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# Salem Leadership Foundation

We Believe | We Engage

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## Posts

- [March 2026 - Opportunities of Grace.](https://www.salemlf.org/2026/03/10/february-2026-love-one-another-clone/) - The Gospel of Mark is my favorite book in the Bible. When I was in college, I was part of a group that studied Mark every year in the Spring. We would look for connections, context cues, repeated words and phrases, and more to help us understand the meaning in the text. This method helped
- [January 2026 - New Year, New Logo, Same Mission](https://www.salemlf.org/2026/01/16/january-2026-new-year-new-logo-same-mission/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Happy New Year! As we start 2026, we are excited to share our new logo with you. When considering a new logo, we wanted to honor previous logos and choose an image
- [February 2026 - Love One Another](https://www.salemlf.org/2026/02/10/february-2026-love-one-another/) - “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13) In the month of February, we celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. Pink hearts, red roses, and cards with beautiful poems As we celebrate love this month, it is my hope and prayer that we will all find ways to love sacrificially for the sake of another’s flourishing. That we would see the needs in our community as opportunities to care and serve.
- [November 2025 - Giving Thanks](https://www.salemlf.org/2026/01/16/november-2025-giving-thanks/) - Give thanks to the LORD for he is good. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136) At Salem Leadership Foundation we believe that Salem/Keizer will become the healthiest community in all of Oregon, truly a city of Shalom. Because we believe this we engage with people of faith and people of goodwill to transform the community.
- [December 2025 - A Song, A Tribute, A Prayer](https://www.salemlf.org/2026/01/16/december-2025-a-song-a-tribute-a-prayer/) - “Truly he taught us to love one another. His law is love, and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease.” Recently my 92-year-old grandmother, Barbara Childers, passed away. Grandma Barb had a deep understanding of how much she was loved
- [October 2025 - Who is my Neighbor?](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/10/06/october-2025-who-is-my-neighbor/) - One of my mentors recently reminded me that the role of a leader is to both point out the obstacles, and to point the way through them. There are many obstacles to making Salem the healthiest community in all of Oregon. Combine those obstacles with tension and violence in our country and the world, and
- [September 2025- For the Shalom of the City](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/09/23/for-the-shalom-of-the-city/) - At Salem Leadership Foundation (SLF) we believe that Salem/Keizer will become the healthiest community in all of Oregon, truly the city of Shalom (peace, well-being, wholeness). Because we believe this we engage with people of faith and people of goodwill to transform the community. We build connections in neighborhoods and capacity in nonprofits. While we
- [August 2025- Shalom is breaking through](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/09/23/shalom-is-breaking-through/) - Shalom is breaking through. Last month I attended a gathering of community leaders from law enforcement, local government, nonprofits, schools, healthcare agencies, businesses, and the faith community to talk about the rise in community violence incidents, and what we could do in response. As each person engaged in the conversation and shared their perspective on both
- [June/ July- Fancy Friday 2025](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/07/08/june-july-2025/) - On Friday, June 13th over 800 people gathered in the Salem Convention Center to connect with friends and colleagues, and to hear stories of community leaders who are passionate about Salem/Keizer becoming the healthiest community in Oregon, truly the city of Shalom. Our theme for Fancy Friday 2025 was Connection, and our prayer was that
- [May 2025- Connections](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/07/08/may-2025/) - There are so many things I love about Spring – longer days with sunshine, blooming tulips, dinners outside, the start of Major League Baseball, etc. While the season can be a challenge for those of us with pollen allergies, I still enjoy spending more time outside with family and friends. My favorite outside activity these
- [April 2025- Hope & Expectations](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/07/08/7829/) - “I think what might be happening here is the difference between hope and expectations,” I recently offered to my friends and ministry partners. My friends and ministry partners have been serving one of the most vulnerable populations in our community for a couple of years now. They have witnessed some incredible things but have also
- [March 2025- Move toward, not away from differences](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/04/08/march-2025/) - One of my favorite things about living in Salem is the music program we have in our school district. Both of my kids are involved in stellar music programs at their respective schools, and it is a joy to watch them perform with their classmates and be led by outstanding music educators! My daughter is
- [February 2025- Little Things with Great Love](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/04/08/february-2025/) - January was a very full month. At the monthly Churches as Neighborhood (CaN) Centers luncheon at Court Street Christian Church, over 80 people came to hear Chris Moore, Director of Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning for Salem Keizer Public Schools (SKPS), speak about experiencing personal Shalom (peace, well-being). On January 20th, over 250 people
- [January 2025- Immanuel: God with US](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/04/08/january-2025/) - I love the Christmas season. I love seeing Christmas lights all over town – at Riverfront Park, through the downtown core, and along Wallace Road. I probably start listening to Christmas music around the middle of October, and I continue to listen to a few songs throughout the whole year (more on that later). This
- [December 2024- Advent-Christmas](https://www.salemlf.org/2025/04/08/december-2024-advent-christmas/) - It’s been a great run. And the future is in great hands with Kyle. Thank you for the privilege of having my hand at the helm of SLF for these past 28 years. All my jobs – from Statesman-Journal paperboy to paint-company owner (college years) to Seattle Goodwill (nonprofit) to Arst Public Relations (business) to
- [November 2024 - Shalom With Our Neighbors](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/11/22/november-2024-shalom-with-our-neighbors/) - One of my favorite gatherings that SLF hosts is our monthly CaN (Churches as Neighborhood) Centers luncheon. This gathering of leaders, primarily from churches and non-profits, meets to explore how we can look for and encourage Shalom (peace, well-being, wholeness) in our community. This year we are exploring the four relational dimensions of Shalom at
- [October 2024 - Calling Agents of Hope not Fear](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/10/23/october-2024-calling-agents-of-hope-not-fear/) - For God has not given us a spirit of fear – but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind...
- [Summer 2024 - We've Done it Before, We Can do it Again](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/07/31/summer-2024-weve-done-it-before-we-can-do-it-again/) - The good news: Hardship can lead to positive outcomes if people come together with hope and determination. And stick with it...
- [September 2024 - Connect with your CPT](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/09/27/september-2024-connect-cpt/) - With school being back in session and a new Fall rhythm upon us, CPTs could be a great addition to your monthly calendar...
- [June 2024- Fancy Friday "The Story Continues"](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/06/24/june-2024-fancy-friday-the-story-continues/) - What a blast we had last Friday at the Salem Convention Center downtown! It was a pivotal moment in SLF’s history...
- [July 2022 - Fancy Friday edition](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/07/27/july-2022-fancy-friday-edition/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]What a great feeling to be back in the Salem Convention Center June 24! Our last live Fancy Friday was in 2019, and while the Lord met our needs via two online events during the pandemic, it was good to be in person! We had fun with our “building”
- [May 2024 - First Citizen Award](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/06/12/may-2024-first-citizen-award/) - Editor’s Note: Please notice for whom everyone is clapping! Without Jennifer none of the following takes place … If you’ve been to SLF’s Fancy Friday, you know I don’t mind the spotlight. In that space, I’m comfortable telling stories about our team, our partners and our community. But the limelight? Where the focus and attention
- [April 2024- Moving Home](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/05/23/april-2024-moving-home/) - Over the past few weeks, my wife Joy and I have been processing our family’s move back to Salem with our kids. While we are all very excited to be moving home, there is still a measure of sadness. Part of the sadness comes from leaving some familiar routines. Part of the sadness comes from
- [March 2024- When the "Not Yet" Becomes "Yes" it's Beautiful](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/03/22/march-2024-when-the-not-yet-becomes-yes-its-beautiful/) - The phone call was a surprise. An old chum from school days in Salem. “Sam, I’m going to be in Seattle next week, can we catch breakfast somewhere?” I picked a spot down the hill from our rental house in Montlake, across the canal from Husky Stadium. We’d sent the owner a written offer to
- [February 2024 - "It was Just the Right Time"](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/02/19/february-2024-it-was-just-the-right-time/) - My family moved to Salem in January of 2012. One of our top priorities was to find a church with a group of people in a similar life stage – couples with young children. We quickly found the Synergy community group at Salem Alliance, which at that time was being led by Mike and Diane
- [January 2024- We Are Pleased to Announce...](https://www.salemlf.org/2024/01/19/january-2024-we-are-pleased-to-announce/) - Usually a mentor is someone older than you. Most of mine have been. But I can cite a couple cases where someone younger has blessed me with their expertise and experience. One person in particular. And now he’s my successor! (We sent the news in an email right after Christmas …) I met Kyle Dickinson
- [December 2023- Hope for the Nations and the Neighborhoods](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/12/12/december-2023-hope-for-the-nations-and-the-neighborhoods/) - We live in challenging times. But that could be said of just about any era in history. War. Hunger. Immorality. Crime. Greed. Poverty. Two thousand years ago things were pretty rough in the Middle East. The Roman Empire was in charge, and it was brutal. Even though the Romans allowed the Jewish culture and systems
- [November 2023- Not for College Days Alone](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/11/08/november-2023-with-thanksgiving/) - Last month we had our annual reunion of ‘Fijis’ at the OSU-UCLA football game. It’s a loyal group of fraternity brothers who gather to regale old stories and catch up on families. We all lived in the Phi Gamma Delta house in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and it’s amazing to see how deeply bonded
- [October 2023- After 27 Years, a Few Guiding Axioms](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/10/12/october-2023-after-27-years-a-few-guiding-axioms/) - Words are wonderful. Language is a huge part of the human experience in biology, sociology, anthropology, history, and culture. Not to mention theology: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:1 and 1:14) I love
- [September 2023- Dwayne's Invitation to Engage Tables](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/09/14/september-2023-dwaynes-invitation-to-engage-tables/) - AN INVITATION: Some people talk about creating belonging and making more room at the table for others. And then there are those who create belonging in how they live and actively invite others to join in. This past July, on one of our family trips, I witnessed the perfect example of creating belonging. My wife
- [July/August 2023:  Succession Planning is Healthy for Organizations](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/08/03/july-august-2023-succession-planning-is-healthy-for-organizations/) - OK, it’s official. It actually shouldn’t be a surprise because we’ve been working on it for a couple years. By the end of 2024, there will be a new leader at the helm of SLF. (Thank you for not bursting into roars of applause like several tables did at the Fancy Dessert June 16! True
- [June FNL-  City as Playground or … ?](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/06/30/june-fnl-city-as-playground-or/) - What a blast we had last Friday, June 16, at the Salem Convention Center downtown! We had fun with our City as Playground? theme and explored the contrast between the hard things happening in Salem-Keizer and the way people, churches, partners, and programs are overcoming darkness with a ‘playground mentality’ of positivity, possibilities, and promise.
- [May 2023- To All the Silent Giants out There ...](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/05/30/may-2023-to-all-the-silent-giants-out-there/) - This one goes out to all the people who have an incredible impact but are below the radar. Take a moment to think of these saints in your life. They are beloved to those who know them … generous beyond measure with their time, talent, and treasure … always deflecting attention and affection to others.
- [April 2023- Old-fashioned Decency:  Embraceable or Obsolete?](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/04/26/april-2023-old-fashioned-decency-embraceable-or-obsolete/) - Lotta people making fun of Theodore Cleaver these days. In fact, some folks downright loathe him and the iconic 1957-63 television show Leave it to Beaver. The knock is that the Cleaver family and mid-century America represented harmful values. The parents of Mayfield were over-dressed and the kids were goody-two-shoes in a sugar-coated era of white,
- [March 2023- Music to an Old Shortstop’s Ear](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/03/20/march-2023-music-to-an-old-shortstops-ear/) - I’m an old shortstop. Baseball was my thing. It started with my 4th-grade pal Jim Goodwin and the old City League, where we played in sneakers, blue jeans and a white t-shirt with “Wolverines” spray-painted across the front. I started varsity all three years at Leslie and all three years at South High. Our Babe
- [February 2023- People Can Overcome Homelessness ... with Friends](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/02/15/february-2023-people-can-overcome-homelessness-with-friends/) - I've never seen a warmer smile. Tracey Sargent was a successful restaurant cook and kitchen manager. Then, in the space of 40 months, he lost his mom and five siblings to drugs and/or heart attacks. Devastated, he went off the grid. He lost his job, his car, his home. He hit the streets and became
- [January 2023-Saluting a Friend and Brother, DJ Vincent](https://www.salemlf.org/2023/01/17/january-2023-saluting-a-friend-and-brother-dj-vincent/) - Our mutual friend Carrie Maheu introduced us. He was a young pastor in the Free Methodist tradition, planting a church at Leslie Middle School. I could see the fire in his eyes for loving neighbor as self. Little did I know how far DJ Vincent would extend that fire to warm multitudes … including me.
- [December 2022-  Think "One" and "In Person" this Holiday Season](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/12/05/december-2022-think-one-and-in-person-this-holiday-season/) - In a season where everything is busy, festive (hectic), and sometimes overwhelming … what if we focused on “One.” In a culture where everything is fast, digital (virtual), and distant …what if we focused on “In Person.” During Christmas and the holiday season, the beautiful ethic of helping others is a major theme. There’s both
- [November 2022- With Thanksgiving!](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/11/08/november-2022-with-thanksgiving/) - gra-ti-tude – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for, and return, kindness. By the time you read this, the mid-term elections will be over. I don’t know whom all will have won or lost … but I suspect that tensions are still
- [October 2022-The Power of Friendship](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/11/02/october-2022-the-power-of-friendship/) - Dwayne Hilty here, SLF’s CaN (Churches as Neighborhood) Centers Director. I’ve worked with SLF since 2015, first as a West Salem Lightning Rod and, for the past year, leading the CaN Centers Network. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of you, but for those of you who may not know me, here’s a bit
- [September 2022- What is a Lightning Rod, Anyway?](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/09/22/september-2022-what-is-a-lightning-rod-anyway/) - Hello neighbor, and greetings from the east side of town! Rian Rasubala here, your McKay-area Lightning Rod. In light of Sam’s sabbatical, I’ll be taking over the newsletter this month. And since I’m taking over, I decided to make a few changes. For those of you who know Sam well (or even if you don’t),
- [Summer 2022 - Interns](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/08/16/interns-summer-2022/) - SALUTING THE SLF SUMMER INTERNS. Like many nonprofits and ministries, SLF has a summer-internship program to engage promising young professionals and provide meaningful work experience. The program is facilitated by Rian Rasubala, our McKay-area Lightning Rod, who by the way was an SLF summer intern in 2015! Each summer we seek to engage 3-4 college
- [August 2022- Street Mural in Grant- "The Rest of the Story"](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/08/16/august-2022-street-mural-in-grant-the-rest-of-the-story/) - Thanks to extensive publicity in the newspapers and social media, it seems everyone’s heard about the “street-painting art project” in the Grant Neighborhood. Over the July 4 weekend, a battalion of neighbors, young and old, converged at the intersection of Belmont and Cottage to prep, paint and party upon the beautiful mural that features sunshine
- [June 2022 - Remembering Rev. Dick Lucco, Bridge-Builder](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/06/06/june-2022-remembering-rev-dick-lucco-bridge-builder/) - He wasn’t born in Salem and he didn’t die here ... but our community is eternally blessed because of Rev. Dick Lucco. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News. Romans 10:15 In the 1990s, in the midst of an all-out community response to youth gangs, Dick was the one who diagnosed a
- [May 2022- Millard and Mike:  In Memory of Great Mentors](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/05/11/may-2022-millard-and-mike-in-memory-of-great-mentors/) - men•tor – a trusted counselor or guide; a tutor or coach. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Salem lost two giants last month. A generation of students and athletes in various Salem-Keizer schools grew up under their tutelage. Like many, I am a better person thanks to Millard Bates and Mike Doran. Millard is most famous for his lifelong
- [April 2022 - Come to the Table with Candor, Intelligence and Goodwill](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/04/21/april-2022-come-to-the-table-with-candor-intelligence-and-goodwill/) - Last month I wrote about the various tables from which SLF does its work. The methodology of Table Sitting, Setting and Serving. Well, I just came from the Breaking Bread/Breaking Barriers lunch at the KROC Center. This is a monthly gathering SLF hosts so folks can build relationships and hear from a local leader about
- [March 2022- Great Things Come from Small Tables](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/03/17/march-2022-great-things-come-from-small-tables/) - Great Things Come from Small Tables At SLF we love tables. We even have a methodology built around tables. It’s called Table Sitting, Table Setting, Table Serving. The first one means we sit at the tables of community groups and organizations to listen and learn. The second is when SLF sets the table and invites
- [February 2022 - The YMCA- Hub of a Network of Neighborhood Centers](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/02/17/february-2022-the-ymca-hub-of-a-network-of-neighborhood-centers/) - Camp Crestwood. Indian Guides. Guppies and Minnows. That maze of colored lines running through the rabbit-warren buildings ... showing the way to games, basketball and swimming. Like many (most?) longtime Salemites, I have fond memories of the YMCA. For the monthly Guides gatherings we met in the home of two Tom Kays (my Fairmount Hill
- [January 2022- Churches Still Care Despite Challenges](https://www.salemlf.org/2022/01/19/january-2022-churches-still-care-despite-challenges/) - For 25 years, our happy assignment has been to help churches as they serve their neighborhoods and share buildings, people and talents for the shalom (health and well-being) of their neighbors. It’s been a beautiful journey for people-of-faith and people-of-goodwill alike. Schools, nonprofits, businesses, neighborhoods, systems ... and churches, working together for the common good.
- [December 2021-This Family Tree is a Christmas Gift](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/12/13/december-2021-this-family-tree-is-a-christmas-gift/) - The whole world is coming to Shalom, Oregon, and it’s a beautiful thing. There was a time it was illegal for those of African, Asian, Polynesian and Hispanic descent to live here. I can remember in the late ‘90s when there was a stir at the state Capitol. Someone discovered that the Oregon Constitution still
- [November 2021- THANKS for Helping us Serve 'Our New Neighbors'](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/11/18/november-2021-thanks-for-helping-us-serve-our-new-neighbors/) - Last month marked two amazing milestones. First, the five-year anniversary of the founding of Salem For Refugees (SFR). And second, the awarding of SFR’s stand-alone 501(c)3 status as a tax-exempt nonprofit! Salem Leadership Foundation was proud to team up with Salem Alliance Church to form the joint-venture crucible that allowed SFR to take root and
- [October 2021- "Somebody Should Do Something!"](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/10/20/october-2021-somebody-should-do-something/) - We did a little survey as part of our Fancy 25th festivities last spring (thanks to everyone who replied!). We asked three questions: 1) What do you love most about Salem-Keizer? 2) What is the biggest challenge facing our community? And, 3) What can SLF do to help in the next 25 months and the next
- [Back to School- Sept. 2021](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/09/29/back-to-school-sept-2021/) - A modern parable that might be helpful to parents of teens ... It was Andrew’s sophomore or junior year at North. Samuel was off to Seattle Pacific, which meant all of our parental affection (and radar) was focused on Andrew. One night he was heading out with some friends and we did our usual good-parent
- [July/August 2021:  When Did Vulgar become a Virtue?](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/07/28/july-august-2021-when-did-vulgar-become-a-virtue/) - How did we all get so ... vulgar?
- [June 2021- A Quarter Century of Bridge Building](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/06/03/june-2021-fancy-25th-anniversary/) - We had big plans for SLF’s 25th-anniversary celebration at the Salem Convention Center. For the second year in a row, Covid-19 kept the ballroom doors closed. Not only for SLF, but all nonprofits and ministries. This pales in comparison to the losses and sacrifices many have endured dudring the pandemic and wildfires. And yet it’s
- [May 2021- Naming Some Names Over 25 Years](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/05/20/may-2021-naming-some-names-over-25-years/) - (A genesis story, Part 2) One of the more fascinating elements of Scripture is the collection of genealogies that appear in both the Old and New Testaments. Long lists of names that usually get overlooked ... I hadn’t given them much heed until I read a commentary by Ray Bakke on Matthew’s Tombstone Tour,” sub-themed
- [April 2021- Where are the Churches?](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/04/14/april-2021-where-are-the-churches/) - (A genesis story, Part 1) In the mid-1990s, a headline in the Statesman Journal shocked the community. “Youth
- [March 2021-Small Things Lead to Big Things in Shalom, OR](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/03/17/march-2021-small-things-lead-to-big-things-in-shalom-or/) - At SLF we have a little thing called the ‘Fancy Bus Tour.’ Maybe you’ve been on one. When things open up, we’ll kick-start the engines and get back out on the road. It’s a little bit history, a little bit theology, and a lot of neighborhood as we visit some familiar—and not so familiar—places around
- [February 2021- Understanding Salem's History to Build Shalom today](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/02/18/february-2021-understanding-salems-history-to-build-shalom-today/) - Some people know that Jennifer and I love antiques. Fiesta ware, Craftsman furniture, old photos and postcards—we especially treasure artifacts of Salem’s history. One day, 16 years ago, I was at the Salem Collector’s Market at the Fairgrounds. I was thrilled to find a vintage brochure entitled Trail ‘em to Salem, a promotional fold-out from
- [January 2021- There's Nothing New Under the Sun = Hope](https://www.salemlf.org/2021/02/18/january-2021-theres-nothing-new-under-the-sun-hope/) - 2020 was quite a year. Hard and harrowing in many ways. A pandemic. An economic collapse. A summer of killings and protests. A contentious Presidential election. And to start the New Year, a mob assault on the Capitol and legislators. Tumultuous times. One day I was feeling—all at once—angry and tired and frustrated and sad
- [December 2020-  Remembering a Salem Saint ...](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/12/22/december-2020-remembering-a-salem-saint/) - In 2010 there was a bit of a community snafu. Not the end of the world by any means, but a logistical headache for two local nonprofits. A classic ‘good-news/bad-news’ scenario. The good news: The Marion-Polk Medical Foundation had miraculously landed South Africa’s legendary F.W. de Klerk as a replacement keynote speaker for their annual
- [November 2020- Thanks-giving is Life-Giving](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/12/22/november-2020-thanks-giving-is-life-giving/) - I was thinking about thanks. It’s that season. A scripture came to mind … As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go
- [October 2020- Salem-Keizer Youth Collaborative](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/10/14/october-2020-salem-keizer-youth-collaborative/) - We have a saying around here. The “F” in “SLF” stands for “flexible.” Never has that been more true than the past six months. First with Covid-19, and then the wildfires. Flexibility is built into our DNA and our practices. As a consulting ministry, we are free of the encumbering (and worthy) obligations that go
- [September 2020- A Salute to our Friend and Colleague Imani](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/09/22/september-2020-a-salute-to-our-friend-and-colleague-imani/) - I’m eternally grateful to the 2017 Eclipse. And the City of Independence. They are the reason Imani Hall came to Oregon. Imani, a recent graduate from Ithaca College in New York, accepted a 9-month AmeriCorps assignment for the City’s “Indy Goes Dark” tourism campaign for the Eclipse. Our mutual friend Gregg Peterson introduced us at one of
- [SLF's Political Agenda](https://www.salemlf.org/2016/05/01/slfs-political-agenda/) - [et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text]With politics dominating the headlines and the newscasts, I’ve been thinking about a meeting I had several years ago. The community organizer from Portland was putting together a faith-based coalition, and he wanted to identify the key players in Salem. SLF is always willing to help, especially when the topic is churches serving neighbors
- [February 2020- Salem's African-American Community](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/02/20/february-2020-salems-african-american-community/) - (Inspired by Pastor Ben McBride’s recent visit to Salem) When I think of my childhood friend Larry Wilson, I remember the little yellow house on Lincoln Street where his family lived. It was across from Tim McFetridge’s house along the alley above Baker Elementary School. The Wilson family was one of a very few African-American
- [March 2020- "Someone" should do something!](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/03/20/march-2020-someone-should-do-something/) - Been hearing this a lot lately: “Where does SLF stand on the Homelessness issue? You guys seem very quiet concerning this critical community problem. Is SLF doing anything?” We are not offended by these comments. It’s our mission to support and magnify the good works of others, so it’s not unusual for
- [April 2020 - Looking Back on a Tough Passover and Easter](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/04/20/april-2020-looking-back-on-a-tough-passover-and-easter/) - Well, that was an interesting Holy Week, Easter and Passover. We sometimes forget that these historic events occurred in tough times themselves. Passover, in the midst of great oppression, plagues and death in Egypt. And Holy Week—from the Triumphal Entry to the Crucifixion to the Resurrection—a time of vicious Roman occupation and oppression. Followed by
- [May/ June 2020 - Signs of Hope](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/06/01/may-june-2020-signs-of-hope/) - May/June 2020 issue: You may be receiving this letter shortly before Fancy Friday May 29 ... or you might be receiving it shortly after. Either way, greetings and peace be with you! With all the disruptions and challenges these days, a ‘fundraising event’ is way down the list of important. However, Fancy Friday – our
- [July/ August 2020- Show up and Stick with it!](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/07/23/july-august-2020-show-up-and-stick-with-it/) - Years ago an activist from a nonprofit in Portland came to visit. He’d heard about SLF and the effectiveness of our work in Salem-Keizer. He wanted me to share two things: 1) SLF’s political agenda, and 2) our ‘secret recipe’ for effectiveness. For nearly an hour we went around in circles. I kept telling him
- [November 2019- Jacks of All Trades](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/11/07/november-2019-jack-of-all-trades/) - We get to have a lot of fun here at SLF. Our chief program is to help the programs of other nonprofits, schools and ministries be successful. Even though each member of our SLF team personally serves (we call them “immersion experiences”), our work is not geared to serving individuals … but rather the entities
- [Dec. 2019- Fear Not!  Christmas According to Linus](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/12/09/dec-2019-fear-not-christmas-according-to-linus/) - Jennifer used to work in the Nordstrom corporate offices, and it was kinda cool to get perspectives on the storied Seattle retailer from ‘behind the curtain’. Among many creeds, lore and traditions was the case of the lady who returned (and got a refund for!) a set of tires … even though Nordstrom didn’t sell
- [January 2020-  68 Tons of Apples for Christmas!](https://www.salemlf.org/2020/01/09/january-2020-68-tons-of-apples-for-christmas/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Even though I’m the grey beard (literally) at SLF, I’m not the only one deploying our methodology of bridge-building. After 23 years it’s very gratifying to see how our Staff (and our Board!) practice hospitality, ministry entrepreneurship, problem-solving, collaboration, resource-generation and neighborhood servant-hood. We do it in big ways
- [October 2019- A City moving toward an Outward Mindset](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/10/09/october-2019-a-city-moving-toward-an-outward-mindset/) - Years ago, Matt Boda gave me a book. I had hit a few speed bumps with our growing team at SLF and—as a good friend, pastor and board member—Matt was often of sage counsel. He gave me a book called Leadership and Self-Deception. Not only did it help me during that time of personal growth,
- [Sept 2019-Church Invests in Neighborhood Revitalization](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/09/06/sept-2019-church-invests-in-neighborhood-revitalization/) - Perhaps you saw the article in the Statesman Journal a couple Sundays ago. It chronicled Salem Alliance Church’s role in the renaissance of the Grant-Highland district, although an unfortunate headline put a negative spin on a positive story. It is, nevertheless, a very positive story … When we bought our house on Cottage Street in
- [July 2019 - A Warm Tribute to Oregon's Mom](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/07/25/july-2019-a-warm-tribute-to-oregons-mom/) - “Sam, get over here quick.” Bill McClain’s voice was filled with urgency and excitement. “What’s up buddy?” I asked, using the nickname Bill, Denny Thompson, Paul Miller and I had immortalized on the Saxon basketball court in 1975. “I’ll explain, just get here.” In a flash, I drove from my Fairmount home to Alvarado Terrace
- [May 2019-Can Video Gaming be a Good Thing?](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/05/21/may-2019-can-video-gaming-be-a-good-thing/) - I had a 10-foot pole out. Computer gaming and ministry? I don’t think so … Jamie Harris was making an announcement at the monthly CaN (Churches as Neighborhood) Centers lunch. That month we were meeting at Evergreen Presbyterian, birthplace of The NW Hub bicycle (and human!) reclamation project. Jamie, the youth pastor at LakePoint Church
- [April 2019 - The Ripple Effect: Brothers of Valor](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/04/11/april-2019-brothers-of-valor/) - Sometimes it’s helpful to have fresh eyes and ears. Our new colleague, Alexis Hughes, came to us via New Jersey/Oklahoma/Indonesia … for 20 years she was a teacher and principal in Jakarta. She has deep wisdom, experience and discernment. She also has fresh eyes and ears when it comes to SLF, our unique way of
- [March 2019- The Best "No" Ever](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/03/19/march-2019/) - In 23 years, it’s one of the best affirmations a donor-partner has ever shared with me. “Sorry Sam, we aren’t going to be able to help support the YEM (year-end match) this year.” That’s not a typo. It was a flat “no.” I will confess there was a time when that kind of rejection would
- [Feb. 2019 - Hats Off to an Original Lightning Rod](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/02/21/feb-2019-hats-off-to-an-original-lightning-rod/) - Rocking babies at Family Building Blocks is a ministry? Sounds good to me, tell me more … It was 2004. Her story captured my attention. Partly because I was a founding board member of FBB, and partly because of what we do here at SLF. Carrie Maheu was explaining the joy of helping at-risk moms
- [January 2019-Isaac's Story](https://www.salemlf.org/2019/01/18/january-2019-isaacs-story/) - I remember the meeting in Clark Williams’ law office downtown. My friend and SLF board member Rex Robertson had invited me to meet with his dear friends Mark and Tiffany Bulgin. They were looking to strengthen the organizational structure and expand the board of directors for their fledgling nonprofit named “Isaac’s Room.” Hmm, interesting name
- [Advent-Christmas 2018- A new gift from an old friend!](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/11/27/advent-christmas-2018-a-new-gift-from-an-old-friend/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]I got a nice gift the other day. It’s that time of year. It was in the form of an email sent from the Corvallis School District. Hmm … do I know anyone who teaches in Corvallis? “It’s me, Avi Hernandez!” My mind raced back to 2000 or 2001.
- [October 2018 - Table Sitting, Setting, Serving](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/10/06/table-sitting-setting-serving-october-fnl/) - I’ve been in a lot of meetings lately. But it’s a good thing. Meetings mean tables … and we love tables. As part of our fellowship with Street Psalms (www.streetpsalms.org) in Tacoma, we are digging into the concept of Table Sitting, Setting and Serving. It’s a philosophy of ministry that is rooted in the Biblical
- [September 2018 - Back to School 2018](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/09/09/september-2018-back-to-school-2018/) - After joining SLF in 1996, one of the first meetings I attended was with the superintendent of Salem-Keizer’s schools. Homer Kearns was meeting quarterly with pastors and ministry leaders to build relationships and avert discord. This was heady stuff back then … the CEO of Oregon’s second-largest school district meeting with clergy on a regular
- [November 2018 - Kinda Coming Full Circle](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/11/06/november-2018-kinda-coming-full-circle/) - It was a bleak day in a bleak neighborhood 15 years ago. Tim France and I were standing in Salem Alliance’s south parking lot, surveying the Broadway strip. Boarded-up buildings. Used car lots. One of those payday-loan storefronts. Tons of litter and graffiti. Tim and I were dreaming. Big. We’d met during the monthly meetings
- [July 2018 - The Core](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/07/20/july-2018-the-core/) - This is the core of who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
- [May 2018 - A Neighborhood Renaissance](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/05/16/may-2018-neighborhood/) - When Jennifer and I were looking for a home to buy 20 years ago, we’d narrowed our search to three neighborhoods. None of them were in the Realtors Top 10. Capital Park, aka “felony flats.” Grant/Highland, aka “the ghetto.” And the Edgewater area of West Salem, aka “the flats.” (Editor’s Note: All three nicknames are
- [March 2018 - Support Raul](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/03/04/march-2018-support-raul/) - When our colleague Kaleb Herring recommended him for an SLF internship, we took pause. Of course, nothing with SLF is an automatic ‘no’ (we are a CaN-do team!) … but a high-school kid serving alongside three college-age interns all summer? “Raul can handle it,” our McKay Lightning Rod declared. “I’ve worked with him through the
- [February 2018 - “Re-Entry” from Jail and Addiction is Possible!](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/02/10/feb-2018-re-entry-is-possible/) - There was more than the usual glow about Cheryl’s face. “We’re buying a home, we close next week!” Not an uncommon statement. But in this case, it also spoke to God’s wondrous workings. I met Cheryl* years ago at an Oxford House in my neighborhood. She was working hard to get her life back together after a long
- [Obed & Charlotte Dickinson and the African American Community](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/07/17/dickinson/) - Before Oregon had even attained statehood, what would become our home state had already passed various acts and laws forbidding African Americans from either living in the Oregon Country or moving into it. One even authorized the county constable to give non compliant black residents up to thirty nine lashes. The new state of Oregon
- [January 2018 - How a Wintertime Golf Event was Born...](https://www.salemlf.org/2018/01/17/january-2018-golf-event/) - At SLF, we are profoundly blessed that part of our mission is to actively promote and support other ministries and nonprofits. We attend their events and invite folks along. We help them strategize their fundraising and write grants. We sit on their boards and committees. We help them solve problems and resolve conflicts. We connect
- [December 2017: Advent](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/12/13/december-2017-advent/) - It’s been several months now. I thought after Mom’s passing (December 2008) that I’d be used to it. But autumn was always Dad’s season: Oregon and OSU football games on the TV with Jennifer’s parmesan-and-yeast popcorn … real fires in our fireplace with wood from the St. Paul’s Woodcutters Guild … gleeful family gatherings with
- [November 2017: The Great Season of Benevolence](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/11/09/november-2017-great-season-benevolence/) - Here it comes again. The Great Season of Benevolence. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, good-hearted people come out of the woodwork to serve meals, donate clothing and wrap Christmas presents for “needy families.” (Urk, I hate that word ‘needy’ …) Such kindness is treasured by folks experiencing hardships. But ‘stuff’ during ‘the holidays’ is not an
- [October 2017: A Badge of Belief](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/10/03/october-2017-field/) - “But Sam, it’s just a football field.” I heard it when SLF helped raise funds for the North Salem turf field several years ago. I heard it again when we stepped up to help McKay High School do the same this year. I’m not hostile to the question. Pouring more than a million dollars into
- [September 2017: Back-to-School](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/09/19/september-2017-back-school/) - Charlottesville, just like Ferguson before it, is sparking emotions. Protests. Blog posts. Outcry. What if Charlottesville sparked action? I’m not talking about political action. There’s plenty of that already. I’m talking about positive action. Ongoing action. Relational action. I’m talking about reading with a kid. Foster care. Mentoring a student. Coaching a soccer team. Visiting
- [June 2017: Fancy Friday Edition](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/06/02/fancy-friday-edition/) - ‘The Gathering’ on May 4th was a beautiful experience of unity and fellowship for all of Salem-Keizer. Among the laity and the clergy of our community, alike.
- [July 2017: What We Do](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/07/17/what-we-do/) - ...our role is to build bridges; to connect people and organizations; to catalyze change. Our first focus is the church community, an asset that was dormant and disjointed for many years. We are also deeply called to all sectors of the community: schools, non-profits, agencies, law enforcement, government, business and neighborhoods. People-of-faith … and People-of-goodwill.
- [January 2017: Building Bridges](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/01/16/building-bridges/) - It was a beautiful day in Shalom, Oregon, on January 16. It wasn’t just the clear, sunny day that made it beautiful. It was the way hundreds of people joyfully (not angrily) gathered to celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King in a city and a state where, for many decades, it would have been against the
- [March 2017: The Root Cause](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/03/03/the-root-cause/) - People helping people. It can be a sacrifice. It can take us away from our leisure and our personal pleasure. But it’s one of the best investments of time and relationship we could ever make.
- [April 2017: Remembering Doug Evans Coe](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/04/03/remembering-doug-evans-coe/) - “How many churches are there in Salem now?” he asked. It was 2001. We were sitting in my car after taking a ‘fancy field trip’ around the north-Salem neighborhoods where he grew up. “Well,” I responded with some pride, “we just did a survey and there are nearly 200 churches in Salem-Keizer.” “My, things have
- [May 2017: A Beautiful Experience of Unity and Fellowship](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/05/04/a-beautiful-experience-of-unity-and-fellowship/) - ‘The Gathering’ on May 4th was a beautiful experience of unity and fellowship for all of Salem-Keizer. Among the laity and the clergy of our community, alike.
- [February 2017: More Than a Ride Home](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/05/10/more-than-a-ride-home/) - You never know how valuable a ride home can be. Jennifer and I always made ourselves available to the Viking Band members if they needed a ride home. After practice. After a football or basketball game. After a weekend band competition. After one of the many fundraising events. For seven years it was just one
- [Mark O. Hatfield](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/07/17/hatfield/) - It was the 1965 Governor’s Conference. The highest executives of all fifty US states were gathered in Los Angeles for this important annual convening. This year an important topic was on the table: the Vietnam War. With the US nearing the peak of its involvement in Vietnam, the conference attendees were to vote on a
- [Japanese Community Church and the Japanese Community in Salem](https://www.salemlf.org/2017/07/17/japanese-community/) - Salem’s Japanese community emerged around 1920 when Roy Kinzaburo Fukuda emigrated to the Salem area. Fukuda (pictured right) had lived near Brooks since the early 1900’s, and around 1920 had come to farm the fertile black soil of the Lake Labish area north of Salem. He had come on the invitation of Madison Lafayette (known
- [Three Epiphanies](https://www.salemlf.org/2001/01/01/three-epiphanies/) - Not just the high-needs inner-city neighborhoods, but all neighborhoods across Salem-Keizer. Every neighborhood has assets; every neighborhood has needs. The trick is to organize, energize and deploy the ‘indigenous assets’ so that the ‘indigenous needs’ are met. At this point, SLF stopped deploying the ‘suburban-assets/inner-city-need’” methodology. We now ask everyone, every church, every business, every agency: “What’s Your Neighborhood?”
- [The Breaking of the Bread](https://www.salemlf.org/2016/10/13/the-breaking-of-the-bread/) - Was it just tradition and preference that caused me to yearn? Or something deeper.
- [The Art of Neighboring](https://www.salemlf.org/2016/08/13/the-art-of-neighboring/) - The premise is simple. Get to know the people and families on your block.

## Pages

- [Salem Leadership Foundation | Building a Stronger, United Salem](https://www.salemlf.org/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bridge-peter-courtney-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” background_last_edited=”on|phone” parallax_phone=”off” background_size_phone=”cover” background_position_phone=”bottom_right” background_horizontal_offset_phone=”19%” z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}” background__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”186px|||||” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.7″
- [Neighborhood Partnership Teams](https://www.salemlf.org/neighborhood-partnership-teams/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Neighborhood Partnership Teams” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pie-project.png” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Upcoming Listening Sessions[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”176px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/East-NPT-Logo.jpg” alt=”CaPES
- [Media](https://www.salemlf.org/our-story/media/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Media” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bridgessmall.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f7f7f7″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-97bc1054-8660-4eb4-9e7f-73111e80becc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Follow us on Facebook:[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_code][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Recent Podcast features:[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Church @ the Park Podcast ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″
- [Churches as Neighborhood Centers](https://www.salemlf.org/churches-as-neighborhood-centers/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Churches as Neighborhood (CaN) Centers” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/can-meeting2026-cropped.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/CaN-Centers-Network-Logo-Full-Vertical.png” title_text=”CaN Centers Network Logo – Full Vertical” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” width__hover=”100%”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column
- [Staff](https://www.salemlf.org/staff/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Staff” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/group1-scaled.jpg” background_position=”top_center” custom_padding=”||467px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||467px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_size_phone=”contain” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]SLF Staff[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”50%” width_tablet=”90%” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-97bc1054-8660-4eb4-9e7f-73111e80becc%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Kyle
- [Our Story](https://www.salemlf.org/our-story/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Our Story” image_orientation=”bottom” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/iStock-1321175312.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|89px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”40px|0px|27px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]Our story begins in Salem, Oregon. It’s 1993, and a newspaper headline reads, “Salem
- [Community Calendar](https://www.salemlf.org/calendar/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Non-Profits Events Calendar” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/17492451_744743415692906_5660483248217512993_o.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”33px” custom_margin=”||-117px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”958px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_position=”top_left” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Discover what’s happening across Salem-Keizer!
- [Development Cohort](https://www.salemlf.org/development-cohort/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Non-Profit Development Cohort” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/dev-cohort-scaled.jpeg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Program Description[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]The Development Cohort is designed to build capacity and deepen connections amongst local fundraising professionals. The two goals for the
- [Contact Us](https://www.salemlf.org/contact-us/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Contact us” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/contact-header.png” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|62px|0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SLF-Logo-Color.png” title_text=”SLF Logo – Color” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ header_font_size=”31px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”16px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]GET IN TOUCH
- [Board of Directors](https://www.salemlf.org/board/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Board of Directors” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Minto-Brown-1.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” vertical_offset=”3px” horizontal_offset=”0px” width=”60%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”91.2%” module_alignment=”center” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”60%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Steve Elzinga” position=”President” image_url=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Steve-Elzinga-for-web.jpg” admin_label=”Steve Elzinga” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_team_member][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_team_member name=”Pamela
- [Community Celebration](https://www.salemlf.org/celebrate/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#f2d1a7 0%|#f1eae0 43%|#ffffff 100%” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Community-Celebration8_8084-scaled.jpeg” parallax=”on” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding_tablet=”142px||307px|||” custom_padding_phone=”142px||307px|||” transparent_background=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Community-Celebration-Title.png” title_text=”Community Celebration Title” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.68)” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text
- [Employment](https://www.salemlf.org/employment/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Employment Opportunities” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/riverfront.jpeg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”89px|0px|27px|0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” disabled=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|on”]While we don’t have any open positions at this time, we’d still love to hear from you. If you’re
- [Salem Peace Walks Calendar](https://www.salemlf.org/events/peacewalks/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_fullwidth_header _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title=”Peace Walks” title_text=”salem-riverfront” sticky_enabled=”0″ background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/salem-riverfront-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”-20px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” disabled=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/pwimg.png” title_text=”pwimg” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” src__hover_enabled=”off|hover”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}”
- [Charity To Change](https://www.salemlf.org/churches-as-neighborhood-centers/charity-to-change/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_fullwidth_header _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title=”Charity to Change” sticky_enabled=”0″ background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/charity-change-1.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”||300px||false|false” title_text=”charity-change” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Program Description[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In partnership with the Lilly Endowment, Leadership Foundations (LF) has developed Charity to Change, an innovative training
- [RainFest](https://www.salemlf.org/events/rainfest/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”RainFest 2026″ subhead=”February 27 | Salem Golf Club” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.62)” logo_image_url=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/rainfest-logo-300×300.png” image_orientation=”bottom” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ title_font=”|800|on||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”3.5vw” content_font=”|800|||||||” subhead_font=”|800|on||||||” subhead_text_align=”center” subhead_font_size=”1.8vw” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SLFRainFest2026-44.jpg” parallax=”on” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”821px” min_height_tablet=”821px” min_height_phone=”614px” min_height_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ title_font_size_tablet=”3.13vw” title_font_size_phone=”7vw” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” subhead_font_size_tablet=”1.8vw” subhead_font_size_phone=”4.6vw” subhead_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ title_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.7)” subhead_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ subhead_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” text_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”SLFRainFest2026-44″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on”
- [Donate (GiveCloud)](https://www.salemlf.org/donate/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https://www.salemlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/donate-header.png” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”376px|0px|106px|0px” z_index_tablet=”500″ custom_css_main_element=”margin-top: -90px;||padding-top: 300px;||padding-bottom: 75px;” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”88px|0px|23.4943px|0px” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”Open Sans Light|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”42px” header_letter_spacing=”4px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” header_font_size_tablet=””

## Projects

- [Homeless find family for Christmas with Room in the Inn](https://www.salemlf.org/project/homeless-find-family-for-christmas-with-room-in-the-inn/) - Kaellen Hessel , Statesman Journal Published 2:59 p.m. PT Dec. 24, 2014 | Updated 4:47 p.m. PT Dec. 24, 2014 Two years ago, Sherry Martinez was living in her car and celebrating Christmas by herself after becoming estranged from her four kids. "When you're alone at Christmas, that's probably the worst time of year when
- [Community connect brings people and resources together](https://www.salemlf.org/project/community-connect-brings-people-and-resources-together/) - Anna Reed, Statesman Journal 3:45 p.m. PT March 22, 2016 Medical checkups, dental cleanings, haircuts, bicycle repairs, hot meals and other services were all offered for free on Tuesday in Salem. Hundreds of homeless and nearly homeless people filled the Salem First Baptist Church on Tuesday for the ninth annual Salem-Keizer Homeless Community Connect event. The
- [Salem tackles issues facing local refugees](https://www.salemlf.org/project/salem-tackles-issues-facing-local-refugees/) - The meetings, organized by the Salem Leadership Foundation, Salem Alliance Church and Catholic Charities, focus on six key topics — education, English language services, housing, employment, health care and cultural navigation services.
- [To know and love your neighbor solves many problems](https://www.salemlf.org/project/to-know-and-love-your-neighbor-solves-many-problems/) - Hank Arends, Special to the Statesman Journal 9:03 p.m. PT May 18, 2017 It sounds so easy, so simple up against the myriad unresolved problems in 2017. The solution was offered recently by Sam Skillern, executive director of the Salem Leadership Foundation, which links congregations and members to community needs. He has attended many meetings
- [Salem Police officers deliver toys for 30th annual toy drive](https://www.salemlf.org/project/salem-police-officers-deliver-toys-for-30th-annual-toy-drive/) - CaPES organized teams of volunteers to wrap the toys, with schools, churches, and other nonprofits sending crews to lend a hand. By the time they were done, 1,905 wrapped gifts were ready to be delivered.

## Categories

- [Blog](https://www.salemlf.org/category/blog/)
- [Fancy Newsletter](https://www.salemlf.org/category/fancy-newsletter/)
- [Salem Faith History](https://www.salemlf.org/category/salem-faith-history/)

## Tags

- [neighbor](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/neighbor/)
- [slf](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/slf/)
- [history](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/history/)
- [faith history](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/faith-history/)
- [japanese internment](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/japanese-internment/)
- [labish](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/labish/)
- [government](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/government/)
- [hatfield](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/hatfield/)
- [relationships](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/relationships/)
- [mentoring](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/mentoring/)
- [McKay](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/mckay/)
- [Football](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/football/)
- [Booster](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/booster/)
- [Athletics](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/athletics/)
- [Giving](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/giving/)
- [Holidays](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/holidays/)
- [Christmas](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/christmas/)
- [Homelessness](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/homelessness/)
- [RainFest](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/rainfest/)
- [Support](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/support/)
- [Re-entry](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/re-entry/)
- [addiction](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/addiction/)
- [jail](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/jail/)
- [neighborhood](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/neighborhood/)
- [west](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/west/)
- [grant](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/grant/)
- [mission](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/mission/)
- [vision](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/vision/)
- [shalom](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/shalom/)
- [move](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/move/)
- [broadway](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/broadway/)
- [tables](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/tables/)
- [October](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/october/)
- [Schools](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/schools/)
- [Imani](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/imani/)
- [Summer Challenge](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/summer-challenge/)
- [Isaac's](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/isaacs/)
- [RainFest 2019](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/rainfest-2019/)
- [YEM](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/yem/)
- [Carrie](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/carrie/)
- [Fancy Friday](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/fancy-friday/)
- [CaN Center](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/can-center/)
- [gaming](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/gaming/)
- [city](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/city/)
- [Salem For Refugees](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/salem-for-refugees/)
- [apples](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/apples/)
- [African-American](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/african-american/)
- [suffering](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/suffering/)
- [signs of hope](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/signs-of-hope/)
- [reconciliation](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/reconciliation/)
- [thanks](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/thanks/)
- [in memory](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/in-memory/)
- [Selma](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/selma/)
- [Hope](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/hope/)
- [Anniversary](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/anniversary/)
- [Wisdom](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/wisdom/)
- [churches](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/churches/)
- [YMCA](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/ymca/)
- [interns](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/interns/)
- [Lightning rod](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/lightning-rod/)
- [Friendship](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/friendship/)
- [Thanksgiving](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/thanksgiving/)
- [Church at the Park](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/church-at-the-park/)
- [NW Hub](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/nw-hub/)
- [music](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/music/)
- [Decency](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/decency/)
- [Gardens](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/gardens/)
- [succession](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/succession/)
- [executive director](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/executive-director/)
- [Words](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/words/)
- [Business Manager](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/business-manager/)
- [award](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/award/)
- [First Citizen](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/first-citizen/)
- [community](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/community/)
- [fear](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/fear/)
- [news](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/news/)
- [truth](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/truth/)
- [election](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/election/)
- [politics](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/politics/)
- [media](https://www.salemlf.org/tag/media/)

## Project Categories

- [Refugees](https://www.salemlf.org/project_category/refugees/)
- [Homelessness](https://www.salemlf.org/project_category/homelessness/)
- [After School Youth](https://www.salemlf.org/project_category/youth/)
- [Neighbors](https://www.salemlf.org/project_category/neighbors/)

## Project Tags

- [refugees](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/refugees/)
- [neighbors](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/neighbors/)
- [homelessness](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/homelessness/)
- [capes](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/capes/)
- [toy drive](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/toy-drive/)
- [police](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/police/)
- [christmas](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/christmas/)
- [room in the inn](https://www.salemlf.org/project_tag/room-in-the-inn/)