Equity. Sustainability. Pragmatism.

At Cascadia, we understand that urban planning and development shapes where and how we live - that our homes, the spaces we occupy, and activities we partake in contribute to our sense of belonging in a place. With this in mind, our work is centered around three core principles: equity, sustainability, and pragmatism. In addition to these principles, we are committed to creating a workplace that values continuous learning, creative problem solving, work/life balance, and having fun.

Equity

We know there is an imbalance of power and decision making in planning that is the result of exclusionary and racist power structures. Many people are systematically excluded based on their race, gender, income, sexual-orientation, age, color, national origin, citizenship status, or physical ability. This results in an imbalance of resources and opportunities.

Our approach values the voices and interests of communities left out of the conventional planning process. Our work is focused on building better relationships between governments and the communities they serve.

We believe an inclusive and equitable process that engages diverse communities is as valuable and necessary for achieving equitable outcomes as the outcomes themselves.

We are building a diverse team. We believe our team should reflect the diversity of communities where we work.

Sustainability

We know that how we live and how we travel impacts the environment and can contribute to climate change. We also know that all communities do not have equal access to a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment. We help communities understand the impacts of different ways of growing and getting around. We design equitable and inclusive planning processes to create better outcomes for all.

We help plan for compact, walkable, mixed use, and mixed income neighborhoods that preserve open space and farmland and minimize the negative impacts on the environment and climate.

We value the voices of marginalized communities in our work, especially those that have experienced more environmental burdens. We strive to create meaningful opportunities for these communities to participate in the decision-making process and achieve a healthy and sustainable environment.

Pragmatism

We are driven by a vision of equitable and sustainable places. Yet we are clear-sighted about the many obstacles and conflicts to realizing that vision. Good intentions must be paired with practical and compelling solutions.

While city planning is led by the public sector, city building is the collective work of public and private actors. We focus on understanding all of these actors and advocating for outcomes that foster equitable and sustainable places.

Every planning and development project must contend with multiple, sometimes competing objectives. We break down complex issues so the public can understand and weigh in on decisions. We employ critical analysis and creativity equally to identify solutions that are effective and broadly supported.

Change rarely happens all at once. We think strategically about implementation of our solutions, creating action plans that maximize results in the short-term and build momentum in the long-term.

These core principles are the fundamental beliefs, ideals, and values that we aspire to. They inform our company decisions and priorities. Our values help to shape company operations, our work projects, and how we practice planning on a daily basis.

This work is an ongoing and iterative process that is often challenging. We recognize that we don't know everything, we don’t have all the answers, and we may make mistakes, but we are committed to learning and growing.