Dear Friend of Forterra,

February is Black History Month. It’s also the month of Love.

As Chief Operating Officer at Forterra, what inspires me as a leader is supporting our teams to feel loved, seen, heard, understood, valued, and hopeful. In the words of President Barack Obama, “The audacity of hope is about whether or not you are able to inspire people to believe in something bigger than themselves.” At Forterra, we are known for believing in bigger things and going for them because we are willing to take risks.

Recently, many great folks have lost their federal jobs at national parks and the forest service in Washington state. It’s heavy on my mind. What is ours to do in this challenge? I’d love to manifest a revenue windfall to hire them.

We are also thinking about how we can manage and organize partnerships to help tend to the impacted lands that so many of us love.  Join us as we put our creative hearts together to help Land for Good™.

Sincerely,

Rachel Valdez
Chief Operating Officer, Forterra

A look back – preserving the historic Nettie Asberry House 

Nettie J. Asberry was a civil rights icon and Black leader in Tacoma’s Hilltop until her death in 1968 at the age of 103. Her storied legacy is tied to her 13th Street home where Dr. Asberry taught music and Black history to youth.

It was from this home that she founded the  Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (CWC) and the first NAACP Chapter west of the Rockies. This is where the Black community gathered to address civil rights during the first half of the 20th century.

In 2018 the Tacoma CWC reached out to Forterra seeking help to acquire this historic home to ensure the powerful story of Dr. Asberry isn’t lost. Forterra is honored to have played a role with the CWC and many other partners – helping secure funding and facilitating the real estate transaction. The purchase was completed in 2022, ensuring that one of our region’s most impactful Black leaders will continue to inspire Washingtonians for generations to come.

We’ve updated our Mission, Vision, and Values

Forterra’s Board of Directors has updated our vision and mission. Everything we do is guided by these key statements.

VISION: Forterra envisions people and nature thriving together in places where everyone belongs.

MISSION: Forterra innovates and scales land-based solutions to address the climate crisis, conserve and care for wild and working lands, and support equitable, green and prosperous communities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We gather and live on the plains, plateaus, mountains, and coastal lands that have been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. We respect their Indigenous, Tribal, and Treaty Rights, while honoring their stewardship and culture today.

VALUES:

• We show respect for people, place, culture and each other.
• We seek inclusive solutions that make a difference on the ground.
• We innovate and take risks to attain better outcomes.
• We are results oriented, taking pride in the quality and outcomes of our work.
• We are honest and keep our promises.
• We take the courage to disagree and commit.

Make a difference at Forterra Fridays

Join us on the third Friday each month at a Forterra property or park to get your hands dirty and make a difference. Forterra Fridays welcome both individual volunteers and groups for employer team building.
 
Our March and April events will host volunteers at the Duwamish Hill Preserve in Tukwila. We’ll restore essential wildlife habitat by removing Himalayan blackberry that threatens local native trees, shrubs and groundcover.

Once a junkyard, Duwamish Hill Preserve now provides critical wildlife habitat and public trails in an otherwise industrial area.  Forterra’s partnership to restore and preserve this land with the City of Tukwila and the Friends of the Hill began in 2001.

Dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of its rich Native American cultural history, ecological importance, and community impact, the Preserve now includes an outdoor classroom area, the Cultural Garden, an enhanced trail system and continued restoration opportunities for volunteers.

Forterra Fridays are a great opportunity to get outside and learn about ecological restoration and our innovative approach to land conservation. Volunteer at Forterra Fridays

Forterra Nature Discovery™ events

We’ve launched our  2025 series of free nature experiences on lands we steward.

Forterra Nature Discovery™ is built on a promise that experiencing nature here at home connects us to our land, strengthens our resolve to protect habitats, and is good for health and wellness.

Next event:
March 30 – Springtime Awakening at Morse Wildlife Preserve – Experience Forterra Nature Discovery™

Hilltop property in Tacoma is sold to Homestead Community Land Trust

Forterra has sold the Tacoma Hilltop property purchased in 2019 through our Strong Communities Fund program. We’re proud of the foundational work we accomplished toward the neighborhood’s aspirations for community-driven development. Finding the right buyer to prioritize affordable housing and community engagement was vital for us.

That vision continues with Homestead Community Land Trust’s purchase. 

Join award-winning ecologist Chris Morgan at the Forterra Spring Fundraiser on March 20

We are thrilled to invite you to our lively 2025 Spring Fundraiser headlined by Chris Morgan, British-American bear ecologist, conservationist, filmmaker and podcaster.

Known as “the bear guy,” Chris has tracked grizzlies over 2000 miles on foot and produced several films about bears. His work has taken him to the world’s wildest places from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Come hear and see Chris’s stunning stories through his immersive multi-media presentation.

There are just a few seats left! Purchase your tickets today to join us at the 2025 Spring Fundraiser. Purchase Tickets.

Thanks for checking out this month’s updates. See you soon.