[3] Kitzhaber's goal was to find a way to put money used for health care, which as of 2006 amounted to about $6.3 billion in Oregon, to better use.
"[7] The organization's goal was to create a national grass-roots effort to reform health care, starting in Oregon.
[8] It was founded on the belief that incremental change to existing health programs like Medicare and Medicaid will not be sufficient to solve their long-term problems, and that communities and coalitions outside the political world would need to form consensus around goals and values, and pressure lawmakers to make more fundamental changes.
[3] The organization's executive director, Liz Baxter, has advocated for health policy reform to members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
[11] The organization's original name was based on the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, who is quoted as saying "Give me a lever and a place to stand, and I can move the Earth.