A Strong Foundation for Navigating Divisive Times

Many Americans are feeling the significance of the upcoming election. I know I’ve felt a deep sense of uncertainty, and I’m not alone.

When someone placed an incendiary device into a ballot box in east Vancouver last weekend, our political tensions only worsened. Sadly, it wasn’t the only one or the first such attempt to destroy ballots in our region. These deliberate assaults on the democratic process are unacceptable and signal a wake-up call for our community.

Certainly, the person responsible must be held accountable, but preventing acts like this takes all of us. Collectively, we set the standards and norms that shape our world, and the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is working toward one where everyone holds a deep commitment to caring for one another.

Where We Stand

We are a non-partisan organization guided by those we serve. Today, our mission is to engage our community and mobilize resources to create a region where everyone can chart their own path toward prosperity and participate fully in shaping our future. Core democratic ideals, like self-determination, civic engagement and advancing the public good, are woven into this work. These concepts didn’t appear by coincidence; they are shared values we identified by listening to and learning from constituents across our region.

We believe every voice counts—much like a free and fair election—so you can understand why incidents like these matter to us. We know many of our neighbors are also worried. Political violence exacerbates fears, spreads chaos, chills civic engagement and amplifies extremist activity. It is a threat to everyone, which is why all of us should take steps to foster peaceful participation.

Taking Action, Restoring Trust

The best solutions we know are ones that have led to many of our region’s greatest accomplishments—engagement and collaboration. Getting involved and working across differences allows neighbors to build trusted relationships and identify better solutions.

Already, officials have adjusted collection schedules and instituted round-the-clock observation at ballot boxes. We can also take action in our own lives. Voting is step one, and we can encourage friends, family and neighbors to do the same. Make sure everyone knows that mail-in ballots must be postmarked by November 5th, and in-person voting is available until November 5. Anyone can find local polling places and drop box locations by visiting the Vote411 website.

We can also get involved with local organizations working to ensure safe and accessible voting, such as the League of Women Voters of Clark County or your local political party office. Two of our recent grantees OneAmerica Clark Countyand SWEC already responded to the attack with targeted outreach and phone calls to voters in the affected districts. By volunteering and donating to groups like these, we defuse extremism through greater civic participation, education and engagement.

The bigger task relates to our culture. The growing divide and distrust in America is well-documented, and acts like these reflect the cumulative damage. As a society, we are less likely to assume best intentions, which both increases the likelihood of political violence and makes these acute threats harder to overcome.

Repairing our relationships—with one another and with institutions—is difficult but equally imperative to solving our region’s biggest challenges. With trust we find toeholds for addressing common causes, and we know this solid footing is best formed at the local level. By working together on local projects in our neighborhoods and communities, we build interpersonal trust that radiates out to other sectors of our society and culture.

Finding Hope in the Community We’ve Built

We know collective efforts work because the Community Foundation has partnered with donors and nonprofits for 40 years. Together, we have improved our region’s quality of life through community-driven philanthropy. Whether building local parks, empowering nonprofits to deliver impactful programs or providing scholarships to local youth, the connections we forge are strengthening this region for today and tomorrow.

Regardless of the outcome on November 5, the Community Foundation will still be here pursuing its mission, and we know our community partners will do the same. As residents, each of us will also continue contributing to the type of community we want to live in. That influence comes through the values, beliefs and actions we uphold.

We don’t have to look far to find our better angels because countless stories of resilience, generosity and hope have shaped our region. I look to the visionary founders who laid the groundwork for the Community Foundation, the nonprofits and donors who are expanding access to opportunities, and the dedicated staff, board members and volunteers who push our mission forward every day.

Forty years of local giving has grown the Community Foundation into a sustained force for local good, and I am grateful for everyone who has supported us along the way. Your contributions exemplify the powerful impact communities can create when they work toward a common goal. Let’s continue to carry this reminder with us as we navigate another tense election cycle and work to build a brighter, more trusting future for our community.

Thank you for being a part of this important and incredible work.