Supporters

Born and raised in a small border town near Yuma, Arizona, and later moved to Phoenix, attended Arizona State University, and majored in Social-Cultural Analysis. Ernesto identifies as Queer-Latinx-first-generation (Mexican) and is passionate about working with the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and refugee communities in Washington County.

In the past, Ernesto has worked with at-risk youth, led year-round leadership development programs in the Portland Metro area, and advocated progressive education policies by amplifying student voices. As the new Senior Organizer, Ernesto will be spearheading the Beaverton Inclusive Housing Cohort program, the Washington County Leadership Council, and the Beaverton Organizing and Leadership Development Program (BOLD).

Ernesto is a storyteller through photography and loves to hike with his mini-dachshund and partner in his free time.

Originally from Iran, Manijeh Mehrnoosh arrived in the US in 1986, moved to Oregon in 1998. She Graduated from Unite Oregon’s Pan-Immigrant Leadership and Organizing Training (PILOT) Program in 2012. She has a Masters in Library Science from Iran. She is active in the Persian and Muslim communities. She is the Board Chair of Unite Oregon. She is also a board member of the Diversity Advisory Board in the City of Beaverton. She is fluent in Persian aka Farsi, English, and familiar with Arabic. She is working as an Oregon State court interpreter at the moment.

Muwafaq is an Iraqi refugee who came to Portland with his family in 2012, He has a BSc. In civil Engineering, he has also worked at UNITED Nation for 13 years before his arrival to the USA. He Joined the Iraqi Society of Oregon and became a board member. He had the chance to be a Life Guide for his community in the Wellness program that was established by Unite Oregon formally known as CIO (Center for intercultural Organizing), Which then led to his Position as a Outreach Organizer for Unite Oregon.

A 2021 National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award Winner: “Piyawee Ruenjinda’s perspective on the marginalization of immigrants who lack formal education and have limited English proficiency (LEP) in the U.S. sparked her interest in working with the community. Being from this community herself, she has engaged, educated, and advocated for members on a variety of issues for equality and justice as the goal.”

Katie Sawicki (she/they) is Unite Oregon's Special Projects Coordinator. Sawicki has been doing community-based advocacy work since graduating college in 2002. She worked for 13 years in alternatives to incarceration advocacy in New York City before moving to Portland and joining the Urban League of Portland. While at the Urban League, they provided policy and advocacy support to the League's Advocacy and Civic Engagement Department, focusing on the State of Black Oregon 2009 and 2015 reports and the reports' advocacy agendas. Since leaving the League, she has provided facilitation and individualized support to community-based advocacy organizations, coalitions, and community groups seeking to advance racial and social justice work. Sawicki consulted with Unite Oregon for five years before joining staff in 2021.