The Ford Institute for Community Building recently named eight new Ford Institute Leadership Program graduates as community fellows and among that group is a Newberg man.

Jonathan Fost, who graduated from the Newberg Ford Institute Leadership Program, was one of eight Oregon residents to be named Ford Community Fellows. Fost, a resident of the Newberg area for six years, has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and international business from Linfield College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from George Fox University. His community service resume includes stints on the board of the United Way, as an advocate for Latino youth and as a facilitator for the Community Fellows Programs.

“As a graduate of the Ford Institute Leadership Program, I have gained a much broader perspective of the social capital synergy that can be developed in the community,” he said. “I want to continue to foster this synergy and help both Latinos and Anglos become leaders and learn from each other’s culture and language.”

Each community fellow receives a $12,000 unrestricted monetary award and is eligible for two renewal awards. Fellows are expected to develop their own plan to explore, learn and practice community building. The Ford program stresses promoting community through a number of activities, including:

• Coaching communities toward their own vision, priorities and measures of success.
• Promoting systems thinking and collaboration.
• Modeling a commitment to lifelong learning.

Leveraging local resources to draw on external sources, including individuals, philanthropy, nonprofits, businesses and government.

• Encouraging development of projects and programs that draw on best theory and practice.
• Directing communities to fully use their own resources of time, energy and money to move programs and projects foreward.
• Assisting communities in measuring their own success.
• Convening individuals, groups and communities to strengthen social capital and networks, while learning from each other.
• Sustaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, adjoining community leaders, and the Ford Institute for Community Building. 

The Ford Family Foundation was established in 1957 by Kenneth and Hallie Ford in Roseburg. The organization’s mission is to promote “successful citizens and vital rural communities in Oregon and Siskiyou County.