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 African-American, Black, Chicana, Indigenous/Mexica/Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Bangladeshi, white, Latine, Mexicana, Middle Eastern/Arab American, and human.
Language
Board members speak English, Spanish, Arabic, BODY and wordless.
Disability
Three board members identify as disabled, mentally ill, chronically ill, neurodivergent, and/or Deaf.
Geography
NWHF board members were born in Aurora, Colorado; Illinois; Pasco, Washington; Pasadena, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Puerto Rico; Sanaa, Yemen; and San Antonio, Texas.
They grew up in Altadena/Pasadena and Bakersfield, California; Corvallis and Lake Oswego, Oregon; Granite Bay, California; Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Irving, Texas; Minnesota; Ohio; Oregon; and Phoenix, Arizona.
They now live in Ashland, Clackamas, Eugene, Lake Oswego, Ontario, Portland, and Redmond, Oregon.
Gender
Three board members identify as female, five as male. They use he/they pronouns, she/her/hers pronouns and he/him/el pronouns.
Sexual Orientation
Six board members identify as heterosexual/straight, one as bisexual, one as “fluid as a druid.”
Age
Three board members were born in the 1970s, five in the 1980s.
Highest Level of Education
One NWHF board member has some college, one has a college certificate, two have a bachelor’s degree, three have master’s degrees, and one has a medical doctorate.
Impact by the Carceral System
Two board members and/or their family members have been directly impacted by the carceral system.
Religious Affiliation
Board members religious affiliations include Art, Catholic, Christian-leaning/questioning, Islam, spiritual and none.
Household
Most board members live with a partner, child/children, and/or parent. One lives alone.
Seven own a home, and one rents.
Four board members have used public assistance. Four 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. Sexual abuse survivor. Immigrant. Dyslexic.