Staff
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Dan Petegorsky, Executive DirectorDan joined the Center as Executive Director in January, 1996, after four years of service on the Board as Treasurer. Previously Dan worked for eight years as Western Regional Director for the Peace Development Fund in Seattle, and in this capacity funded and supported many of the key grassroots and progressive organizations in the Western states. Prior to moving to Seattle, Dan completed graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, and has worked in social justice organizations on a wide variety of domestic and foreign policy issues since the late 1960s. Email: danp(at)wscpdx.org Phone: 503-228-8866 ext. 102 |
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RuthAlice Anderson, Administration and Finance ManagerRuthAlice brings to the Center extensive experience, which she gained from her work as Financial Manager with Oregon Fair Share and Basic Rights Oregon. Ruth is former board chair of Oregon Action and used to served on the boards of US Action and Progressive Action Network. Raised in a politically active, progressive family, RuthAlice stuffed envelopes for her first candidate at eight and has been volunteering for candidates and initiative campaigns ever since. E-mail: rutha(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 107 |
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Yee Won Chong, Development & Communication DirectorYee Won joined the Center in February, 2008. Born and raised in Malaysia, Yee Won has been initiating development and earned-income projects since secondary school - and, for the past twelve years, has translated those skills into professional work for social justice and change. Before moving to the Northwest, Yee Won was the Development Specialist of United for a Fair Economy and Development Director of Haymarket People's Fund. Yee Won is currently on the board of directors for GIFT (Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training) and Colectivo Flatlander. E-mail: yeewonc(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 111 |
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Sheri Englert, Special Events InternSheri began her internship with the Center in March, 2010 and is excited to be researching and documenting the history of the Western States Center. Her first experience in community organizing was with Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood in Bellingham, WA. Since, she has been a staunch advocate for reproductive rights and health, and has been involved in the Healthy Youth Alliance, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon Legislative Action Team, ACLU Portland Outreach Committee and campaigns for numerous pro-choice candidates in the 2008 election. She graduated from Linfield College in 2008 with a BA in Political Theory and a minor in Spanish. E-mail: sherie(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 114 |
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Kayla Gleason, Events CoordinatorKayla returned to the Center in 2008 as CSTI Coordinator after completing her Master's degree in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations, which involved a nine-month internship with the Center. She is originally from Boise, Idaho and received her Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Southern Oregon University. After living in Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico and Vermont, she is happy to have found her home in the Northwest in Portland. E-mail: kaylag(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 108 |
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Nancy Haque, Building Political Power DirectorNancy joined the Center in August 2007. Just before coming to the center she was in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she earned a Masters degree in Public Policy. From 2001 until 2005, Nancy worked as a Western Region Field Organizer for National Jobs with Justice, based out of Washington, DC. Prior to that she worked at the AFL-CIO and for several years as an organizer for Portland Jobs with Justice. Nancy first fell in love with the Pacific Northwest as a student at the Evergreen State College. She has been an activist since high school, fighting for workers’ rights and economic justice at home and around the world. E-mail: nancyh(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 105 |
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Sarah Howell, Trainer and OrganizerSarah joined the Center in January, 2008. Before coming to the Center Sarah was Director of Training for Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), a national organization based in New York City that bridges HIV/AIDS work and struggles for social, racial and economic justice. Originally from Montana, Sarah has also worked in violence prevention, queer rights, and economic justice groups. E-mail: sarahh(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 109 |
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Walidah Imarisha, Trainer and OrganizerWalidah is a poet, activist, educator and independent journalist. Walidah has taught at Portland State University in the Black Studies Department. She is the bad half of the poetry duo Good Sista/Bad Sista. Her poetic, political and academic work centers around prisons, creating community based alternatives and institutions and the intersection of oppression. E-mail: walidahi(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 106 |
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Kalpana Krishnamurthy, Gender Justice Program and RACE Program DirectorKalpana joined the Center in 2005. From 2002-2005, she was the director of the Third Wave Foundation, which works nationally to support and strengthen the next generation of young women and transgender activists. Kalpana brings fifteen years experience to the Center, starting as a youth organizer in college and in Madison, WI. She has also worked extensively on issues of reproductive health and justice and young women's empowerment. In October 2007, Kalpana became mom to Sachin, adding another activist to the family. Kalpana grew up in Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon. E-mail: kalpanak(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 110 |
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Aimee Santos-Lyons, Trainer and OrganizerAimee joined the Center in May, 2007. Aimee brings twelve years of both U.S. and international experience in both social development and humanitarian concerns, with a special emphasis on gender equity, reproductive health and gender-based violence. Educated in the U.S. and the Philippines, Aimee holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University. E-mail: aimeesl(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 103 |
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Kelley Weigel, Associate DirectorKelley became Associate Director in August, 2007 and joined the staff in the summer of 2002. Having served first as our Civic Participation and Political Power Director, Kelley's relationship with the Center goes back to 1993 when she was a participant in the first run of the Advanced Leadership and Mentorship Program. Kelley’s work history has focused on community organizing in Oregon and included organizing ballot measure campaigns and candidate campaigns, as well as training and leadership development programs. E-mail: kelleyw(at)wscpdx.org Phone: (503) 228-8866 ext. 112 |
