Salem Leadership Foundation

08/24/2026

08/23/2026

You’re Invited! 🎉

Please join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our neighborhood associations Grant Neighborhood Association and Highland Neighbors!

For five decades, neighbors have come together to build friendships, strengthen our community, and make our neighborhood a wonderful place to call home. Let’s gather to celebrate this milestone and the people who have made it possible.

Date: September 19
Time: 1-4 pm
Location: 1300 Broadway St NE

Come enjoy good food, great company, and a look back at five decades of neighborhood memories.

We hope to see you there as we celebrate 50 years of community, friendship, and neighborhood pride! Visit www.cityofsalem.net/neighbor to learn about your Neighborhood Association.

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

Listening Session on Thursday, August 20, 11AM - 1PM Goodwill Industries, at 3535 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305.

08/21/2026

STAFF SPOTLIGHT & welcome back, Monica!

We are excited to welcome back Monica Fiedler to Salem Leadership Foundation as the new Associate Director of Networks, as of mid-July 2026.

Monica brings a variety of experience in Salem, including a background in teaching for SKPS, church ministry and A/V experience, chaplaincy with Church @ the Park, and even working at SLF a decade ago. Her background in education, spiritual formation and spiritual direction equips her uniquely to companion people and also support on the technology / relational side in serving our three networks (churches, neighborhoods, and non-profits). When she’s not at work, Monica loves local walks, cooking (meats on the smoker!), going on local adventures with her husband, Aaron (SKPS teacher) and sons (pictured). Soon they'll head back to college (GFU / OSU) so she'll have lots of time to chill with their best dog Commodore.

Q & A with Monica...

🚗 1. Long road-trip listen?
"If we're local or even at home, 89.1 KMHD Jazz radio is usually what's playing. But I love podcasts... I'll listen to anything Enneagram / Spiritual Formation. My Spotify playlists include a lot of Porter's Gate and Paul Zach. I also love some good 90s/2000s alternative, Bob Marley, or whatever whoever's on aux decides."

🌳 2. An under-rated Salem thing?
"I'm such a huge fan of our historic cemeteries. Anyone who knows me is probably so tired of hearing about my cemetery walks. But seriously, there's just something about a good graveyard stroll!"

🥧 3. What was your first paying job and what do you remember most?
"At 15, I was a dishwasher at Hawk Creek Cafe in Neskowin. It was usually busy and the shift went by quickly. Of course my favorite part was the free meal on my break. Eventually I was promoted to make pizzas. Their wood burning pizza oven is legendary. And the 4th of July dinner shift was crazy busy. I loved it."

💬 4. Favorite question to ask a community partner or friend?
"It's not a question, but usually a 'tell me more about...' or a reflecting back what they said that shimmered for me. I love sitting w/ people and hearing their stories."

Drop a comment below to welcome Monica back to the SLF team! 👇✨

08/04/2026

Shout out to our intern, Naomi, who is wrapping up her last week with us for the summer... She brought so much light and joy and a willingness to jump right in. Here's more thanks from our CaN Centers Directors, past & present:

"Naomi brings joy and enthusiasm to the SLF team. She is always willing to pitch in and help with a wide variety of tasks. Naomi did an outstanding job lining up artists for SLF's 'Somos Uno | We Are One' in July, and gave such great servant-leadership to that event. My favorite thing about working with Naomi is when she sings--especially jazz riffs! Yup, she's super talented as a musician and performing artist, and she has all our love and support as she pursues her musical passions at University of North Texas. Go, Naomi!" Valerie Geer, CaN Centers Director

"Naomi is the kind of high-character person that hire knowing that even if she doesn't know how to do something immediately, she has the tenacity, resilience, and wisdom to quickly learn and then excel in whatever she pursues. She has a blend of musical charisma with high interpersonal skills mixed with a wonderful curiosity that empowers her to quickly read the room and empower those around her. She has been a gift to SLF and to Western Christian School, and she will be a blessing to any organization that hires her." Dwayne Hilty, WCS Director of Development

07/27/2026

STAFF SPOTLIGHT & a big welcome to the team, Valerie!

We are excited to announce Dr. Valerie Geer as the Salem Leadership Foundation’s new Director of CaN Centers, as of June 2026.

Valerie brings over 25 years of experience in ministry, higher education, intercultural training, chaplaincy, and community advocacy. Her background in supporting individuals and families, combined with her doctorate in Intercultural Studies, equips her uniquely to lead and serve our local church and neighborhood networks. When she’s not serving the community, Valerie loves going on adventures with her husband, Nathan (pictured), and spending time with their four sons.

Q & A with Valerie...

🚗 1. Long road-trip listen?
"I'm not really a podcast or audiobook person, but there are three albums I never get tired of listening to all the way through: Lovers Game by The War & Treaty, Greatest Hits by The Beach Boys, and Wide Open Spaces by The Chicks."

🌳 2. An under-rated Salem thing?
"Fairmount City Park in South Salem!"

🥧 3. What was your first paying job and what do you remember most?
"Besides babysitting, my first job was as a beverage & dessert server in the dining room of an assisted living facility in my hometown of Sequim, WA. I absolutely loved getting to know the residents. They taught me many important life lessons—not the least of which was that a slice of cheddar cheese goes great with apple pie!"

💬 4. Favorite question to ask a community partner or friend?
"'What's your story?'"

Drop a comment below to welcome Valerie to the SLF team! 👇✨

07/24/2026

¡Somos Uno! ...what happens when Latino church leaders, neighborhood organizers, nonprofits, artists, and community members come together? Pure magic! ❤️

And July 22nd, our Somos Uno gathering, was a beautiful reminder that somos uno... we are one. While our focus celebrated Latino leadership, the room reflected something even bigger: people from many cultures showing up, learning from one another, and strengthening our community... together.

This is what we do. We get to set tables for churches, neighborhoods, and nonprofits to come together, because Shalom happens in and through our relationships.

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their gifts and leadership:
✨ Pastor Elizabeth Segura de Centro Cristiano Agape
🎶 Gemanereida Music
💬 Conversations with Pastor Boris Alfaro, Levi Herrera-Lopez, & Kyle Dickinson
💃 Dancing with Casa de la Cultura Tlanese
🌮 Tacos with KALI street TACOS
🎵 Rondalla Sentimiento Latino Salem Oregon (Amador Aguilar)
🏡 Our host Levi Herrera-Lopez gave a tour of the new building for Mano A Mano Family Center, formerly Holy Cross Lutheran Church. What a beautiful partnership.

Gracias to every attendee, volunteer, performer, speaker, and partner who made this gathering so meaningful. Special shout out to our intern Naomi Warren and CaN Centers Director Valerie Geer for their work coordinating the program!

06/18/2026

SLF launched its inaugural Development Cohort in the fall of 2025. This video tells the story of 35 nonprofit fundraisers learning, growing and pursuing the shalom of our community together.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/11/2026

SLF partners with Salem Evangelical Church to provide an afterschool program for students at Highland Elementary School. This video tells the story.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.