Grounded in Grassroots
The need for trusted, culturally responsive services has never been greater. Many individuals and families turn to The Next Door during some of the most challenging moments of their lives, searching for guidance, support, and hope.
“When I arrived here 21 years ago, the work was hard. I worked 2 ½ shifts to be able to support my family which includes my wife and 2 sons.
In the summer, it was difficult to wake up at 3:30am and end the day around 10pm. But all of this was to give my sons and wife a better life than I had.
In those days, my major worry was the work but now the times have changed – especially this year.
The farm work is very hard – from staying awake to spraying pesticides, to bearing the humidity of watering, the extreme cold or temperatures up to 105 degrees and 10-hour or more workdays. But now things are worse.
Fear has invaded me, the fear of deportation, the terror of finding myself in an unmarked van with tinted windows. I hear almost every day that immigration is nearby, and they may take me away. I’m full of anxiety, of the uncertainty and fear of meeting ICE or the bounty hunters, that they will beat me as they have other people, fear that they will take me somewhere my family will not be able to find me because I’m in a country other than my own and that my family will not know in what condition I’m in. This fear has entered my bones, to the degree that I feel paranoid-- seeing vehicles where there are none and suspecting people are watching me.
It’s difficult to feel that the rights that this great nation always gave are now darkened and even radically changed by laws and principles I no longer recognize.
Although I live with fear, I still hope that this promised freedom may be defended by those who can do so. I have hope that tomorrow will be a better day where fear and discrimination don’t dominate my life.”
Stories like this one shared by one of our clients reflect the realities many in our community face. For decades, Nuestra Comunidad Sana (NCS) - or “Our Healthy Community,” now known as Health Promotion Services at TNDI - has helped meet people in these moments, offering connection and advocacy. What started as a grassroots, community-driven initiative at a time when culturally responsive services were limited, has become a driver in systemic change across the Gorge and statewide.
Community Health Worker, Liliana, doing outreach at a community event in May 2009.
Joining TNDI in 2002, NCS helped pioneer the Community Health Worker (CHW) model in the Gorge, training the area's first CHWs to build a strong network of dedicated community members who could bridge the gap between families and critical support services. Teams of CHWs now work collaboratively to connect individuals and families with services, address barriers to success, and build relationships rooted in trust, a practice that continues to shape this work today.
Community Health Workers Lorena, Joel, and Maria Antonia (Tona), were honored by the Hood River Valley Park & Recreation Department in 2012 for their work in helping plan a new park in Odell. This work was part of Nuestra Comunidad Sana’s initiative called Nuestra Voz, Nuestra Salud (Our Voice, Our Health), which encouraged Latino leaders to voice their opinions about policies that impact health.
In response to the urgent needs of the immigrant and LGBTQIA2S+ communities, TNDI created a Community Preparedness team in 2025, hiring two Community Health Workers with lived work experience to lead this effort. Over the last year, these two CHWs have focused on outreach, responsive support, policy monitoring, and regional coordination, ensuring individuals and families can access services safely and quickly during this time of heightened fear and uncertainty.
Community Health Workers at The Next Door also provide informal counseling, referrals to resources, and navigation assistance, all with the intent of making the lives of their neighbors a little easier. This work is carried out through programs such as Valle Verde, a 12-week mental health series supporting Latino community members through education, stigma reduction, and trusted community-based support. Our ECO team, or Equity Corps of Oregon, helps eligible individuals access legal resources to defend against deportation or civic exclusion. And the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance (CGPA) provides safe, affirming spaces and resources for LGBTQIA2S+ community members to increase their sense of belonging in Gorge communities.
The Health Promotion Services team enjoyed a Strategic Planning retreat at Timberline last summer.
This work is only possible because of the generosity of our communities. Your support helps ensure that Community Health Workers can continue meeting people in moments of fear, uncertainty, and need to offer trusted care, connection, and a pathway forward when it matters most.
Now through June 30th, your gift will be matched up to $25,000!
