Thank you, Nick Sauvie.
Nick Sauvie imprinted ROSE (Revitalizing Outer Southeast) with his distinctive perspective as a place-based community organizer, when he founded the grassroots group in 1992.
Nick recruited volunteers to improve the well-being of residents living in high-poverty neighborhoods straddling Southeast 82nd Avenue at a time when Portland’s neighborhood revitalization efforts focused mainly on the inner east side and downtown. He elevated the voices of East Portland residents, empowering them to use their strengths and advocate for their needs, in an era when community development often equated to powerful groups imposing their visions of betterment on disenfranchised communities. Nick’s “asset-based” philosophy of community development, which drew on learnings from racial justice and other social movements, stood out from the norm in the early 1990s, though it sounds commonsensical today.
Nick retired from his 34-year post as ROSE’s executive director last month, prompting us to reflect on his long partnership with HDC and his legacy.
ROSE formed one year ahead of HDC, and the two organizations quickly established a strong relationship. Nick worked with HDC founding executive director Will White on the board of the Portland advocacy association Community Development Network, and HDC staff assisted ROSE with the development of the Country Squire Apartments, Lents Town Center, and other affordable housing properties in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The relationship persisted into the past decade, as ROSE partnered with HDC to develop the Orchards of 82nd and Berry Ranch Apartments projects and worked with our staff on asset management and portfolio preservation.
During his tenure at ROSE, Nick did more than listen to the voices of community members; he put in the work to build alliances and organize for concrete, lasting changes that improved the lives of residents in East Portland and beyond.
He formed partnerships with grassroots organizations such as APANO and OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon to advance joint priorities such as securing transit passes for youth. He hired a staff person to start what is now the Lents Youth Initiative, after a representative from OPAL approached him with an idea for an internship program focused on connecting teens to opportunities working in sustainability and environmental justice. Believing that a child’s zip code shouldn’t determine their destiny, Nick gathered the resources and partners to launch the Baby Booster program, supporting new mothers to improve health outcomes and strengthen community connections. He volunteered his time with the East Portland Action Plan housing subcommittee, Housing Oregon, and the Welcome Home Coalition, where he remains chair of the board.
Folks who spoke to us for this story emphasized that Nick has a gift for seeing and caring about the worth and potential of every individual, whether a newborn infant or a young staff person seeking to grow into a new role. As an organizational leader, he showed what it looks like to share power and trust the wisdom and capabilities of others. He constantly sought creative ways to improve people’s lives with limited resources—from incorporating a resident-run childcare facility into an affordable housing property to rallying neighbors to paint a senior resident’s house. Above all, Nick demonstrated and continues to demonstrate deep, genuine care for East Portland residents, fiercely advocating for equitable public investment in East Portland.
We can’t let the opportunity pass to recognize and thank Nick—for his exemplary contributions to the communities served by ROSE, for his long-time partnership with HDC, and for his diligent leadership in the affordable housing community. We wish you the best in your next chapter, Nick, and look forward to staying in touch with you!
Thank you to Liz Winchester, Ana Meza, Vivian Satterfield, and Will White for contributing information and insights to this story.