Wait...what do you actually do?

After working with Room One now for almost four years, I’ve learned that describing who we are and what we do is rarely a one-size-fits-all conversation. Over time, I’ve developed a whole collection of Room One elevator pitches—one for the lifelong local, one for the weekender, one for the new transplant, one for the curious friend in Seattle, etc. It’s always been a bit of an interpretive dance trying to explain an organization that is, at its core, built to respond—to evolving needs, to unexpected crises, to a changing rural landscape.

And still, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been introduced as someone from Room One, only to hear, “Wait—what do you actually do?”

The truth is, Room One has always been nimble, deeply rooted in our relationships, and responsive to the realities of rural life. When wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes, we mobilized to get emergency assistance to families. When the pandemic hit, we stayed open and connected isolated neighbors with vital support. As our valley has experienced unprecedented growth and economic disparity, our advocates have done everything they can to help folks find housing and other vital resources.

We’ve had no shortage of opportunity to respond. But the time came to ask: How do we carry this responsiveness into the future—sustainably, strategically, and with clarity of purpose?

Over the past year, our board and staff came together to sharpen the “what,” “how,” and “why” of our work. Together, we’ve refreshed Room One’s mission and vision—grounded in who we’ve always been and focused on the future.

Mission: At Room One, we recognize and use the power of community to create connection and work toward positive change.

Vision: We envision a rural community where everyone has hope for the future and the opportunity to play, work, and live freely.

While this isn’t a big shift in what we do day to day, these statements offer a clear foundation for how we grow, adapt, and make decisions—especially as community needs become more complex and interconnected. They also support our commitment to sustainability—for our organization, our staff, and the people we serve.

We’ve also compiled a snapshot of our work from the past year—check out our Impact Reports here. It captures our final chapter under our previous mission and the groundwork we’ve laid for this next one.

-Kat Goering
Executive Director