Our Board of Directors was confirmed for the current term by our Members, April 2021.
Dr. Staci B. Martin, UPRISE Board Facilitator
Dr. Staci B. Martin (she/her/hers) is part of the faculty at the School of Social Work at Portland State University (PSU). She holds an MA in Art Therapy and an EdD in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program: Curriculum and Instruction. She is a scholar of critical hope and critical despair. She is a community-based action researcher that researches with and led by vulnerable populations, in particular refugee youth. She has lived and worked alongside communities in over 15 countries. Her experiences vary from designing, implementing, and evaluating sustainable psychosocial peace building educational programs in four countries: Dieplsoot Informal Settlement, South Africa (nthabiseng project, 2001), Vishwa Shanti Vihara Vishwa Monastery, Nepal (Khelera Sikou Project, 2012), Jamaica (Irie Project, 2010), and Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya (Pambazuka, 2017). She has presented in over 20 conferences and authored 5 papers. One paper was co-authored with her co-researchers in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya and another one was co-authored by co-researchers at Portland Youth Builders. She is currently working on 4 papers.
Dominique Price, MSW, QMHP, UPRISE Board Member
Dominique Price (she/her/hers). First-generation college degree earner (Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Social Work), Chicana/Latina, poet on a spiritual path. Originating from Nevada and New Mexico, experiences of domestic violence, sexual abuse, homelessness/transience, and mental health challenges are part of a personal history which inspire a parallel path of supporting others. Career includes years of environmental work and direct social service work in community mental health and drug treatment settings with youth, young adults, older adults and justice involved women. Volunteer work includes mentoring youth, working with houseless community members, and supporting a non-profit camp on the Oregon Coast. Particular interests include radical mental health/anti-psychiatry, anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism, feminist, criminal justice
reform and social justice/social change practice. Time spent in the luscious company of friends, family and co-workers traveling, enjoying food, movies, music, deep conversations and being outside are sustenance for the soul.
reform and social justice/social change practice. Time spent in the luscious company of friends, family and co-workers traveling, enjoying food, movies, music, deep conversations and being outside are sustenance for the soul.
Abdul Fofanah, MSW, QMHP, UPRISE Treasurer
Abdul Fofanah, MSW, QMHP
He/Him/His
Born in Sierra Leone, Abdul Fofanah is a community organizer and social change agent. He is passionate about uplifting human capacity across socioeconomic and cultural divides. He has worked in various non-profits and governmental organizations providing culturally responsive supports in building capacity for underserved communities to thrive. He currently works as a mental health clinician for Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare.
He/Him/His
Born in Sierra Leone, Abdul Fofanah is a community organizer and social change agent. He is passionate about uplifting human capacity across socioeconomic and cultural divides. He has worked in various non-profits and governmental organizations providing culturally responsive supports in building capacity for underserved communities to thrive. He currently works as a mental health clinician for Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare.
Shaila Zamora, UPRISE Story Keeper
True story: Shaila Zamora's (she/her/hers) mother had a savings account dedicated to the day Shaila would need to be bailed out of jail. She started her activism and badassery as a teenager and, in her mother’s eyes, it was only a matter of time before she would be detained. Like most Mexican mothers, she would bless her daughter, "Que valles con Dios, mija. AND, don't get caught, pendeja, 'cause I have to work late tonight."
Her formative years were spent in Barrio Logan of San Diego, CA, where her community encouraged her to use her voice to effect change. Her early work included policy-change for sex education that included LGBT issues and non-abstinence as well as academic reform that is fair to marginalized students.
Today, Shaila is committed to helping create intention community that celebrates peoples authentic selves. She has hosted numerous monthly brunches for QTBIPoC as part of Brown Brunch and worked with PDX Latinx Pride, concentrating on the inclusivity of women, femme-identified, non-binary, queer, radical, and/or bisexual identidades. She is a leader of QTLatinx, a mujerista gender-inclusive group in Portland. She works on various projects around cultural preservation, radical politics, and community building.
She identifies as a writer, co-parent, a friend, and an unapologetic queer fat femme Xicana. So, basically, we can boil this whole bio down to, she’s a Sagittarius.
Her formative years were spent in Barrio Logan of San Diego, CA, where her community encouraged her to use her voice to effect change. Her early work included policy-change for sex education that included LGBT issues and non-abstinence as well as academic reform that is fair to marginalized students.
Today, Shaila is committed to helping create intention community that celebrates peoples authentic selves. She has hosted numerous monthly brunches for QTBIPoC as part of Brown Brunch and worked with PDX Latinx Pride, concentrating on the inclusivity of women, femme-identified, non-binary, queer, radical, and/or bisexual identidades. She is a leader of QTLatinx, a mujerista gender-inclusive group in Portland. She works on various projects around cultural preservation, radical politics, and community building.
She identifies as a writer, co-parent, a friend, and an unapologetic queer fat femme Xicana. So, basically, we can boil this whole bio down to, she’s a Sagittarius.
Summer Brown, LMFT, UPRISE Board Member
Summer Brown (She/Her/Hers), is a Mom, Therapist and Nerd. She lives in Vancouver, Wa with her twins, 2 dogs and a cat. Her work centers around wellness with a focus on challenging and dismantling systems of oppression for marginalized folx. She’s an avid reader of mysteries and lighthearted romance novels, as well as a writer. She has experience teaching at a local community college and graduate school Summer additionally has experience speaking to other mental health professionals about inequity, the impact of oppression on the holistic wellness of Black people and other folx who hold marginalized identities.
www.TherapeuticChangePLLC.com
www.TherapeuticChangePLLC.com
Asa Wright, MFA, UPRISE Board Member (former Treasurer)
Asa Wright, MFA
Klamath/Modoc
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Artist | Designer | Activist
Asa is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes from Chiloquin, Oregon though he has called Portland home for the last 20 years. He is an artist of many mediums. Asa has a Bachelors degree in Public Health from Portland State University and a Masters degree in Collaborative Design from Pacific NW College of Art. He is a proud pa to daughter Yukpa and spoiled pup Wasu.
Asa blends his backgrounds in public health and art/design to work on cultural
revitalization, decolonization and positive social change. Asa also creates art for action, art that brings about awareness of social justice issues that motivate communities, people and organizations to mobilize for direct change.
Coordinator for IP3-Indigenous Peoples Power Project,
Owner of Thesebraids Art & Design
Director Sa'aMaqs Studio
Founder of Portland Two Spirit Society
Hopper magazine article
Klamath/Modoc
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Artist | Designer | Activist
Asa is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes from Chiloquin, Oregon though he has called Portland home for the last 20 years. He is an artist of many mediums. Asa has a Bachelors degree in Public Health from Portland State University and a Masters degree in Collaborative Design from Pacific NW College of Art. He is a proud pa to daughter Yukpa and spoiled pup Wasu.
Asa blends his backgrounds in public health and art/design to work on cultural
revitalization, decolonization and positive social change. Asa also creates art for action, art that brings about awareness of social justice issues that motivate communities, people and organizations to mobilize for direct change.
Coordinator for IP3-Indigenous Peoples Power Project,
Owner of Thesebraids Art & Design
Director Sa'aMaqs Studio
Founder of Portland Two Spirit Society
Hopper magazine article
Dustina Haase-Lanier, MSW, UPRISE Board Member
Dustina Haase-Lanier, MSW has been a social justice warrior for 20 years. She started as a volunteer at the domestic violence shelter where she once sought refuge and became an advocate. She was the LGBTQ domestic and sexual violence specialist at the Clark County YWCA and the Technical Coordinator at the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, leading trainings and workshops all over the state of Oregon and at national conferences. She is committed to social justice work, particularly focusing on Native American and other women of color.
Past Board Members
Marina Barcelo, MSW, MA, Former UPRISE Story Keeper
Marina Barcelo, MSW, MA, (she/her/hers) is the Student Inclusion Coordinator at Portland State University’s School of Social Work, where she provides ongoing student and faculty support in the areas of recruitment and retention, with a specific focus on students of color and first generation students. Marina provides direct clinical support, as well as leadership around institutional change. In addition to her service on the UPRISE Collective Board, Marina serves as the Board Vice President of the ACLU of Oregon. She also serves as a board member of Momentum Alliance, a youth led organization that mentors social justice leaders. Marina is a reproductive justice advocate and member of We Are BRAVE, a people of color led coalition working at the intersections of reproductive justice, immigrant rights, youth movements, health equity, and tribal sovereignty. Lastly, Marina is a member of the Oregon Community Foundation’s Latino Partnership Program Advisory Council, where she helps strengthen Latino engagement in and influence on social and economic issues that affect their lives and communities. Marina holds a Master’s of Social Work, a Master’s in Women’s & Gender Studies, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy from Loyola University Chicago. In her “free time,” Marina serves her communities through movement. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and owner of Dude Girl PDX, providing body-positive fitness instruction for all levels, body shapes and sizes, and abilities.
Dr. Gita Mehrotra, Former UPRISE Board Member
Gita Mehrotra (she/her/hers) is currently on the faculty at Portland State University, School of Social Work. Prior to entering academia Gita did domestic violence work for over a decade years in a variety of capacities including: direct service, education/training, and program and organizational development, with a focus on API communities and LGBTQ communities of color. Gita has also been involved with community building within queer and trans communities of color for over 20 years in the Midwest and West Coast. Gita’s current research and teaching interests include: racial equity and social justice within social work education and in organizational contexts, intimate violence in minoritized communities, & queer people of color identities & wellness. gita is also currently a member of the community advisory committee for Bradley Angle's LGBTQ program in Portland, OR and also serves on the board for Social Justice Fund Northwest.