Hello, I am Janessa Bautista. I am a Filipina American mother, artist, designer, plant ally and active community member living in Portland, Oregon. I am raising funds to build tiny house sanctuaries for bipoc on land owned by white people. The funds are to support the expansion of the Rooted Resilience tiny house sanctuary space. The goal is to build more tiny houses in different forest lands outside the city. Funds will go towards working with bipoc contractors and builders, material costs, maintenance and paying our coordinators. We are asking white allies to support this project in any way that seems fit. By contributing to this project you will be supporting black and brown people to have access to the healing forest spaces that are more readily available to white people. You will also be supporting white allies to offer access to their land and make reparations and as restitution to the bipoc community. Creating tiny house spaces is the first step in this project. The final goal is for the kapwa sanctuary to have access to our own land to have sanctuary spaces and to be a place for healing ceremonies with the bipoc community. This would be the center and foundation of the healing work. 

We are raising $67,200. This will cover the cost of the building materials for the tiny house and paying the contractors. We are using as much salvaged and donated materials we can find, but we will have to pay for what we cannot find. We will be hiring a project manager to oversee the development of the tiny house. This will cover paying them for the next year. With the expectation to continue the project in more locations, hiring someone to help fundraise is a must. Lastly, some of these funds will be used for upkeep and maintenance for the existing bipoc tiny house. If we don’t receive all the funds we need, we hope to at least have enough to buy all the materials needed to build the tiny house. We can look for white allies wanting to donate their time and skills to help build. We will pay a project manager for a couple months to get through the building of the first tiny house. Then the fundraising and grant writing will start again for the next location. The first Kapwa sanctuary tiny house will be in Skamokawa, WA. It is a beautiful property in this small town close to the coast. 

Your contribution is so valuable as you are sharing your resources, time and energy to the healing of black, indigenous, and people of color. The racialized trauma of those that have been suffering for generations and generations is something we can tend to and heal. To support this healing project is supporting the healing of all people. 

Below are some testimonials from guests who have come to stay at the bipoc tiny house sanctuary retreat- Rooted Resilience

The bipoc tiny house was an incredibly cared for and curated refuge for BIPOC artists! We had such a peaceful, serene time and it was lovely to be surrounded by handmade furnishings by Janessa also. I was able to concentrate for 3 days on weaving a baby blanket for a friend’s newborn. It was so magical, we were even inspired to build a little corner of our house to match it! Thank you for the space you created for us! -Vo 

rooted resilience in corbett, or, is a beautiful sanctuary away from the demands of being in portland, or. the space offers tranquility of solitude and a connection with nature, and it does so with an abundance of comfort and care. it is easy to rest and recharge in the space as it is equipped with resources that even the least outdoorsy person, such as myself, can navigate. it’s treasure is in fact that it gives you the best of both worlds, hanging in the balance of what we need a break from and what we need to connect to. during my own stay i was able to unplug from the distractions of my life and immerse myself in the energy of the land without discomfort or fear. the environment allowed me to turn inwards and focus on some much needed internal work, and ultimately bring that regained perspective back home with me. -Haya

The rooted resilience tiny house has gifted me space to find deeper breath when i’ve especially needed it and true quiet away from the city when things get too loud. -Emmy

This project seems like a quite the feat to take on. I am prepared to face challenges along the way. As I will be working with various people, communication issues may come up as they do. I have a small support team to help me navigate the different relationship dynamics. I have spent much time in compassionate communication practice groups and process work along with years living in community.