This value resonates with me because I have seen it play out repeatedly in my own communities and, previously, in my international development work. At Oregon Well-Being Trust we hold this value and create spaces where wise communities can meet their own needs.

 Upholding this value as the Grants Manager means listening deeply to the stories of potential and current grantees so that I can support them in creating a program that makes sense for their community.

It also means not assuming too much about a school district, ESD, or community college. As a former K-12 education employee, I understand the energy flow of a school year and some of the standard committees that districts have. However, I will never know the specifics of each organization.

An example where the wisdom of the community shone through was in La Grande School District. When starting their employee well-being journey, rather than creating another committee, La Grande SD utilized their existing Communities of Care committees in each building, allowing counselors to lead the program. With funds from their Education Employee Well-Being Grant, they provided a budget for each building to put on activities that support the staff’s well-being and sense of belonging.

Asta Garmon

Grants Manager

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