The Portland area prides itself on its extensive network of parks and natural areas. But these amenities are something we cannot just take for granted. How do we ensure that all area residents have access to nature and why is this so important?
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Mike Wetter, founder and executive director of the Intertwine Alliance, and board member Philip Wu, about how the Alliance works with a broad coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations and leaders to guarantee that the health, equity and environmental benefits of nature remain a significant component of the metropolitan region.
Mike Wetter is a founder and Executive Director of The Intertwine Alliance, where he leads a coalition of more than 160 of the most prominent public, private and nonprofit organizations in the Portland-Vancouver area. Mike’s work is to create a movement powerful enough to change investment paradigms so that nature is integrated more deeply into the fabric of the metropolitan region, creating economic, transportation, health, educational, equity and environmental benefits for the region and its residents. Prior to leading The Intertwine Alliance Mike was Chief of Staff to former Metro Council President David Bragdon.
Philip Wu, MD, is a pediatrician and member of the Community Benefit team at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. After retiring from a 33-year clinical practice, Dr. Wu now works to promote healthy, equitable communities through policy advocacy and system changes utilizing the framework of the “social determinants of health.” He is Vice-Chair of the Board of the Northwest Health Foundation and serves on the boards of the Oregon Oral Health Coalition, Outside In, Intertwine Alliance, Westside Transportation Alliance, and Community Cycling Center.
- KBOO