As I reflect on the values that guide our work at Philanthropy Northwest, place and joy stand out as central to everything we do. These values are rooted in my own family’s history in the Northwest, from my Japanese grandfather’s immigration to Alaska over a century ago to my great-grandmother’s labor in the strawberry fields on Vashon Island in Washington State.  

Both my grandfather who from Alaska went to work in the timber mills of Snoqualmie, Washington and my great-grandmother worked on land they were legally barred from ever owning. This is an experience shared by many communities whose labor generated wealth for others while being denied the opportunity to accumulate and pass down wealth themselves. World War II further compounded this injustice when my family, along with many other Japanese Americans, were forcibly removed and incarcerated at Minidoka, a desolate camp located in southeastern Idaho. 

These early experiences in my family’s life left an indelible imprint of the importance of making sure all people have equitable access to opportunities and justice. As someone who has had the privilege of working in philanthropy, I feel a deep responsibility to ensure that the sector’s resources are distributed equitably, especially to those communities that have historically been overlooked and underinvested. 

Grounding Us in Place: PNW24 in Missoula 

At Philanthropy Northwest, we honor the land we call home and the diverse communities that make up our region. In just a few weeks, we’ll come together in Missoula, Montana, for PNW24—our first fully in-person conference since 2019. Missoula’s rich cultural history and stunning landscape make it the perfect setting for this gathering. After listening to our members and partners, it became clear that people wanted to connect more deeply with the places where we meet. At PNW24, we’ll not only learn and share but also immerse ourselves in the diversity of the Northwest, honoring the stories that shape this part of our region.  

At PNW24, our learning tours will provide a unique opportunity to experience place firsthand, from the Rattlesnake Dam Removal Project’s habitat restoration efforts to the innovative affordable housing solutions in Missoula. We’ll also visit the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Bison Range, where we’ll explore the profound connection between land stewardship and cultural heritage. These tours will deepen our understanding of the region’s community-driven partnerships and projects. 

In today’s often polarizing climate, creating spaces to understand and celebrate different perspectives feels urgent and necessary. While we uplift our value of place, we recognize it is about more than location but also about understanding the unique contexts of the people who live there. 

Celebrating Joy: Coming Together in Community 

For me, joy comes from bringing people together and that’s exactly what PNW24 is all about. After years of remote work, I can’t wait to see so many of you in person, to share ideas and to celebrate the incredible work happening across our network. There’s something special about the energy we create when we gather with a shared purpose. 

Our Philanthropy Northwest team is now spread across the region - from Juneau to Boise to Spokane and Portland - so when we can come together, the energy is palpable! We share ideas, tackle challenges and laugh together, and through these interactions we build stronger relationships that make our work more impactful. Laughter and joy are such powerful antidotes to adversity. During some of the most difficult times in my life, finding community and building authentic relationship with others has also brought the profound gifts of joy. 

At PNW24 I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, meeting new colleagues and learning from the thought leaders who continue to inspire our sector. In work that sometimes feels heavy, joy reminds us of the progress we’ve made and the potential we have to create real, lasting change. 

Redistributing Resources: Thriving Communities Program 

Our commitment to place extends beyond the conference. One of the most meaningful ways we’re living out these values is through our role as the EPA Region 10 Grantmaker for the agency’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities program. This $40 million grant will direct resources to historically underinvested communities, in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to support community-defined environmental justice work.  

This work is deeply tied to place and understanding the unique needs of communities across our region and making sure resources are distributed equitably. This is a unique opportunity to live out our values in a tangible way in support of our vision for equity and racial justice for all communities.  

Honoring Place and Joy Together 

A beautiful and inspirational example of the intersection of place and joy is the cooperation between the Yakama Nation and a Japanese farming family in Wapato, Washington. In the early 1900s, when Japanese immigrants were barred from owning land, a Yakama tribal member allowed a Japanese family to farm his land. After World War II, another Yakama tribal member did the same, helping the same family to rebuild their lives following the Japanese American incarceration. Now, three generations later, that farm is being sold back to the Yakama Nation. This story of mutual support and shared abundance between two communities, both denied so much, is a powerful reminder of how place shapes us, and how we can reshape it in return. 

As we approach PNW24 and the important work of distributing the EPA Thriving Communities grant, I look forward to seeing you in Missoula to celebrate the power of place and joy in shaping our work. It is a privilege and joy to do this work and importantly, to support the work of our partners who bring the best of head and heart to some of our region’s most pressing challenges. I’m excited to learn from all of you, share in the joy of community and deepen our collective impact as we work toward a more equitable and just future.