Building equity. Strengthening connection. Thriving together.

We envision communities that are equitable, connected and thriving.

Upstream Public Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works in partnership with communities to transform public health at its roots. Through community mobilization, organizing, policy advocacy, education, and youth leadership development, we work to dismantle systems that produce inequity and build community power in their place.

Our work centers Black communities, including African immigrant and refugee communities whose voices are too often excluded from policy spaces. We challenge systems that produce racial inequity, anti-immigrant harm, and body-based stigma — advancing public health rooted in belonging, safety, and collective liberation.

We envision communities where people feel safe, supported, and connected — where opportunity is not limited by race, income, weight or history. Our work is grounded in liberation, healing, connectedness, empowerment, and innovation.

Challenging oppressive systems that normalize inequity in policy, nutrition, education, health, housing, food access, and economic stability.

Racism shapes access to housing, healthcare, education, income, and safety. All of which directly impact health and policy outcomes. We name and challenge the policies and systems that produce racial inequities to advance collective wellbeing.
When communities are left out of decision-making, policy design, and resource allocation, health disparities widen. We work to ensure those most impacted are centered, heard, and leading solutions.
Chronic underinvestment in communities from infrastructure to education to economic opportunity creates preventable harm. We advocate for sustained, community-driven investment that supports stability, dignity, and long-term health.

Radical Ideas,
Real Impact.

We recognize racism as a public health issue and acknowledge the historical and ongoing harms that shape health outcomes. We challenge oppressive and exclusionary systems while building culturally responsive relationships rooted in trust.

We reject the idea that individual behavior alone determines health outcomes. Instead, we focus upstream — on the policies, commercial interests, and power structures that shape daily life.

We partner with communities most impacted by the social and commercial determinants of health to build power, elevate lived experience, and advocate for meaningful change. Guided by community voices, we remain flexible, reflective, and action-oriented.

Guided by community voice we strive to:

Deepen community partnerships and capacity building across Oregon — especially with underrepresented communities and youth excluded from generational wealth and policy design
Communicate the lived experiences of the communities we serve by documenting community-centered approaches and strengthening relationships between institutions and community-based organizations
Build ecosystems that connect grassroots leadership, institutional partners, and bold advocacy to advance health, healing and economic justice.

We believe healing and justice move together.

GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM

Our Projects

TOBACCO FREE COALITION OF OREGON (TOFCO)

Commercial tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in Oregon and the U.S., disproportionately impacting Black & African Immigrant communities as well as other BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S, disabled, and low-income communities. We center the Black experience because policies that protect Black lives strengthen outcomes for all everyone.
Upstream supports bans on flavored tobacco, particularly menthol, as well as vape and hookah products, alongside other evidence-based and emerging prevention strategies.
Through the revitalized Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon (TOFCO), which meets twice monthly, we convene community leaders to align lived experience with policy. In 2022–2023, we partnered with the Center for Black Health & Equity to strengthen coalition capacity locally and beyond.
ROOTS TO RECOVERY (R2R)

Polysubstance use continues to disproportionately impact Black communities. Through Roots to Recovery, we create healing-centered spaces where people with lived experience, loved ones, and partners come together to build collective solutions.
We host monthly coalition meetings addressing Black overdose trends, conduct asset mapping, distribute Narcan, and collaborate on safe medication disposal initiatives. We center dignity, stability, and connection as core components of prevention and recovery.
Healing is prevention. Community is protection.
UPSTREAM ACADEMY

Upstream Academy uplifts youth leadership by providing real-world public health experience rooted in community. We engage youth ages 14–21+ in advocacy, tabling, event planning, coalition spaces, and culturally responsive programming that builds confidence, connection, and purpose.
We aim to center youth whose voices are often excluded from policy and decision making spaces.
We remove traditional barriers to entry — no degree, school enrollment, or experience required!
Our team aims to develop leadership without gatekeeping — youth building power in real time.
OREGON PREVENTION & TREATMENT ALLIANCE (OPTA)

COMING SOON

The Oregon Prevention and Treatment Alliance expands our polysubstance prevention work by connecting grassroots leaders, wraparound services, and community organizations to address the opioid crisis holistically.
By aligning lived experience with systems-level strategy, the Alliance strengthens prevention ecosystems across Oregon while centering equity and culturally responsive approaches.