Years 1-3 (2020-2023)
Años 1-3 (2020-2023)
Cohort member: Year 2 & 3
Define community leadership: Being raised in a religious community that was made up of Spanish-speaking and primarily immigrant families, I was very aware of the inequalities between this community and general society, as well as the unique challenges experienced by some of those families due to their immigrant status and their language ability. In a religious community primarily made up of immigrants, the leaders are those that attempt to live up to their religious creed and help their fellow man and community. Certain folks such as our Pastor, who was one of the few folks with a higher education, Youth leaders who helped students enroll and prepare for college, and even my own mother, who was one of the few people who spoke English were recognized as leaders not because they said they were, but because others saw them as one based on their actions.
In terms of my view of myself as a leader, a leader isn’t always defined by the number of people they’re leading in that particular moment, but by the values they hold that shine through in key moments. I may not be as involved as other people, or give as many speeches on stages, but I’ve made a consistent effort to uphold leadership values of empathy, integrity, and services in my actions, inspired by the leaders I had in my community. And for that reason, I see myself as a leader.
Community involvement: At the current, I am only involved with Unite Oregon, but I am actively looking to get involved in greater capacity with both Unite Oregon and other organizations in the Portland Metro area.
Cohort member: Year 2
Define community leadership: Leadership is the ability to make people follow an idea for their overall good, I do not see my self as a leader as I tend to not to have any unnecessary interaction with others.
Community involvement: Unite Oregon (Beaverton Inclusive Housing Program)
Cohort member: Year 3
Define community leadership: Leadership in my community is the power to reach every member in the community and provide all the resource needed. I do consider myself a leader because I am not afraid to reach out to people and also guide them to a better future.
Community involvement: I am in a Pre-K Pac community-base member.
Cohort member: Year 3
I’ve chosen to focus my career for the last seven years around literacy because I see this work as essential in creating a more equitable world. I have learned the social, systemic and mental barriers that individuals, specifically adult immigrants with low English proficiency skills, face when trying to access literacy programs. I've worked with several literacy programs ranging in services like computer courses, English as a Second Language and job readiness classes, and vocational training. During the pandemic I've learned that access to these programs isn't enough. Adults learning a new skill must also have access to the correct tools that will ensure their ability to successfully complete such programs. I believe that literacy can help end poverty when communities are empowered with social services that focus on developing people’s skills, in order to keep up with the changing job market.
A bit about my personal background: I'm a first generation Mexican American and use she/her pronouns. I was born and raised in South Texas and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years, where I began my non-profit work. I moved to Portland, Oregon at the start of the year to be closer to family and enjoy exploring the city with them. I look forward to learning more about community based organizations in this area and finding my place in that work.
Define community leadership: I believe that leadership in my community should be transparent and accessible. They should have clear goals and objectives that they are working towards. I see myself as a leader in my community because I care about the people that live here. I care and so I work with people that have felt they don't have a voice in their community find one. While my reach has not been vast, I believe we are all leaders when we come face to face with a barrier in our community and choose to do something about it.
Community involvement: Program Coordinator at Portland Community College's Opportunity Centers
Cohort member: Year 3
Define community leadership: I believe that being a leader in the community means to take an active, vocal, and positive role in understanding community needs and then advocating for them. I do see myself as a leader in my community because I advocate for others who have been and are under served. I speak up in a productive and professional manner when needed. I am a systematic thinker, evaluating all sides before making a plan. I work to include all parties involved while uplifting the minority.
Community involvement: I work for Washington County as a Developmental Disabilities Services Coordinator.
Cohort member: Year 2
Ballen likes to keep learning and not miss a chance to know more about this country's housing and homeless crisis. Hoping to help his community and society by acquiring information to arrange better networking among non-profit and government entities to work together and enhance the efforts of making housing first an easy option for low-income and homeless people.
Community involvement: Beaverton Organizing and Leadership Development (BOLD) by the City of Beaverton and Unite Oregon, Civic Leadership by Washington County, Washington County's Housing Advisory Group, and Beaverton's Housing Technical Advisory Group (HTAG)
Cohort member: Year 1
¿Te ves a ti misma una líder comunitaria?
Si, por que tengo conocimiento de las herramientas que pueden ayudarme a solucionar necesidades personal y de mi comunidad.
Participación de la comunidad: Unite Oregon (BOLD 2018, Programa de Vivienda Inclusiva de Beaverton)
Cohort member: Year 3
My passion is to pursue justice by actively participating in addressing the socio-economic issues that hinder the vulnerable folks from thriving.
The issues that affect people in my community better to me and I have been joining various efforts in creating solutions to help address those social issues.
Community involvement: African Heritage Education and Empowerment Community (AFRHEEC)
Cohort member: Year 2
I am a Home Care Worker. I want to learn how to use the information to be able to understand this program. The goal is leading societies for the better.
Community involvement: Unite Oregon member and Beaverton Organizing and Leadership Development (BOLD) program
Cohort member: Year 3
Are you a community leader?
Yes, currently finding resources for mental health and trauma informed for people who has been experienced homelessness.
Community involvement: I am Housing Assistant Director with Centro Cultural de Washington County.
Cohort member: Year 1
Define community leadership: I didn't see myself as a leader up until very recently. I see myself as a leader now because it's a position I often end up in even when I defer to others at first. Within my community I do my best to lead by example. I started volunteering because I noticed most of the people who do it are seniors and need younger people to help, and suggesting to my peers they should volunteer would be meaningless if I didn't do it myself.
Community involvement: I volunteer for Oregon Food Bank, The Sharing Place, and Changing Footprints.
Cohort member: Year 1, 2, and 3
¿Te ves a ti misma una líder comunitaria?
Sí, ayudo con el Breve Informativo de KBOO de domingo a viernes, soy parte del equipo que selecciona películas para SLFF, y soy manager de las clínicas móviles dentales y de salud de MTI. Hago la diferencia en la comunidad, comparto conocimiento, información, y doy servicios a la comunidad en ambos idiomas: español e inglés.
Participación de la comunidad: KBOO Community Radio, Seattle Latino Film Festival, and Medical Teams Internacional.
Cohort member: Year 1
¿Te ves a ti misma una líder comunitaria?
No tengo experiencia ni e participado pero quiero aprender y comenzar
Participación de la comunidad: Programa de Vivienda Inclusiva de Beaverton
Cohort member: Year 2
Community involvement: I am a community organizer with Unite Oregon.
Cohort member: Year 3
¿Te ves a ti mismo como un líder?
No soy lider me gusta apoyar y estar activa apoyando o sirviendo a la comunidad. Para ser lider de acuerdo a mi pensamiento necesito tiempo para liderar y mantenerme en contacto con la comunidad en forma obligatoria y de manera constante, ya que tomo el liderasgo como la cabeza de un projecto.
Community involvement: Cooper Mountain Community Advisory Committee member
Cohort member: Year 2
Dedicated to the community and developing equity. I am a Yakama tribal member. I am a founder and President of Mary Kiona Foundation. We focus on making the maximum positive effort for our community. Our members and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us affect change. That change is our Mission. Our mission and our vision is to change the narrative.
Community involvement: I’ve been an advocate for social justice, services for culturally based Behavioral health services.
Cohort member: Year 1, 2, and 3
¿Te ves a ti misma una líder comunitaria?
Si, porque me dedico a Dofundir información educacional y recursos para la comunidad entre otras acciones.
Participación de la comunidad: Soy miembro del TV Hwy Steering Committee
Cohort member: Year 3
Always leading with my heart and not my mind. Love helping others. Addiction is real and I want to help others overcome their addictions and live a successful life at its full potential.
Do you see yourself a community leader?
Yes I see myself as a leader I have a passion for helping low income, homeless, recovering addicts find and maintain affordable housing I am the lead Case manager at Union Gospel admission Womens’s Life change Program
Community involvement: Washington County Housing Authority Committee, Oversight and Accountability Measure 110, Union Gospel Mission of Portland
Cohort member: Year 1, 2, and 3
Define community leadership: A leader is one who listens to members of their community, and responds to their needs accordingly, with empathy, equity, and responsibility. A leader follows through on their commitments and considers the needs of al members of the community, centering voices of those who are marginalized, to make accessible and equitable solutions a reality.
Community involvement: Street Resiliency Team (Unhoused Persons Mutual Aid & Support, formerly part of DSA) Steering Committee/Volunteer; CUMC Community Garden/Food Forest Project (Sponsored by Sunrise Movement & Christ United Methodist Church) Steering Committee/Volunteer; Millikan Way CAC Committee Member
Cohort member: Year 1
Define community leadership: Someone who has knowledge, share that knowledge, give advice, and encourage others to join and reach [their] goals.
Community involvement: Unite Oregon (Beaverton Inclusive Housing Cohort)
Cohort member: Year 2
It is important to encourage people who are disenfranchised to be heard. The discussion and soliciting opinions are important. Getting to know people without getting too personal is important. Know when to keep it simple, straight forward and succinct.
Communication is key - even if it’s an update to say nothing is happening.
Community involvement: I volunteer with Waste Not Food Taxi to pick up excess food from grocery stores and deliver it to food pantries thus we are feeding folks and keeping thousands of pounds of food from going to the landfill.
Cohort member: Year 1 & 2
Define community leadership: Someone who gets involved to make a voice for the community, family.
Community involvement: Unite Oregon (BOLD 2018, Beaverton Inclusive Housing Cohort)
Cohort member: Year 3
Define community leadership: Leadership in my community is helping everyone regardless of what situation they are in and taking an initiative to seek information for the community and giving the community that information. I am slowly growing into a leader and I think this cohort will push me in the right direction.
Community involvement: Not at this time but I work with families that are low income and of color.
Cohort member: Year 1
Define community leadership: Leadership in the community is all about helping bridge the various gaps that may exist. It could be a communications gap, where in which, the constituents are not exposed to information or resources that the city provides. It could also be a gap of representation of the diversity in our community, cultural, religious or otherwise and how that manifests in policies. As a leader, you work diligently to bring people together and mitigate these gaps. I do see myself as a leader. I leverage this perspective and focus extensively in my personal and professional life to building bridges and bringing people together.
Community involvement: Islamic Society of Greater Portland Volunteer