Wave Foundation

THE WAVE FOUNDATION STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY HEALTH, LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD: ADVANCING SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO FOOD SYSTEMS BY ADVANCING INTEGRATION OF TRIBAL, BIPOC, WOMEN, AND RURAL PRODUCED FOODS INTO THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, WHICH ADDITIONALLY SUPPORTS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, EQUITY, AND JUSTICE GOALS. DURING 2022, THE WAVE FOUNDATION DEVELOPED A MARKETPLACE INITIATIVE THAT ENABLES THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY TO FEATURE FOOD PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FISHERS, FARMERS, AND RANCHERS. THIS INITIATIVE WAS FEATURED BY THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THEIR CONFERENCE ON FOOD, NUTRITION, & HEALTH. THE WAVE FOUNDATION COLLABORATED WITH DELAWARE-NORTH TO SUPPORT FEATURING TRIBAL FOODS IN THEIR SERVICES TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. VIA A GRANT SECURED FROM LIV GOLF INVESTMENTS, THE WAVE SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRIBAL PRODUCERS GUIDE, DEVELOPED BY SAKARI FARMS (A TRIBALLY OWNED WOMAN BUSINESS). AS PART OF OUR ONGOING FOOD AND NUTRITION RELIEF PROGRAM (INITIATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC), WE SUPPORTED THE DISTRIBUTION OF 2,000,000+ MEAL EQUIVALENTS TO NW NATIVE AND OTHER BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN 2022. FUNDING FOR OUR FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM CAME FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LIV GOLF INVESTMENTS. HELD AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 IN PORTLAND TO RAISE AWARENESS TO OUR MARKETPLACE INITIATIVE (FEATURING TRIBAL AND BIPOC SPEAKERS) AND SERVED AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE: WORKED CLOSELY WITH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRIBAL AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES WITH INTENT TO LEVERAGE THE WAVE FOUNDATION NETWORK TO AUTHENTICALLY ADVANCE EQUITY AND JUSTICE GOALS RELATED TO OUR CORE PROGRAMS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROGRAM WORK INVOLVES REFORMING REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS TO HELP PROVIDE TRIBAL, BIPOC, WOMEN, AND OTHER HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED FOOD PRODUCERS ACCESS TO THE LARGER, MORE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR SUPPORT OF CLEAN ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION HAS A DIRECT-LINE BENEFIT TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY WORK AND RESIDE IN CORRIDORS OF CLIMATE POLLUTION.YOUTH ENGAGEMENT: FURTHER DEVELOPED PROGRAM WITH MUSCO, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, YAKAMA NATION, AND THE US SOCCER FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT BUILDING MINI-SPORTS COURTS IN NW NATIVE COMMUNITIES FOR TRIBAL YOUTH TO HAVE ACCESS TO SPORTS AND HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. IN 2022, THE PROJECT PARTNERS IDENTIFIED A SITE FOR THE FIRST INSTALLATION (TO BE INSTALLED IN 2024) AND INITIATED THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING NECESSARY PERMITS AND OTHER RELATED REQUIREMENTS. PROJECT PARTNERS WILL SEEK FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS IN 2023. VIA GRANT FUNDING FROM LIV GOLF INVESTMENTS, THE WAVE FOUNDATION INITIATED THE RESEARCH FOR THE POTENTIAL REDEVELOPING OF AN ABANDONED GOLF COURSE (KAH-NEE-TA) FOR THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS. THE ANALYSIS OF SUCH A PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE ENABLING TRIBAL YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN GOLF, REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. FURTHER STUDIES EXPECTED TO BE PERFORMED IN 2023.

ZERO WASTE: FURTHER DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC COLLABORATION IN PORTLAND, OREGON TO ADVANCE A "ZERO-WASTE VISION" FOR PROVIDENCE PARK, THE MODA CENTER, AND OTHER PORTLAND LARGE PUBLIC VENUES. THIS PROGRAM IS KEY IN MITIGATING FOOD WASTE AND FINDING SUCCESSFUL COMPOSTING OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORTHWEST. AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, IN 2022 WE SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPOSTING FACILITY THAT THE PUBLIC VENUES CAN UTILIZE FOR THEIR ORGANIC WASTE, ADDED ADDITIONAL PROGRAM PARTNERS, INITIATED PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS (FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, AND INITIATED A SIMILAR PROJECT IN NEW YORK CITY (TO BE FURTHER DEVELOPED IN 2023).

CLEAN ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CLIMATE SOLUTIONS, CLEAN AND PROSPEROUS WA, BUILD BACK BLACK ALLIANCE, AND OREGON BUSINESSES FOR CLIMATE LAUNCHED THE BREAKING BARRIERS COLLABORATIVE, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS BUSINESSES IN THE TRANSITION TO REGIONAL BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO 100% ELECTRIFICATION. HELD MULTIPLE INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS AND LAUNCHED AN INAUGURAL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, WHERE 25 ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS WASHINGTON AND OREGON, INCLUDING BIPOC-OWNED BUSINESSES RECEIVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THEIR TRANSITION TO ELECTRIFYING THEIR FLEET VEHICLES.