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Northwest Center’s Vision for a Sustainable World: Mission and Business for People and Planet

Sustainability is at the heart of Northwest Center, who we are, what we do, and our commitment to working toward an inclusive and sustainable world. From our beginning, people and planet have defined our mission, and our social enterprise businesses that sustain it. As a nonprofit, our mission is to promote the growth, development, and independence of people with disabilities through education, therapy, and work opportunity​. Our five social enterprise businesses sustain this work.
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Driving Sustainability Since 1967

In 1965, our first business, The Big Blue Truck, was among the first to embrace the circular sustainable economy, collecting and selling used clothing to generate revenue for programs for people with disabilities. This model established a commitment to sustainability that has grown ever since.

Integrating Change Throughout Northwest Center

As Northwest Center grew over the last half century, it integrated sustainability into the five pillars that now define it:
​our people, partnerships, operations, governance, and impact in our communities.
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People
Partnerships
Operations
Governance
Community

Our Commitment is Captured in
​Northwest Center’s Ten Sustainability Goals

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Create a more equitable world for all by working to eliminate ableism and create equity for people with disabilities
Advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Advocate for our mission in local, state, and federal governments, as well as in the community
Evaluate environmental elements of our businesses and move toward sustainable consumption and production
Maintain a culture of continuous improvement and growth
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Ensure Northwest Center complies with state and federal environmental policies and create best practices that go beyond the polices
Work with suppliers to adopt Northwest Center’s sustainability policy and other relevant policies
Educate staff about the sustainability policy and encouraging adoption of its ideas and spirit
Ensure sustainability goals are documented in strategic plans and actively implemented, reviewed, and improved
Accountability through the Northwest Center board, who provide oversight and govern the execution of Northwest Center including our sustainability commitment

Working in partnership with team members, clients, communities, customers, policymakers, and suppliers we are committed to achieving our sustainability commitments and vision of an inclusive, equitable and sustainable world.
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Gene Boes, CEO ​
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Tess Connor, CGO
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The Big Blue Truck 
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CARF has accredited Northwest Center for its Employment Services
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1119 SW 7th Street, Renton, WA 98057 | 206.285.9140
© 2021 Northwest Center
Northwest Center is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. Tax ID 91-0786790
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Certain employment services and programs and social enterprise activities are offered through Northwest Center Services, the sister organization of Northwest Center.
  • Home
  • About
    • At a glance
    • Events
    • News & Publications
    • Education For All
    • Our Blog
  • Services
    • Kids Services
    • Employment Services
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Social Enterprise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Employee Portal
  • Donate
  • Accessibility Tools
  • Ways to Support Northwest Center
  • Hospital-to-Home™ Replication Site Training