Mariana Parra

As a person of color with various intersecting identities, Mari often struggled to find belonging growing up. “My family migrated to Oregon when I was in first grade. My native language is Mayan and it was hard for me to learn how to read and write in English.

"In high school, I had an educator who couldn’t pronounce my name so they changed to ‘Maryanne’ to fit them. I didn’t immediately recognize the harm until much later in life when I started my journey as an equity practitioner. I wonder how different my experience would have been if they would have taken the time to say my name right.”

As the Project Manager and Executive Support for the Vice President of Impact, Mari works on various projects of all sizes within the Impact department. She ensures that the VP of Impact has the support she needs, by managing her calendar, carrying out her priorities and ensuring her goals are met. 

Before Meyer, Mari worked in the nonprofit and public sectors, often providing direct service to the community. She spent the last decade working for Portland Public Schools and Multnomah County. Before that, she worked at De La Salle North Catholic. She holds a professional Project Management certification from the PSU Center for Executive and Professional Education. 

Outside of work, she finds purpose in her family: “My children inspire me the most. I have a teenager and a small child. My daughter is autistic and she has taught us so many things, most important to always have patience and grace with one another. Especially on days when I think things are going hard, she reminds me to see the world in a different light.”