For caring adults, it’s a familiar pattern in the nonprofit world. You start out as a event volunteer, become involved in a big project, get asked to join the board of directors and before you know it, you’ve stepped into a leadership role. Samantha Jordan recognizes the process because it happened to her in service to Portland Workforce Alliance.
As a human resources manager, Anna Yates brings a perspective and passion for workforce development as an increasingly influential voice on the Portland Workforce Alliance board of directors.
As a young, black female architect, Gabrielle Riley is aware she stands out in a profession long dominated by older white males. That’s why it’s important for her, as PWA board secretary, to reach out to young people of color and encourage them to see themselves doing the same kind of creative, well-paying work as her.
During his long tenure on the PWA board, JR Gustafson has sought to leverage Nike’s considerable resources for the benefit of public high school students in the Portland metro area.
Janet Rodriguez got involved with Portland Workforce Alliance as a volunteer mock interviewer five years ago. Now she hopes to build on that experience as a new PWA board member.
