An Upstream Initiative Visit

Left to right: Holly Mar Conte, Chelsea King and former Governor John Kitzhaber

This past Friday, just before a winter storm descended on the Willamette Valley and paralyzed much of the city for an entire week, Chelsea King (Executive Director of the Oregon Collaborative) and former Governor John Kitzhaber (Chair of the board of the Oregon Collaborative), visited Lane County Design Pilot as part of the Upstream Initiative.

Top (L to R) Holly Mar Conte, Debi Farr, Dr. Patrick Luedtke, Rhonda Busek, Chelsea King, Noreen J. Dunnells, Dr. Pilar Bradshaw, Jordan Bradshaw. Front (L to R): Michelle Sheng-Palmisano, former Governor John Kitzhaber, Kellie DeVore

This was a time for OHEC to share the vision of the Upstream Initiative, which has called on 5 distinct regions across the state of Oregon to design a Child Success Model that would ensure that every child born in their community would have what they need to be well and to thrive. These regions include KairosPDX (Multnomah County), the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub (Umatilla, Morrow and Union counties), Yamhill Community Care (Yamhill County), and the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County.

This was also a time for OHEC to listen to folks who live in Lane County, many of whom provide direct educational, human, and medical services to families in the region. They discussed what they are already doing well and what they would like to do as a key part of the Upstream Initiative.

Above: Judy Newman was the founder and Director and of Early Childhood CARES for 30 years and currently is the Senior Advisor to the program.

The Upstream Initiative, with its focus on the First 1000 Days of Life, is a research and evidence based approach designed to interrupt intergenerational adverse experiences, make systems-level change, and begin to create vibrant and healthy communities that will be empowered and sustained.

Above: John Kitzhaber speaking about the vision of fundamentally reframing the conversation from consequences to root causes.

We know that most of you reading this email are actively engaged in heartful and mindful work in your own community and we stand in solidarity with all of you who are envisioning and working toward the Oregon that we know is possible: healthy, diverse, and with all humans participating in the abundance.

Sincerely, 

Chelsea King

Executive Director