Why I’m part of EGC : Elan Hagens

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit about why I’m part of the Equitable Giving Circle.

My name is Elan Hagens, and I serve as an Equitable Giving Circle Board Member. I’m an ecologist, artist, and someone deeply rooted in agriculture and community-based food systems here in Oregon.

As a Black woman working in agriculture and nature spaces in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve often found myself moving between worlds — sometimes connected, sometimes outside of them. That experience has shaped how I understand land, food, and community. It’s part of why this work matters so much to me.

What drew me to EGC — and what keeps me here — is the way food and local commerce are treated not just as something we distribute, but as something that connects people. Fresh food and plants grown with care, shared in community, are powerful. It’s health, it’s pride, it’s culture.

I’ve seen firsthand how much intention goes into getting good food into people’s hands and creating spaces where folks feel grounded and supported. That kind of work doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because people believe in it.

If you’re receiving this, you’re already part of that belief system. Choosing to give — especially on a recurring basis — is a commitment to community care, to consistency, and to making sure this work continues beyond any single moment or funding cycle.

Grants can help spark and support programs, but they are often delayed, restricted, or uncertain. They don’t always arrive when needed, and they don’t always cover the full scope of what it takes to sustain real, on-the-ground work. What makes the difference is community — people who choose to show up, steadily, over time.

That’s what recurring donors make possible.

Because of that steady support from our recurring base, EGC is able to show up week after week — distributing fresh food, hosting gatherings, supporting families, and creating spaces where people feel seen, nourished, and connected.

I’m not someone who approaches community through transactions — I believe in relationships, trust, and showing up over time.

If this work resonates with you, I invite you to deepen your connection to it — if you are not a donor yet, please become one, if you are deepen your commitment to liberation work by increasing and continuing your support as a recurring donor, and sharing with someone in your life why supporting EGC matters to you. That kind of personal connection is how this community grows and stays strong.

Thank you for being part of this work.

With care, 

Elan Hagens
Temptress Truffles LLC