Blog | Mercy Corps

michelle week picks crops from her garden

Get To Know Indigenous Farmer Michelle Week

March 31, 2021

Good Rain Farm (x̌ast sq̓it) grows First Nation foods with the goal of integrating them back into daily diets. The farm's growth was made possible by a small business education and funding from Mercy Corps Northwest.

Dive into the latest updates

A family looking out from their food truck.

November 01, 2019

Inspired by tradition – PDX Empanadas

Inés Berón and Walter Rodríguez left Uruguay during a financial crisis in South America in the early 2000s in search of new opportunity.

Veronica alvardo

September 19, 2019

Stories from Washington: The road to Dani’s Cleaner

With 7 years of experience working for a cleaning company, her GED, and a partner in Mercy Corps Northwest, Veronica Alvarado finally realized her dream of starting her own cleaning business.

A man and woman create jewelry in portland's ringed workshop

August 20, 2019

Portland’s Ringed helps couples forge their own commitment jewelry

Allison Ullmer has been a jeweler and metalsmith for over 16 years. Her Portland business, Ringed, teaches people how to craft each other's wedding bands, ceremonial rings, and engagement rings.

Woman standing in "farmer's market" venue in front of tent.

August 02, 2019

VISTA stories – Mallory Smith and the Tananáwit market

Every other Friday, the Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) provides a space for artisans, farmers, vendors, and local organizations to get together and share their wares with the community.

Woman standing in urban setting.

Community resilience: Meet preparedness advocate Alicia Bashir

Alicia Bashir’s life changed when she attended her first Preparedness Advocate Workshop at Mercy Corps Northwest that introduced her to the notion of Oregon’s impending earthquake.

Woman working at a jewelry stand.

How supporting small businesses unlocks brighter futures in the Pacific Northwest

Since its inception, Mercy Corps Northwest has placed millions of dollars into the hands of budding entrepreneurs and fostered the creation of more than 15,000 businesses. Here are a few of those entrepreneurs’ stories.