About Woodburn Together

 

In the early 1990’s, residents in the city of Woodburn became increasingly concerned with the increase of drug and alcohol abuse, juvenile crime and gang activity. The citizens at that time were becoming more engaged and mobilized via community anti-gang forums. Many strategies to curb the troubles were researched.

 

Then Police Chief Ken Wright received information about recent University of Washington Hawkins and Catalino research findings. This landmark research demonstrated the impact that a community could have by looking at their city’s risk and protective factors. To assist in the implementation of strategies to improve our community, Chief Wright assembled a group of involved civic and business leaders dubbed Key Leaders, to attend an Oregon Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Programs (OADAP) training in Eugene about the U of W research.

 

Also in attendance at the Eugene seminar were the Marion County Commissioners. A few years later through Marion County’s Children and Families Commission, Marion County would form Community Progress Teams (CPT) to advance family issues. Woodburn Together later signed a letter of agreement to become Woodburn’s CPT.

 

The early years of Woodburn Together brought research, research and more research. The organization added 40 Assets research to our focus. It was felt that by evaluating where we were, that we could then form strategies to improve our community utilizing a broad based community approach.

 

Woodburn Together became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with the assistance of Woodburn attorney Lucien Klein. By being a non-profit organization, Woodburn Together has been successful in securing grants that accomplish our researched goals. Also, bylaws and board members have formalized the group. We refined our tasks by developing a mission statement: To enhance civic pride while promoting a healthy community.

 

Some Woodburn Together community building projects have included: Love, Santa; Baby-Think-It-Over dolls; after school drop-in centers; Healthy Choice marches; Every 15 Minutes High School DUI education; parent skill building classes; Jesuit Volunteers; Red Ribbon Week; Hands Are Not for Hurting violence awareness week; Settlemier Park playground equipment; Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs; Woodburn Memorial Aquatic Center, 4th Grade swim lessons; Peer Court; Teen Scene; STOMP tobacco use prevention; 40 Assets; Back to School Fair; Relay For Life; and Friends of the Library – Day of the Child. Woodburn Together stresses collaboration with area businesses and agencies in accomplishing livability goals.

 

Tom Sauvain served 2 years as the organization’s first president. Joan Garren carried the torch for 6 years. Pete McCallum completed 4 years as president in 2002. The current President is Scott Summers.