About – LBCN

A Revered Haven for Faith and Community

The Lao Buddhist Center Northwest (LBCN) is a religious, educational, and public non-profit organization formed under Oregon law. LBCN, as an umbrella for Wat Xao Phout Lao (the Temple) and Lao Community Center, serves the religious and social needs of the Oregon and Washington Lao Buddhist Community. Our 50 family members (founders) purchased the property at 17676 SE Foster Road, Gresham, Oregon, in June 2010. This was done to serve the religious, cultural, and social needs of the Lao Buddhist community in Portland and its vicinity in the Northwestern region of Oregon and Southern Washington.

How Our Mission Statement Shapes Buddhist Practice and Community Engagement

Mission: To promote members’ sense of belonging and well-being.

Vision: Our vision is to provide a safe place for members to gather, socialize, meditate, and a place for emotional, social, and spiritual support in times of crisis and hardship, and establish meaningful, ongoing connections with one another.

Purposes

Promoting the advancement of educational, charitable, and scientific purposes, supporting the Lao community.
Teaching Buddhist doctrine, practicing Buddhist rituals, and worshiping.
Providing community resources to preserve and promote Lao cultural heritage, arts, and languages.

History

The regional Lao community is largely the lowland Lao community that arrived in the United States as refugees after the Kingdom of Laos, neighboring Vietnam, and Cambodia fell to communism at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

The majority of the first-generation Lao refugees arrived in the United States between 1975 and 1990. Many have successfully integrated into the US society, but many who had little formal education and lack English language skills remain isolated or continue to face challenges in their coping with environmental stresses as well as …