Thanks for reaching out! We are an all volunteer group and will do our best to get back to all inquiries. Before you contact us, please read the FAQ and make sure your question hasn't been answered there. If you don't see an answer to your question, please feel free to email us at oregon@womensmarch.com. Thank you!
Want to learn more about the folks behind this site? Here are some brief bios for the Oregon team of volunteer organizers:
- Erin Barnhart: Erin Barnhart, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized teacher, trainer, and consultant on domestic and international service, service-learning, and volunteer engagement. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration and the Advisory Council for the Talent Philanthropy Project. She is also a member of the Oregon Committee on Volunteerism, an online instructor for national service participants, and an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon. In previous positions, she served as the Graduate Program Director for IPSL and the Director of Volunteerism Initiatives for Idealist.org. A former Fulbright Scholar and AmeriCorps NCCC alum, Dr. Barnhart earned her Ph.D. in Urban Studies, studying international civic engagement, in 2012. In addition to her passion for meaningful civic engagement, Erin believes in inclusive, intersectional feminism and is an ally-in-training; currently, she is studying effective civil resistance in a course facilitated by the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict.
- Meg Busse: Meg is a Senior Account Manager at Context Partners, a design firm focused on relationships. She focuses her boundless energy on catalyzing innovation and leadership to drive systemic social impact. She has developed strategies and tools for forward thinking organizations including The World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic and the Packard Foundation. Previously, Meg helped launch and run the Nonprofit Career Program at Idealist.org, including co-authoring and publishing two books focused on doing work that matters. Whether dissecting what makes people care, crafting models for sustained innovation, or cultivating modern day movements, Meg is driven to find new ways to catalyze social change.
- Kathy Fong Stephens: I was born and raised in Portland. My husband and I have three sons and an adorable 2 year old granddaughter. Work-wise, I provide consultant services for non-profit organizations and charitable foundations in the areas of: planning and evaluation, programs and operations. Volunteer-wise, I am a CASA in Multnomah County, serve on the Portland Parks Board, and partner with my faith community and others to try to address social justice issues.
- Abby Frye: I am originally from the Midwest (Iowa to be exact), but I have called the PNW home for 10+ years now, PDX for the past 6. I identify as gay/lesbian and have been out since 2006. For my day job, I am a clinical pharmacist for the Providence Medical Group where I act as the drug information specialist for the physicians and take care of folks with diabetes. Other interests include trail running and triathalon-ing and cheering for the Chicago Cubs. I am passionate about politics and feminist issues, and I've always spent plenty of time reading and talking about these issues with family and friends. However, the recent election made me realize that just talking about these issues isn't enough, which is how I got here. I am definitely a newbie when it comes to activism and organizing, but I am eager to pitch in wherever and however I can.
- Bethany Grace Howe: Following graduation from the University of Colorado in 1992, Bethany pursued a variety of interests: High school teacher, hotel manager, performer & media manager for Disney on Ice, and Major League Baseball mascot. In 2002, Bethany returned to school at the University of Missouri. There she also served as an adjunct professor as well as a newspaper editor. She also won several awards for narrative and feature writing. Following graduation, Bethany went into small-town journalism where she worked as a reporter and then humor columnist in Lincoln County, Oregon. She later switched her journalism pursuits from writing to teaching, when she became a middle and high school journalism, English, and social studies teacher. She maintained this role until enrolling in the University of Oregon in 2015. Currently, Bethany freelances for local publications as well as blogs on LGBTQ issues for the Huffington Post. Her work can be found at www.HuffingtonPost.com/Raina-Bowe/ In addition to her primary doctoral focus on journalism pedagogy, she is also active in working for transgender equality. Presenting at schools as well as at professional and academic conferences, she helps people understand a very misunderstood part of the population. She also serves as a member of the Diversity Committee within the School of Journalism and Communication, and the The University Committee on Sexual Orientation, Attraction, Gender Identity and Expression. She is also the founding member and president of the UO chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association.
- Asia Mitchell: Asia is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular and Medical Genetics at Oregon Health & Science University, and a proud alumna of Chatham College for Women in Pittsburgh, PA. Although she was born and raised in Southern California, after living in Oregon for 7.5 years and establishing some roots, she now considers herself to be an Oregonian. She has spent her entire professional career as a biomedical researcher in genetics, working to interpret the biological code as it relates to human health and evolution. She is also passionate about promoting STEM education and literacy, increasing diversity in STEM professions, and protecting civil rights. Her volunteerism with community based civil rights and STEM education organizations in Portland-metro have provided many opportunities to take part in positive growth for our communities. She looks forward to engaging deeper with community-based organizations and national organizations to protect civil rights and improve social equity in areas where women are currently and historically underserved.
- Melanie Smith: Melanie Smith, LCSW, was raised outside of Washington DC and moved to New Mexico while still a teen. She was shaped by both the complicated history of the Southern United States and the rich Native American and Hispanic cultures in the Southwest. She is first generation American on her mother’s side, who immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at 18. Melanie graduated with her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Portland State University in 2008 and has since worked in the health care field to reduce inequities in accessing services, specifically serving low-income communities, people of color, and those stigmatized by chemical dependency or mental health issues. She lives and works in the Portland metro area with her husband and 7 year old son. Melanie was a former board member for Roots Ethiopia, a non-profit agency serving communities in Southern Ethiopia.
- Constance Van Flandern: Constance Van Flandern is an artist, designer and community activist originally from Washington, DC. Early in her career she directed and co-produced the Academy Award nominated short-subject documentary Blood-Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann, a film exploring 1st amendment protection of freedom of expression for artists and photographers. Van Flandern coined the term, Alphamom, in brand development for the Comcast Network, and parenting blog. Alphamom was a reaction to American cultural norms for women to lose their independent and/or professional identity after childbirth. She, was featured on The Today Show (NBC), USA Today, Ad Age and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers for her ideas on progressive parenting, without self-identity loss, for the modern mother. She now lives in Oregon where she enjoys her earned title, SLUG Queen (unofficial ambassador of Eugene), through which she supports local charitable events and organizations. These include food banks, Planned Parenthood Oregon, assistance for women and children, educational foundations, animal shelters, and autism awareness. Van Flandern is proud to be the radical feminist mother of two.