How do our board members identify?

 

Northwest Health Foundation believes that the board of an organization should reflect the communities it serves. We also believe our cultural, linguistic and community identities make our organization stronger, smarter and more effective. These identities, whether constructed by social, political or other forces, unite us in working towards a healthy region for everyone. That's why we asked our board to take an identity survey. We want to hold ourselves accountable for attracting and retaining a diverse board of directors.

Note: The survey was optional, and board members opted out of any questions they preferred not to answer.

 

Race and Ethnicity

NWHF board members identify as Indigenous/Mexica/Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Bangladeshi, white, Middle Eastern/Arab American, human, Black and BLACK.

 

Language

Board members speak English, Spanish, Arabic, BODY and wordless.

 

Disability

Two board members identify as disabled, mentally ill, chronically ill, neurodivergent, and/or Deaf.

 

Geography

NWHF board members were born in Concord, Massachusetts; Illinois; Pasco and Walla Walla, Washington; Puerto Rico; Sanaa, Yemen; and San Antonio, Texas.

They grew up in Bakersfield, California; Corvallis and Gresham, Oregon; Irving, Texas; Minnesota; Ohio; Oregon; Syracuse, New York; and the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

They now live in Clackamas, Eugene, Ontario, Portland, Redmond and Tigard, Oregon and the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

 

Gender

Two board members identify as female, five as male. They use he/they pronouns, she/her/hers pronouns and he/him/el pronouns.

 

Sexual Orientation

Four board members identify as heterosexual/straight, one as bisexual, one as queer, one as “fluid as a druid.”

 

Age

Three board members were born in the 1970s, four in the 1980s.

 

Highest Level of Education

Two NWHF board members have some college, one has a college certificate, one has a bachelor’s degree, two have master’s degrees, and one has a medical doctorate.

 
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Impact by the Carceral System

Three board members and/or their family members have been directly impacted by the carceral system.

 

Religious Affiliation

Board members religious affiliations include Art, Islam, Roman Catholic, Washut 7 Drum, spiritual and none.

 

Household

All board members live with a partner, child/children, and/or parent.

Four own a home, two rent, and one does neither.

Four board members have used public assistance. Three have not.

Most use a car as their primary form of transportation. One uses public transportation, and one also uses astral projection.

 

Other Identities

Lived experience as a person of color. Domestic violence survivor.