All Hands Raised Adds Eight New Board Members Affirming the Organization’s Commitment to Reflect the Community it Serves
Eight distinguished members of the community joined the Board of Directors of All Hands Raised on July 1, 2013. The All Hands Raised Board now includes 26 members from a diverse cross-section of the community. Half of the members represent communities of color, key to the work of All Hands Raised to focus the community’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for children and youth with a priority given to equity.
Simone Brooks, Scott Hatley, Victoria Lara, Michael Lewellen, Eddie Martinez, Bob McKean, Von Summers and Wim Wiewel were elected to serve a three-year term. Along with these new members for the 2013/14 year, the board approved Carole Morse, president, PGE Foundation as board chair, Dan Floyd, chief operating officer, Hood to Coast/Portland to Coast Relays as vice chair, Christine Barbour, community leader as treasurer. Lee Po Cha, director of the Asian Family Center is immediate past chair.
“These new additions join a board that is committed to having the difficult and necessary conversations required to improve educational outcomes for children and youth,” said Carole Morse, All Hands Raised board chair and president of the PGE Foundation. “They are all outstanding individuals in their own right and their knowledge, experience and passions will help us continue to make progress both as an organization, and a community working together for our kids.”
Simone Brooks is the president of Brooks Staffing, an Oregon-based, minority-owned staffing agency with deep roots in the Portland community. Brooks Staffing was founded by Samuel Brooks in 1981 and she was raised in the family business. Prior to becoming President, Brooks was the Business Development Director at Brooks Staffing and also spent several years in hazardous materials management for an environmental consulting company.
Scott Hatley is the co-founder of Incight, which has the mission to empower people with disabilities to become contributing members of society, by leading them through several dynamic programs focused in the areas of education, employment, networking and independence. Hatley, who was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is recognized as an effective advocate for the disabled community receiving awards from the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Exceptional Parent Magazine, Oregon Parent Training and Information Center Exceed Enterprises.
Victoria Lara is the chief executive officer and founder of Lara Media Services, the only Latina owned media agency in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to the creation of Lara Media, Lara was responsible for the administration and marketing of several Mexican Restaurants chains and also worked at Larson Advertising Agency, the only advertising agency in the Northwest that offered demographic analysis and insight in to the Latino Culture.
Michael Lewellen is the senior vice president of communications and public engagement for the Portland Trail Blazers. Lewellen is responsible for directing the team’s communications and public engagement strategies. Prior to joining the Blazers, Lewellen was VP of Marketing and Communications for the Heart of Florida United Way. He has over 30 years of experience working for well-known and respected organizations including Black Entertainment Television, Heart of Florida United Way and Fox Sports Network/Fox Broadcasting.
Eddie Martinez is a renowned musician and president of Amped Media Solutions, an established affiliate /CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) network aimed at offering a better solution for internet marketing publishers and advertisers. His musical resume includes his own feature album, as well as collaborations with Robert Palmer, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Steve Winwood, Diana Ross and Patti Labelle, among others.
Bob McKean is the former superintendent of Oregon’s Centennial School District, retiring in 2010 after serving as an educator for 40 years. His vast educational experience includes elementary and middle school teacher, elementary school principal, director of curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent (2 years, MCPS). In 2003, McKean was appointed Superintendent of Centennial School District in Portland/Gresham where he served for seven years. He is currently an adjunct professor in both the doctoral and continuing licensure programs at the Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.
Von Summers serves as community affairs manager at NW Natural where he works to ensure its philanthropy and community partnership programs respond to changing community needs. Summers designed the company’s Program of Focus efforts and manages the relationships with nonprofits and community-based organizations throughout NW Natural’s service territory. His nonprofit Board service has included the Children’s Relief Nursery, SMART, Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington, Catalyst – The Campaign for Vernonia’s Schools, and Portland State University’s Graduate School of Education Advisory Committee.
Wim Wiewel is president of Portland State University, the state’s largest university. Prior to coming to PSU, Wiewel was the provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at the University of Baltimore. From 1979-2004, Wiewel was with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he most recently served as dean of the College of Business Administration. Wiewel also directed UIC’s Center for Urban Economic Development. Wiewel is chair of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities and on the boards of the Portland Business Alliance, World Affairs Council of Oregon, the American College and University’s Presidents Climate Commitment, and the Metro Leadership Council. He has authored or edited nine books and more than 65 articles and chapters that have appeared in publications and journals.
All Hands Raised serves as the backbone organization for the All Hands Raised Partnership. In all that the organization does its focus is on supporting education, equity and excellence from cradle to career. The roots of this were planted when All Hands Raised was established nearly two decades ago as the Portland Public Schools Foundation. All Hands Raised synchronizes the community to help partners from all sectors of Multnomah County work in concert to ensure our kids’ success from birth to career and stewards PPS parent-led fundraising and manage the PPS Equity Fund Grants. Through it all, the organization is steadfast in its commitment to help all kids achieve their full potential.
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