Pathfinder News: July 2026

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To our Pathfinder Community:

As we head into the final stretch of our 3-year strategic plan, PATHforward 2026, we are so proud of the progress we’ve made toward achieving our goals with deep, agency-wide impact. One of our biggest accomplishments this year has been the launch of our new Advocacy Team. Composed of 11 staff members from across the agency, this team is focused on building advocacy education, staff engagement opportunities, and stronger connections with community partners and impacted leaders.

Our Advocacy Team hit the ground running by participating in two capacity-building workshops with key partner organizations. Collaborating with leaders from Oregon Recovers and Partnership for Safety & Justice, our team learned advocacy basics and explored current legislative priorities right here in Oregon. We are thrilled to continue creating pathways for our staff to show up as powerful advocates for systems-impacted individuals, families, and communities.

This intentional growth directly reflects our commitment to systemic change and community-centered leadership. As our Executive Director, Leticia Longoria-Navarro, recently shared:

"I’m excited about growing The Pathfinder Network’s presence as a thought leader, a convener, and as change makers—and our advocacy work is something that is deeply connected. We are so well positioned to lift up the voices and experiences of people that are impacted by systems."

In line with this vision, Leticia also serves as a Commission Member with the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) Women’s Justice Commission, advocating for bipartisan, evidence-based reforms that improve outcomes for women involved in the criminal justice system. This work is deeply important to us, and we will continue to lift up what the Commission is learning and what changes are possible.

The Commission released two essential new reports in June highlighting the urgent need and impact of innovative reforms:

• The Rising Cost of Women’s Justice System Involvement: The number of women under correctional control is projected to rise to 1.1 million by 2035, increasing annual costs by roughly $8 billion. The analysis also finds that smaller facilities, staffing challenges, and higher healthcare needs make it 25% to 75% more expensive to imprison a woman than a man.
• What Happens When Women Serve Less Time in Prison?: This report examines how shortening time served could safely reduce the anticipated costs mentioned above. Data shows that reducing women’s time in prison by 50% would save states like Illinois and North Carolina $60 million or more per year—while producing a minimal impact on public safety, 90% of which would likely be for nonviolent offenses.

We invite you to explore these reports, dive into the data, and join us in championing a more just, equitable, and restorative future for justice-impacted individuals and families.

Thank you for walking this path with us!

The Pathfinder Network

Summer Youth Programming Update

A massive thank you to everyone who supported our Fuel the Fun summer appeal. You are helping us make this summer unforgettable for youth at the Center for Family Success! Recent highlights include:

• 17 youth served during our amazing 4-day Summer Camp in June!
• 1 beautiful, youth-led mural completed at NE 106th & Sandy Blvd (more info coming soon!)
• 36 youth joined us at Oaks Amusement Park for our biggest (record-breaking!) summer field trip yet!

Coming Up in July & August: We’re keeping the momentum going with Fun Fridays with Mentoring Inside Out and a PATHfinder Club field trip to Blue Lake!

Connecting Statewide at June Jamboree

Community is at the heart of what we do, and this past month proved it. Our June Jamboree community peer support events brought over 420 people together across Jackson, Marion, and Multnomah Counties. The energy, connection, and mutual support statewide showed just how vital this work really is. Deep gratitude to our amazing community partners, participants, and staff for showing up, breaking barriers, and building a stronger network of support.

Celebrating our Team at the Annual All-Staff Event

From diving into our Enneagram strengths to fun in the sun, this year’s All-Staff Event had it all. Our team connected over kickball, crafts, a bake-off competition, tacos, and ice cream at Blue Lake Regional Park in Portland. The highlight was honoring our incredible team members with Employee Recognition Awards. We loved building community and reflecting on a successful year together!

Join The Pathfinder Network’s Board of Directors

Want to use your expertise for real-world impact? We’re looking for passionate leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals with lived experience to help guide our mission supporting justice-impacted individuals and families. We are specifically seeking visionary minds with experience in Legal, Human Resources, Social Entrepreneurship, and Systems Involvement.

➔ Join Our Board of Directors

Board Updates: A huge thank you to Marquita Jaramillo and Yasmine Elkabir for their incredible service and dedication on the board—they will be greatly missed! We are also thrilled to announce Danny Alvarado as our new Board Co-Chair. Welcome, Danny! 🌟