Finding light in community: Ambassador Council member Sophia Dehen on hope

“It feels really good to be able to look at your day and do something hands-on and know that you’re helping, especially in these tumultuous times.”  For volunteer Sophia Dehen, that feeling keeps her coming back to her work with Habitat. Over the past three years, Sophia has been giving back to the community as a member of […]

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“Toolbelt Generation” builds talent in the trades

Written by volunteer Asher Bernick-Roehr; photos by Cyril Desmond Growing up in a family of doctors and lawyers, Bri always thought she was supposed to take the same path. But after going the college route, she realized that what really made her happy was working with her hands. “I went to college. I’ve done five […]

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Service is a family value for new Ambassador Council Chair

Written by Sarah Wexler Growing up in a large Filipino-Irish Catholic family in Chicago, Will Mohring spent countless afternoons at sprawling barbecues at his grandmother’s house. His Lola (Tagalog for “grandmother”) would cook a feast of whole fish, rice, lumpia, pancit noodles, and coconut confections. But for Will, it wasn’t just about the menu.  “Those meals […]

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Highlighting our HopeBuilder table hosts

The HopeBuilder Lunch is Habitat Portland Region’s biggest annual event—a powerful gathering of people who want to help create positive change in their communities. For some, it’s the first time they’ve learned about Habitat’s mission to build strength, stability, and independence through affordable homeownership. AJ Simpson For AJ Simpson, an invitation to HopeBuilder in 2019 helped […]

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“There’s no place like home:” Ambassador Council member Christopher Brown writes on the hope built into every Habitat home

Christopher Brown, third from right, joins his Ambassador Council working at the Alder Commons build site in Hillsboro. As a second-generation Portlander, my affinity for this city runs deep. And while some of those reasons are related to things like my family, the summer months, and the food scene, my deepest sense of gratitude comes […]

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Volunteer Spotlight: James Burnham

  The Pacific Crest Trail spans from the US-Mexico border to British Columbia, winding its way through the rugged peaks and valleys of California, Oregon and Washington. James Burnham—a Habitat volunteer, avid hiker, and Auto Litigation Unit Manager at Travelers Insurance—has plans to walk all 2,659 miles of that famous trail. It’s these kind of […]

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