FOUNDERS NOTE

I didn’t come to this work through theory. I came to it through survival.

I grew up in poverty, in systems that were never designed to see me clearly, let alone support me well. I vividly remember trying to disappear under the weight of shame… that never should have belonged to me.

What sustained me wasn’t policy. It was people. Neighbors. Community members. My friends mothers, Strangers who chose care over judgment.

That experience never left me. It became a lens.

ADO Foundation was born from a simple but radical belief: lasting change happens when communities are trusted to design their own solutions. Not as recipients. Not as data points. As experts in their own lives.

Over the last two decades, my work across civic systems, creative industries, and community development has shown me a consistent pattern: inequity isn’t caused by a lack of effort or talent. It’s caused by systems built without listening and maintained without accountability. When we pay attention to the patterns, we can address root causes instead of endlessly managing symptoms.

ADO Foundation was created to support that… but also for those that are not allowed into the room when the discussion involves them.

We build shared infrastructure for community voice, collaboration, and innovation: across food access, housing, workforce pathways, civic engagement, arts, and technology for social good. We don’t replace existing work. We amplify it. We connect neighbors, organizations, and leaders into frameworks where collaboration actually produces outcomes.

Everything we build is shaped by lived experience… mine, yes, but more importantly, the hundreds of stories shared by residents who were told to wait, be patient, or be grateful for systems that never worked for them. We believe dignity is non-negotiable. Access should never come with shame. And equity is not a buzzword… it’s a design principle.

I’m a fixer by nature. A builder by trade. A mother by instinct. But above all, I’m someone who believes that when we listen deeply, design together, and invest in people… not just programs… we can create systems that feel human again.

This work is personal. It’s collective. And it’s just getting started.

~ Anitra Parish
Founder, ADO Foundation