Goodbye and Q&A with Michael Reyes, NWHF Community Engagement Officer

A few words from Northwest Health Foundation Director of Programs Jen Matheson:

In this precarious moment it is dedicated and reliable people that give us reassurance. Michael Reyes Andrillion has been just that at NWHF for the past six years. 

Michael has been the key driver of our disability equity work, stewarded the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund, Healthy Beginnings + Healthy Communities and otherwise lent his expertise across our programs. He has had a tremendous positive impact across our organization and this region. 

How Michael shows up to support partners has changed who we are as an organization. Whether it was traveling to Eastern Oregon to meet with local leaders, finding a new meeting location to ensure accessibility, or staying late to clean up after an event, his willingness to show up and serve is a practice we strive to continue. 

We are thrilled for Michael’s new role at the Oregon Department of Education. Oregon’s students and families have an advocate who centers community voice and power. We are excited to see the impact he will make for educational and racial justice in our state. 

Saying goodbye to a beloved colleague is hard, but saying goodbye during a global pandemic is an unexpected challenge. As we work from home we are finding ways to celebrate Michael and look forward to a future date when we can raise a toast and offer a hug in person. 

Michael's last day with NWHF is March 27th. We will miss him so much. 

Q&A with Michael:

Q. What are you most proud of having worked on during your time at NWHF?

I’m proud of seeing all the accomplishments our funded partners have made in the legislature and at the ballot. As the funder, we cannot and should not take credit for the hard work our communities went through to pass these policies. But I know we helped a bit and gave their organizations funding and capacity and resources to stay in the fight. When I think about important policies like restoring driver’s licenses and Cover All Kids, it feels really good to know we contributed to that.

Q. What’s something you’ve learned at NWHF that you’ll carry with you?

Relationships matter and we should all be in the business of relationships. None of the work we do at NWHF would be possible without the relationships we forged with our community partners. And those relationships don’t form simply because we’re a foundation and we have money to give them. I hope we earned their trust by spending time in their communities, sharing meals, having tough conversations, and really getting to know the people who do the work. 

Q. What’s something that you contributed to NWHF that you hope will continue after you’ve left?

I hope the foundation continues to prioritize meeting our communities where they are at. We spent so much time across our region of Oregon and SW Washington being in community and you could always tell they appreciated having the funding partner come to them and get to know them in their own backyards. One of my favorite comments from a community partner I visited in Burns, Oregon once was, “wow, no one ever comes out here to visit with us.” You could tell it meant so much to her.

Q. What will you miss most about NWHF?

My team. We really did become like a family because we spent so much time together not only in the work but opening up our personal lives to each other. Everyone there inspired me to do my best because I was surrounded by colleagues who are all doing their best too.

These are some of the most amazing people I’ve ever worked with and I’m honored to consider them my friends.

Q. What advice do you have for the philanthropic sector?

Philanthropy has been the community’s steward, and often the gatekeeper, for funds and resources for many, many years. It’s time communities have more of a say where those resources go. I challenge funders to go out there and build stronger relationships with community partners. Make them part of your decision-making and re-examine how your policies and practices keep communities out. Most importantly, if your staff and board don’t reflect the communities you serve, make an honest effort to fix that.

Q. What’s next?

I’m excited to share that I will be joining the Oregon Department of Education in a new role as part of the Student Success Act. This was such a monumental piece of legislation that will invest significant resources back into our schools. The state is working to ensure that community members have a say where those funds go. I’ll be working with schools, community partners and state leaders to improve educational outcomes across our state for Latinx students and families.

What’s very exciting is I get to bring so much of what I learned at NWHF and many of the relationships I’ve forged with me. I may be in a new role at a different organization, but I know I’ll be seeing many of you around!