Our Give!Guide nonprofit partners represent some of the most dedicated people serving our community today. Their work spans advocacy, healing, youth support, financial empowerment, and maternal health—but what connects them is purpose. In this Q&A series, five leaders and volunteers share why they do what they do and how community support fuels their impact. Their stories offer a grounded look at the heart behind the work.
Why does your organization’s work matter to you?
I love how, as an organization, we prioritize the lived experience and voices of mothers, parents, caregivers, and workers in our efforts of racial, gender, and economic justice — it makes me feel really good that our work is grounded in those stories. I think that, especially during these challenging times, community is the number one crucial thing that will help us all push through and find the light at the end of this dark, seemingly long tunnel. The work that we do isn’t all about passing bills in the Oregon legislature, but also bringing community support to one another reminding everyone that we do have the power to make a difference, we just have to band together.
Why is your connection to this organization meaningful?
FFO is like one big family, and I don’t just mean within the organization! I have met some of the greatest people through our base, partner organizations, and the issues we advocate for, as well as beyond. As someone who was born and raised in Oregon, it’s amazing to meet people who love this state just as much as I do, flaws and all, and want to have the state grow in equitable social policies that benefit everyone in Oregon! Whether it is within the organization or with the folks we interact with, that is the biggest commonality I find: Oregon can be better for everyone, so lets get to work and make that change
What impact from this year are you especially proud of?
Our quick, wrap-around organizing (big shoutout to organizers in FFO and beyond!)! Ever since we entered this new administration, there have been several instances where actions have occurred that violate the rights of Oregonians. As a result, our ability to collaborate with our partner organizations, energize and mobilize our bases, and fight back with our voices has been extraordinary. Even though we didn’t achieve the big wins we wanted this past legislative session, I think we earned significant victories in ways we didn’t realize were possible a year ago.
Why does your organization’s work matter to you?
FinAbility's work is crucial to stopping cycles of domestic abuse. We help to rebuild lives through financial education, resources and empowerment at the direct services level as well as work with the banking and financial industry to reform the systems that often unintentionally allow the perpetuation of domestic and financial abuse.
Why is your connection to this organization meaningful?
Being connected to this organization is meaningful to me personally as a survivor of domestic and financial abuse. As a single mother of two young sons dealing with an abuser used financial power and control for decades, I am very aware of how important our mission is. I am also proud to be part of non profit whose mission and values are lived in their culture, and also one in which everyone brings both heart and business savvy to making change happen.
What impact from this year are you especially proud of?
I am especially proud of the savings match program that we rolled out this year. This allows people in our financial mentorship program who have built a budget and saved $500 to be rewarded with $500 in unrestricted funds.
Why does your organization’s work matter to you?
The work of Baby Blues Connection matters because parental mental health is fundamentally a child welfare issue. When a parent is deeply anxious or depressed it affects the whole family: functionally, emotionally, and even financially. Without proper support, this can negatively impact the emotional and cognitive development of their child and echo through society as a whole.
Why is your connection to this organization meaningful?
Baby Blues Connection was really there for me when I had postpartum anxiety and depression after my 2nd child was born. From my first conversation with the point of contact volunteer (the role I perform now for BBC) the feelings of panic and despair began to feel less overwhelming, because I suddenly felt less alone in them. After attending a few support group meetings I began to feel a small sense of hope; those meetings got me started on the road to recovery. Then, a year later I became a BBC volunteer and discovered that helping others actually made me feel a lot better about myself, and that too really factored into my healing process!
What impact from this year are you especially proud of?
I feel especially proud when I hear back from a caller who had been in despair that they are doing better after working with us. Since returning to volunteer with BBC this past Spring I've received a few notes from people telling me that they feel that I helped them get to a better place, and that of course feels really good.
Why does your organization’s work matter to you?
A community-based doula agency is vital for our city, particularly due to the historical lack of representation among Black, Brown, and Indigenous doulas and birth professionals. This scarcity has perpetuated inequities faced by Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, limiting their access to doulas who share their lived experiences and cultural backgrounds. Our agency is dedicated to bridging this gap by creating a welcoming and representative space for both families of color and doulas of color.
Our mission is to cultivate an exceptional generation of professional doulas, with a specific focus on Black, Indigenous, Latina/x, Asian, and other racially and linguistically diverse individuals. By doing so, we aim to empower them with sustainable careers while simultaneously improving maternal and infant health outcomes and addressing the evolving needs of birthing and postpartum individuals.
We envision a decolonized birth work profession, where the disparities and inequities that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and Latina/x communities are eliminated. The Community Doula Alliance (CDA) was founded in September 2020 specifically to confront the public health crisis of high infant and maternal mortality rates and to enhance pregnancy and birth outcomes within communities of color.
In Oregon, significant strides were made in 2013 when it became the first state for birth doulas to become eligible for Medicaid reimbursement as Traditional Health Worker (THW) designated doula. This landmark legislation was designed as a health equity measure specifically for marginalized families. Recognizing that doulas of color often face substantial barriers to sustainable reimbursement, CDA pursued the opportunity to be a THW Medicaid billing hub. This alleviates the administrative burden and paperwork for doulas, allowing them to focus on their crucial work supporting families. We believe that providing an inclusive and supportive environment is not just important for our city, but for all communities striving for equitable maternal and infant healthcare.
Why is your connection to this organization meaningful?
Prior to CDA, I initially entered the maternal health space through a home visiting program, where I supported teenage girls and new mothers. In this role, I navigated the complexities of the healthcare system and other challenges faced by young women in marginalized communities. I quickly recognized a significant lack of diversity within the system and committed myself to working directly with the communities that I understood intimately, leveraging my firsthand knowledge to help my cleints overcome systemic obstacles.
As I supported more teen moms, I became acutely aware of the unique difficulties faced by young, Black, and pregnant individuals in Portland. This exposure highlighted the critical need to examine how families were being treated within hospital settings and the direct impact on birth outcomes. This realization spurred me to pursue doula training through Birthingway Midwifery. It was through this combination of experiences that the vision for CDA began to form: a unique model combining the comprehensive support of home visiting care workers with the invaluable advocacy of doula care, specifically designed to fill the glaring gaps I witnessed within the system. This personal journey and commitment to culturally-specific care are the driving forces behind CDA's mission to decolonize birth work and improve maternal and infant health outcomes for families of color in Portland.
What impact from this year are you especially proud of?
Early in my career as a home visit professional, before I even knew what a doula was, one of my clients shared she was experiencing cramping and asked for me to come with her to the doctor. I immediately drove her to the appointment and was the presence she needed in that moment.
During this appointment, my client mentioned the possibility of a yeast infection. I witnessed the doctor’s response and I was shocked. He immediately told her to "get on the table," then proceeded to touch without consent and demonstrate a terrible bedside manner without any consideration for my client as well as even acknowledging me in the room. This moment was a profound awakening for me. My instinct was to question the doctor's conduct and I also realized how my clients, and, most likely, the broader communities of color I served, were being treated within the hospital system, particularly during such vulnerable times as pregnancy and birth.
This experience solidified my conviction that advocacy and fair treatment were not just beneficial, but absolutely essential. It became clear to me that an organization "for us and by us," created by and for communities of color, was more than just needed—it was a necessity to ensure equitable and respectful care. This powerful realization laid the groundwork for the Community Doula Alliance, inspiring our commitment to decolonize birth work and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Why does your organization’s work matter to you?
Janus has been a trusted leader in our community because of the work that we do for the youth and their families in the many local communities we partner with.
Why is your connection to this organization meaningful?
Working with youth has always been near and dear to my heart personally. As I have aged and have had increased work and personal responsibilities my time to volunteer and work with youth directly just hasn’t been possible. Since I was a transplant from Chicago and did not know the local community very well I was searching for a way to give back to this new community my wife and I moved to. And one day one of my colleagues from work invited me to the Dinner at the Vines event a few years back and after listening to the youth speak about how Janus impacted his life, I knew from that moment that Janus was the organization that I wanted to give my time and other resources to. The youth set the course for what life will be like for all of us as we evolve as a community, it’s important to invest in them and share the limited wisdoms we have.
What impact from this year are you especially proud of?
Janus is so impactful in so many ways that it is difficult to one choose on thing I am especially proud of, but if I had to choose I wanted to take the time to recognize the whole Janus staff who are so committed to working to their various expertise and deciding to do what I view as God’s work in our community. They are the healers among us that are using their gifts to uplift others around them, that is a special thing to witness!
These conversations offer just a glimpse into the heart, grit, and generosity powering our Give!Guide nonprofit partners. Join us in supporting their campaigns, fueling their impact, and helping strengthen our community this giving season.
Family Forward Oregon, FinAbility, Baby Blues Connection, Community Doula Alliance, Janus Youth Programs
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