FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, November 2, 2023

Vision Action Network Announces Closure and Identifies Community Services Network to Carry Mission Forward

Beaverton, Ore. – On October 30, 2023, the board of Vision Action Network (VAN) voted unanimously to dissolve the organization that has served as a cornerstone of community engagement in Washington County since 2001.

The decision to close VAN’s doors comes one month after Executive Director Glenn Montgomery publicly announced his departure at the end of the calendar year. In his farewell letter, Montgomery wrote, “As I reflect on my time amidst all the changes, the challenges, the debates, the setbacks, and the celebrations, I am honored to have worked with so many people who deeply care about the Washington County community.”

As a result of a community-wide visioning process led by Washington County, VAN was created as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to engage all sectors and facilitate collective action to address the needs of the county’s most vulnerable residents. Over the past two decades, VAN has been at the center of initiatives that helped increase affordable housing and wraparound services, advance racial equity, cultivate partnerships to increase investment in community-based organizations, and build the capacity of the behavioral health workforce including culturally specific services for the Latine community.

As part of its dissolution plan, VAN’s board of directors intends to transfer its assets to Community Services Network (CSN), a local nonprofit and subsidiary of The DPI Group that gives nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations a platform to educate, network, and collaborate to improve the community’s capacity to collectively serve. Both VAN’s board and Montgomery feel that CSN’s mission and values align well with VAN’s, and they are confident in CSN’s commitment to serve the Washington County community.

“We greatly appreciate the community members, board members, and staff who have supported VAN through the years, and we hope this dedication to our community carries over with CSN,” said Kemp Shuey, VAN Board Chair. ”For the past 20 years, VAN’s role as a convener in Washington County has been a vital one, and we are eager to see how CSN continues VAN’s legacy and adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.”

CSN is poised to increase its presence in Washington County and has expressed a willingness to take over VAN’s convening role for key programs like Washington County Thrives and the annual event known as adVANce where funders and nonprofits gather to cultivate stronger partnerships. In addition, CSN will offer its popular resource fairs, monthly learning sessions, workshops, and webinars to the Washington County community.

“I am honored and grateful for the trust that VAN’s board and staff have placed in Community Services Network (CSN),” said Annie Lindekugel, CSN’s Executive Director. “With their support, the CSN will be able to extend its reach to serve Washington County and create a more resilient community across the metro area. We know this process will take time and we thank the community in advance for giving us the time to establish ourselves in Washington County, build relationships and begin our efforts.”

VAN and CSN plan to host an event in early 2024 that will serve as a “meet and greet” opportunity for key stakeholders to learn more about CSN and their plans in Washington County.

Contact:
Glenn Montgomery
Vision Action Network
503.846.5792
glenn@visionactionnetwork.org