How long has We R Community been in operation? Where did the idea come from?
The concept was pioneered by the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado. In 1997, The PGE Foundation in Portland, Oregon, began “Community 101” based on the El Pomar program. Since its inception, more than 5,000 students have been involved at an average of 25 schools per year. It is now a model program with more than $1 million distributed to Oregon nonprofit organizations. The Public Education Foundation adopted the program during the 2008-09 school year, naming it “We R Community,” with the belief that public education should provide students with the opportunity to engage in service-learning.
