Strategic Priorities

Looking ahead to the next 40 years of the West Coast Latvian Education Center, we envision the community’s expanded role in the maintenance of our facility and as the primary driver of events and activities hosted on the property. A shared sense of ownership will improve our stewardship of the property and enable all of us to participate in our Latvian culture, creating lasting connections and cherished memories for generations to come.

With this goal in mind, the WCLEC board believes that it is essential for us to invest in three strategic priorities now for the future of Kursa, Mežotne, and our community:

  1. Expand Community Engagement: Create a shared sense of ownership for upgrading and maintaining our facility and programming. The WCLEC aims to tap into a broader range of perspectives and resources by building out board committees and matching volunteers to other operational, camp, and event related needs. We aim to ensure every parent, camper, teacher, visitor, and community member feels a personal stake in the enhancement and preservation of our property and knows how they can contribute.  Volunteer – Complete our volunteer interest form here.
  1. Ensure the Sustainability of Current Facilities: We strive to maintain a space that meets everyone’s needs and reflects the pride and care of our community. To this end, we are assessing and revising our current maintenance plan, developing a 3-year facility upgrade plan, and continuing to implement measures to mitigate natural hazards. 
  1. Secure Sustainable Funding: To fulfill our mission, the WCLEC must secure sustainable funding to support both day-to-day operations and planned/emergent facility repairs and upgrades. The last few years have continued to highlight this need as we navigated the pandemic, rising costs, and multiple $20k+ projects. We know that the Latvian community has the resources to plan, organize, and fund this work and we will be focused on exploring new funding sources and implementing new strategies to realize this vision.