Depave

Mission

Depave empowers disenfranchised communities to overcome social and environmental injustices and adapt to climate change through urban re-greening. Depave transforms over-paved places, creates resilient community greenspaces, promotes workforce development and education, and advocates for policy change to undo manifestations of systemic racism.

Bottom Line for Portland

Depave envisions an empowered society living within sustainable cities, built on a foundation of justice, equity, diversity, practicing inclusion and actively undoing systemic discrimination and social and environmental injustice of every kind. Depave imagines a sustainable city as a place where people and wildlife coexist and prosper amidst clean air, clean water, robust urban forests, thriving local agriculture, and healthy communities.

Depave creates community greenspaces and empowers historically disenfranchised communities that lack access to nature and are most impacted by the urban heat island effect. We have transformed over 282,199 square feet of lifeless pavement at almost 80 project sites including schools, churches, community centers, affordable housing developments, and commercial sites into vibrant community spaces with cooling shade, native plants, kids’ play areas, and rain gardens.

Quote

“We want to inspire people here and everywhere about not just their ability to remove asphalt, but their ability to make important, tangible change in their communities themselves.” -Kasandra Griffin, Depave Co-founder

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Depave actively prioritizes projects that benefit people of color and low-income communities. These historically disenfranchised communities are disproportionately impacted by the adverse social and environmental effects of pavement. Depave uses a collaborative and culturally-sensitive approach, believing that cultivating diversity contributes to the strength and resilience of communities.

Incentives

Everyone who donates to the Depave campaign will be entered in to win a ski rental package from Evo Portland!

Partner(s)

Thank you to Evo for your partnership with Depave and for connecting our Give!Guide supporters with rad outdoor gear!