OUR VISION

We envision a place where everyone benefits from healthy environments, prosperous economies, and safe, thriving communities.

OUR MISSION

Verde partners with communities most impacted by environmental injustices to develop solutions that create economic and collective well-being.

OUR WORK

  • We help people access clean energy solutions and home upgrades that protect their health and financial stability from the impacts of extreme weather and rising utility costs.

  • Through community engagement, we help people understand and take action to protect and strengthen their local environment.

  • We support community members in advocating for policies and protections that address the environmental harms people experience every day. We focus on air quality, energy, transportation, and water justice.

OUR REACH

Verde has its heart in the Cully neighborhood, where community members united to create healthier, greener places to live. What started locally has grown to serve communities across Portland and throughout Oregon, guided by the same commitment to equity, sustainability, and community leadership.

OUR HISTORY

2005 - Verde is created to address the environmental, economic, racial, and health harms in the Cully Neighborhood. One of Portland’s most diverse neighborhoods.

2010 - Verde, Hacienda CDC, Habitat for Humanity, and NAYA establish the Cully Neighborhood established the Living Cully Coalition to prevent displacement.

2011 - In response to community members raising an inequity, Verde launched the Spanish-leadership program Líderes Verdes. The program learns from participants, provides environmental education, and supports their advocacy efforts, well compensating them for their time. 

2015 - With the Living Cully Coalition, Verde purchased the Sugar Shack, a former strip club that was a burden on the community. The property was sold to Hacienda CDC to develop Las Adelitas, an affordable housing complex with 142 units.

2018 - Verde led the transformation of a former landfill into Cully Park. The park opened to the public after a 10 year campaign, providing communities with vital greenspace to play and relax

2018 - Verde helped pass the PCEF (Portland Clean Energy Community Benefit Fund) securing over a billion dollars of investment in clean energy and green infrastructure projects.

2021 - Verde successfully advocated for the passage of HB2021 requiring Oregon’s major electric utility providers reduce their emissions to 0% by 2050, along with two other bills.

2022 - As a part of the Living Cully Coalition, Verde helped envision a new Cully TIF District (Tax Increment Financing) securing $350 million of investment in affordable housing and business development for the Cully Neighborhood.

2025 - In partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Port of Portland, Verde developed the Goodling Community Solar Annex providing 150 households with affordable, clean energy.