connecting with various community organizations and partners that we will become more of a part of the Tigard community. We will have a table at the Tigard Street Fair and Latino Festival and we are hopeful that the event will be our “aha” moment.

(Complete the sentence) Community members can help us by….
Helping friends and family in need to connect with CODA, keeping an eye out on our website (www.codainc.org) for CODA events to attend, following CODA on Facebook, and holding fundraisers for special occasions on Facebook for CODA.

(Complete the sentence) A question that I’ve always had for the city is….
Is there a comprehensive plan for providing healthcare, housing and substance use treatment for people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless? And, if so, can it be communicated in a cogent way to residents and visitors to our city through a strong campaign?

Community Roundtable members and their work has been profiled on previous episodes of the Talking Tigard podcast.

Ending the Cycle of Houselessness

Family Promise of Tualatin Valley (FPTV) serves children and their families who are experiencing houselessness.

Elise Schaff Laubach is a founding board member of FPTV and now serves as their Fund Development Manager. She shares how FPTV partners with the community to holistically address the root causes of houselessness. 

From summer camps to street outreach, The Salvation Army serves the most vulnerable members of our community.

Major Bob Lloyd, The Salvation Army Portland Metro Coordinator, talks about how small acts of kindness cause the biggest ripples in communities. He also shares exciting news about The Salvation Army's summer camps. 

Building Just Compassion's Campus

In 2021, Just Compassion received a $4 million dollar allocation in America Rescue Plan funding to build transitional housing and an expanded resource center in Tigard. Vernon Baker, Just Compassion Executive Director, shares how this new campus will make it easier for individuals experiencing houselessness to connect with the services that they need. 

Facilitating Social Justice in Tigard

Danny Rauda talks about his work as the Social Justice Coordinator for St. Anthony's Church, including raising awareness about Human Trafficking Awareness Month. 

A Safe Home for Tigard Youth

Amy Brownell, Second Home, Katrin Dougherty, SupaFresh Youth Farm, and Morgan Bengel, HomePlate Youth Services share how they continue to help the youth of Tigard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting Our Unhoused Community Members

Vernon Baker, Executive Director of Just Compassion, discusses how Just Compassion is using the Resident Aid Fund of Tigard to support Tigard community members who are experiencing houselessness.