Work for impact

Coming This Fall: United Communities Initiative

Building a connected and supportive Lane County is essential to ensure that local children, families, and communities can succeed. United Way of Lane County acknowledges that many people and communities experience different barriers than others – whether due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, income, or living in a rural area – which can significantly impact their ability to thrive.

This fall, United Way of Lane County will announce a community-led, community-designed effort – the United Communities Initiative - to invest directly in the success of local communities of color, directing funds to local organizations led by and for people of color and Native and Indigenous communities to create opportunities, address immediate and long-term barriers, and unite families and neighbors across Lane County.

This initiative builds on the successes of our Racial Justice Fund, designed and guided by the our community-led Racial Justice Advisory Committee.

It’s going to take dollars to actually invest in a movement, to actually make the progress that we need.
— Ruby Bridges, in conversation with United Way of Lane County, 2021
A group of people stand in front of a colorful mural

Escudo Latino, one of the programs who received a Racial Justice grant from United Way of Lane County in 2023, celebrates a new mural in Springfield. Photo credit: Ofelia Guzman

Save the date for our Community Breakfast on September 10, 2026 – and sign up to receive updates from United Way of Lane County here – to learn more about the United Communities Initiative this fall!