about us

It started in a parking lot.

In the summer of 2020, a former elementary teacher started knocking on doors in the Portland neighborhood she grew up in. What she found changed everything.

A boy smiling while drawing with chalk on the pavement at sunset

Our founding story

Our founder, Sarah Lopez-Madrigal, grew up in the Centennial neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. In the summer of 2020 she knocked on doors offering kids academic help in a parking lot. Within weeks, the depth of their loneliness, depression and anxiety became clear.

She pivoted to a simpler goal: lower kids' stress and bring joy back into their lives. Many neighbors joined the effort, and it became the beginning of a movement.

We Belong PDX began with painting and playing games in a parking lot. Today it's a year-round program meeting the hunger for healthy community among kids and families across three neighborhoods.

Our mission

We exist to repair social connectedness and improve mental well-being for kids and families.

Our vision

A world where every kid and their family has access to a community that brings a sense of belonging and improves mental well-being.

Our values

Relationships
Growth
Joy
Mind-body health

Our journey

From founding to present

2020
Activities begin outdoors during the pandemic.
2021
We begin a formal program and our first partnership for building use.
2022
We receive our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and with funding from a partner church, we open a second Centennial location.
2023
We launch a location in the Rockwood neighborhood.
2024
We launch our family engagement programming, turning our part-time program staff into full-time roles, and merge our two Centennial locations into one.
2025
We launch our Montavilla neighborhood location.
2026
A Director of Programs and an Admin & Communications Coordinator join the team as we prepare for growth.

watch

See We Belong in action

A quick look at our kids, families and team, and why belonging matters.

Full-time investment for full impact

Why our program leads are full-time

Deep relationships are the fabric of a healthy neighborhood. That's why our program leads are full-time, long-term fixtures in the lives of the kids and families they serve.

Here's how a program lead's time is invested each month.

Youth engagement78%

Planning and prepping out-of-school activities · Leading programs, including setup and teardown · Organizing group outings · Documenting incidents and growth goals · Communicating with school and church partners and with parents
Family engagement13%

Home drop-bys · Organizing family gatherings · Family check-ins by phone · Outreach and onboarding for new families
Mentor engagement4%

Vetting and onboarding new mentors · Check-ins after program days · Continued annual training
General programs5%

Weekly staff meetings · Twice-monthly check-ins with the Director of Programs · Quarterly professional development