Meyer recently completed a comprehensive strategic planning process, a deep dive into how we do grantmaking and how we can better center community in all we do. As Meyer Memorial Trust sharpens our focus on racial justice, and on applying an anti-racist, feminist lens to our work, we must strive to better align our purpose and our business operations.

To achieve that stronger alignment, Meyer CEO Michelle J. DePass has promoted Brenda Hodges to the role of Chief Financial Officer. As Meyer's director of finance for the last five years, Brenda has been a trusted advisor to the executive team and Meyer's board of trustees. She has steered the organization's finances through great periods of change, growth, and challenges. Brenda has also led Meyer's independent audit process, and modernized the organization's accounting practices with an emphasis on mission alignment. This new role is an opportunity for Brenda to oversee and elevate the strategic value and impacts of other compliance functions, such as IT and operations.

As we move through operationalization, Meyer's attention will in due course turn to impact: how can we make the most impact in Oregon? And how do we know when we are? That focus on impact merits someone entirely focused on it.

To achieve that goal, DePass has appointed Kaberi Banerjee Murthy to the newly created role of Chief Impact Officer. The Chief Impact Officer’s top priority is to bring a racial justice and intersectional feminist lens to the work which centers community voice and shifts power. Since 2018, Kaberi has led Meyer's programs and strategy teams, while also leading the board and staff through a planning process which just resulted in a new strategic framework. As Meyer's inaugural Chief Impact Officer, Kaberi will oversee all of Meyer’s mission-focused work, specifically the development of its long-term strategy, oversight of grantmaking, programs and advocacy, and the implementation of values-aligned evaluation.

Congratulations, Kaberi and Brenda. Meyer is grateful for your thoughtful leadership.

Kaberi Banerjee Murthy (L), Brenda Hodges (R)

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve hired Roy Kaufmann as Meyer’s new director of communications.

Roy, who most recently served as Interim Associate Vice President for Communications at Lewis & Clark College, brings to Meyer more than two decades of experience in communications.

An award-winning communications practitioner, Roy’s extensive experience includes managing media relations, issues management and crisis communications. At Lewis & Clark College, Roy served on both the college's emergency management steering committee, its sustainability council, and its diversity, equity and inclusion committee. As the new Director of Communications, he will lead strategic communications, from media relations and web content development, to social media, strategic storytelling, branding, community engagement and employee communications.

Roy brings a wealth of experience in maintaining alignment between an organization’s communications and its core mission and values. His expertise will be integral to Meyer’s work towards an equitable community where all Oregonians can reach their full potential.

Prior to his time at Lewis & Clark, Roy served as speechwriter to Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, and before that, as press secretary and communications director to Portland Mayor Sam Adams. He holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California, Davis. A lifelong fan and student of comedy and improvisation, he fondly recalls his studies at the Second City Theater training school in Los Angeles.

“I’m excited to support Michelle and the entire Meyer team of change agents in accomplishing our mission to work with and invest in organizations, communities, ideas and efforts that contribute to a flourishing and equitable Oregon,” Roy said.

He began work at Meyer in September.

Roy Kaufmann, Meyer's new Director of Communications

I am excited to share that Sohel Hussain will join Meyer Memorial Trust as the first-ever Director of Investment Operations. Sohel most recently oversaw the middle office team at PIMCO, a global investment management firm focusing on active fixed income management. He brings a decade of experience in operations, trade support, cash management and project management.

He has extensive experience managing the “middle office” — the work that moves forward the investment process and provides critical information to fiduciaries and stakeholders. As Director of Investment Operations, he will be responsible for strengthening partnerships and improving workflow in this area among Meyer’s operations, accounting, information technology and communications teams. 

As we continue to formalize and professionalize our investment operations, Sohel's proven leadership skills will help to guide Meyer in our dedicated support for communities across Oregon through strong alignment between our investments and values.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business and is completing a Masters of Liberal Arts in Finance at Harvard University.

 

—Rukaiyah

Sohel Hussain, Meyer's first Director of Investment Operations

For a kid from Chicago’s hardscrabble Southside, travelling to Oregon for summer vacation was magic. Even the air, so fresh and clear, was a wonder. One indelible memory I have was asking my mother why everything in Oregon looked so much crisper. Only years later did I realize that it was due to the air quality, untainted by the steel mill exhaust that was omnipresent back home.

But that was only a small part of the magic. I was privileged to be able to visit my family in Hood River every summer when I was a child in the 1970s and 80s. The mountains, the orchards, the lakes, the rivers, small town Little League games, dripping popsicles on the lawn, the sweet scent of Grandpa’s roses—all of these combined to show me another way of living.

These were treasured experiences, but I did not make the Mid-Columbia Gorge my full-time home until I had explored urban centers throughout the country as a social worker and nonprofit consultant. A confluence of factors brought me to Oregon. Four things happened at once: First, I married a Brooklyn boy who was also enamored of the Pacific Northwest. We wanted to raise children where we could send them to a safe public school. I also landed my dream job in Hood River. And this allowed me the opportunity to share in the last years of my beloved grandmother’s life.

The dream job was to provide structure, support and ensure continuation funding for community health workers at The Next Door, Inc., a grass-roots organization that has assisted Columbia Gorge residents since 1971. After three years as a program manager of Nuestra Comunidad Sana, the health promotion program at The Next Door, I was promoted to be the executive director. For the past 14 years, I’ve had the pleasure of leading a team of dedicated and passionate people who care deeply about making our community a better place.

As a grantee of Meyer Memorial Trust since 1991, I was not surprised to receive a call from Meyer’s then CEO, Doug Stamm back in the summer of 2016. What was surprising, however, was that I was being considered as a potential trustee. How often do foundations want grantees on their boards? I still ask that question as, after five years, I’ve become immersed in the world of philanthropy. The answer? “Not often.” Yet, this is a true mark of inclusion by an organization that consistently honors diversity and lifts the voices of communities most proximate to the issues it seeks to solve.

I am humbled to now serve as Meyer’s board chair, a dream for someone such as myself who has fought long, tireless battles to gain recognition for the utter strength and resilience of everyday Oregonians.

I pledge to continue this fight for my neighbors, especially those not celebrated in headlines; those lost to view who toil and suffer, but who deserve everything I have and more. In my new position, I plan to work alongside my team members at Meyer and our many grantees to live out our mission of a flourishing and equitable Oregon. I hope to make my idyllic childhood summers more of a reality for all Oregonians.

Janet Hamada as a child with her brother, Matt and grandparents, Maki and Horace Hamada

I’m pleased to announce the election of Janet Hamada as chair of Meyer’s Board of Trustees, effective today, April 1. She succeeds former chair, Toya Fick, who led the board from 2019-2021.

Janet, who became a Meyer trustee in 2017, is Executive Director of The Next Door, a social service agency based in Hood River, and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Four Rivers Early Learning Hub and the Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

A long-time resident of the Columbia Gorge and native of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood, she brings to Meyer a passion for social justice and a long history of work in the nonprofit sector.

I look forward to working more closely with Janet as we continue down the path of our strategy development work. Her passion for the work we do and her commitment to equity are inspiring. I am confident that the board and all Meyer staff will benefit from Janet’s dedication and leadership.

I’d also like to personally thank Toya for her service as chair and for her leadership of the board over the past two years, including through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her insight and thought partnership have been invaluable contributions to the work and culture of Meyer.

Please join me in thanking Toya and congratulating Janet.

-Michelle

Janet Hamada, chair of Meyer Memorial Trust's board of trustees

"In conscious recognition of an imperfect past, it is what we do in the present that creates the change we seek."

 

So begins “Our Place in Oregon History,” the recently released visual introduction to Meyer’s new headquarters in North Portland. Portland filmmaker Donielle Howard captures soaring and luminous footage of our building — its thoughtfully considered spaces, sustainable footprint and meaningful artwork, all of which represent the hope and inspiration that drives our work at Meyer.

But the new space is only part of the story. Our home in the heart of the lower Albina neighborhood of North Portland also compels us to share the history of the land that our headquarters now sits upon. Alongside Howard’s beautiful images is a timeline of an uglier truth: historical signposts of a complex, somber and, at times, deeply shameful side of Oregon’s founding and the legacy of white supremacy and colonialism in our shared history.

I hope you’ll find the nine minutes in your day it will take to experience this story — and that it leaves you thinking more about what it means to create a more perfect future, with conscious recognition of the past.

March is also Women’s History Month, which also gives me an opportunity to celebrate the many women who brought this building to life and to highlight the important role that women played in the project.

First, I am grateful to Anyeley Hallova, formerly of Project^ and now, Adre, Ali O’Neill of O’Neill Construction Group, Chandra Robinson, project director at LEVER architecture and our own Phoebe O’Leary. The fierce intellect, resourcefulness, passion and creativity from this all-women team was integral to achieving a highly ambitious vision: a physical expression of Meyer’s values in a beautiful, enduring form.

In addition to our incredible leadership team, 47 percent of the Meyer headquarters construction budget was devoted to women and minority-owned subcontractors, 30 percent of the journey people and apprentice hours were filled by historically marginalized and under-resourced populations, including communities of color, women contractors and workers, underserved rural communities and people with disabilities. Ten percent of the hours were filled by women. Additionally, 80 percent of the subcontractors on the site were either women and/or minority-owned businesses; with 20 percent being “stretch” opportunities to give smaller companies the opportunity to grow and expand their portfolio.

While the pandemic has delayed our ability to celebrate these accomplishments in person, I hope that, with the vaccination rollout gaining steam, we will soon be able to welcome you in person to the building.

What a year it’s been. Here’s hoping that the coming year sees more justice and more equity, more resilience and resistance to the systems that continue to harm our communities and our land, and an even deeper reckoning with our past so that we may all better understand our shared history in order to build together a more collective future.

— Michelle

A view through the windows of Meyer Memorial Trust's new headquarters

I'm ecstatic to announce that Meyer Memorial Trust has named D’Artagnan Bernard Caliman as the new director of Justice Oregon for Black Lives — Meyer’s five-year, $25 million investment in Black leadership, Black-serving organizations and systemic-level change.

D’Artagnan (Dar-Tan-Yan) brings deep experience building and leading programs, as well as co-creating innovation with communities here in Oregon, across the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the country. His roots in Portland – and his continued connection to community even from afar – affirm how driven he is to the mission of systems-level change through the centering of Black Oregonians.

D’Artagnan who most recently served as the executive director at Building Changes in Seattle, brings 24 years of experience and leadership across social work, human services, juvenile justice, gang prevention, homelessness, child welfare, philanthropy, advocacy, policy and racial equity at local, regional and national levels.

As a sixth-generation Oregonian, D’Artagnan’s personal story is interwoven with many moments and milestones in Oregon history that may ring familiar to people who were raised in historic Albina, a longtime home to Portland’s Black and Native communities. He earned a diploma from Catlin Gabel School, a sociology degree from Warner Pacific College and a master’s of social work from Portland State University. D’Artagnan’s first job was at Portland House of Umoja, where he created a culturally specific “Rites of Passage” program for young Black men. He also worked at Self Enhancement Inc. as a multi-systemic therapist working with youths who were involved in the juvenile justice system.

When D’Artagnan was 17, a close friend — Mujib Dudley — was killed in a gang shooting near NE 15th Avenue and Alberta Street. Looking out at the mourners at the funeral, he decided to take a path aimed to help to prevent such senseless violence.

Previously, D’Artagnan served as senior manager of the Child Welfare Information Gateway Digital and Web Services team, as well as a state/territory liaison providing capacity building services for public child welfare (DE, MD, NH, VA, WV and Washington, DC.) at ICF, a global consulting firm that works to improve public child welfare in partnership with the United States Children's Bureau. He has also served as the chief of staff for the Maryland Department of Human Services. He has worked as a child welfare consultant specializing in child welfare, child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice and social services. For 15 years, D’Artagnan worked in case management, community programs supervision and overseeing national partnerships in Oregon, California and Washington for the Seattle-based Casey Family Programs.

At Building Changes D’Artagnan led the strategy and implementation of effective partnerships and programs for a nonprofit working to improve the educational, health and housing outcomes for students, youths and families who experience homelessness. Through his leadership, Building Changes set a new five-year Strategic Plan to deepen the organization’s racial equity work and address disproportionality in BIPOC communities experiencing homelessness.

As the director of Justice Oregon for Black Lives, D’Artagnan will be responsible for overseeing an initiative dedicated to deepening support for Black-centered organizations and uplifting a just system of community well-being for Black-led and Black-serving organizations that intersect with other communities of color.

The Skanner quoted D’Artagnan last week in a news release about joining Meyer. He said, “I have dedicated my career to my friend’s memory and the uplifting of the Black community. With the civil unrest across the country and in our backyards across Oregon state, I am even more strongly motivated to partner with Black communities in the work of eliminating structural racism and moving toward Black liberation.”

D’Artagnan will begin work at Meyer on Jan. 6.

— Kaberi

Meet D’Artagnan Bernard Caliman, Meyer’s new Director of Justice Oregon for Black Lives.

Cambridge Associates, a national firm that tracks the performance of endowments and foundations, recently reported that last year Meyer Memorial Trust’s Investments portfolio generated a return rate that exceeded 25 percent — well ahead of the national average of 17.1 percent and the 432 organizations tracked by the firm.

Portland Business Journal recently interviewed Meyer’s Chief Investment Officer Rukaiyah Adams about the breakthrough year of investing:

As Meyer Memorial Trust's portfolio matures, Adams' investment philosophy to drive civic and social change is coming into view. Broadly, Adams looks to invest in ways that drive more equitable economic growth, such as water desalination technology and broadband access.

‘Imagine if we lived in a world where there was broadband access available to everyone in an affordable way and ed-tech tools that allowed millions of children today that are not educated to reach a level of literacy and education,’ said Adams. ‘That would ignite a level of economic growth, innovation, and vitality that the world has never seen.’

You can read the full Portland Business Journal article for free here: https://bizj.us/1q6g6x

The 14-month project to build Meyer Memorial Trust's new headquarters is complete, thanks to a deep partnership with values-driven real estate developer, project^ and award‐winning design firm, LEVER Architecture. 

The Skanner reported on Meyer's $10.8 million, 19,829 sq. ft., three-story office building and garden, located at 2045 North Vancouver Avenue in Historic Albina. 

“Investing in a permanent space is a commitment as an Oregon-serving foundation, we wanted to deepen our connection to Historic Albina and use our new building as a resource to further support and invest in communities across the state,” said Michelle J. DePass, Meyer’s president and CEO.

“Typically, architecture in philanthropy is hierarchical, with the best spaces reserved for executives. But as a justice foundation that places a premium on equity, it was important to give every employee access to windows and natural light and to make the most desirable office space accessible to everyone.”

You can learn more about the building on our Meyer HQ page here.

And you can read the whole Skanner story, including photos, here.

Building exterior and public entry (Photo by Jeremy Bitterman)

Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations recognized Meyer Memorial Trust and a broad partnership working to address homelessness as a recipient of the 2020 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.

Meyer was honored alongside six other foundations: Sheller Family Foundation, The Homeless Assistance Fund Inc., Quicken Loans Community Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation, Bernard Project (SBP Long-Term Home Rebuilding) and MUFG Union Bank Foundation.

The Secretary’s Award recognizes cross-sector partnerships that have been crucial to transforming communities and improving the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across the country. Benefits include increased economic development, health, safety, education, housing access, disaster resilience, inclusivity and access to cultural opportunities.

Meyer was recognized for its partnership with Worksystems, Inc. on the Economic Opportunity Program (EOP), a network linking employment and housing services for formerly homeless families in Portland, providing low-income residents community-based career coaching and support. Many trusted community-based organizations were critical to the effort.

The innovative EOP collaborative weaves together state, federal and local resources and demonstrates how to align and strengthen local providers while expanding services to food stamp recipients. Other partners included local employment program funders such as the Joint Office of Homeless Services (the local Continuum of Care agency) and Prosper Portland (the local economic development agency), state grant administrators (the Oregon Department of Human Services which administers the SNAP 50/50 reimbursement), federal partners within HUD (Portland Field Office) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

“We want to commend our award winners for their efforts to show the importance of government and philanthropy partnership,” said Secretary Ben Carson. “Today’s announcements of these awards honor the collaborative and unites us all together so that more Americans have the opportunity to be successful.”

“The recipients of this year’s Secretary's Award are stellar examples of the transformational power of strong public-philanthropic partnerships to improve the quality of life for generations of families,” said Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "The foundations and corporate philanthropies honored today provide insights and ideas for how to effectively respond to our nation’s most pressing challenges.”

Since the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships was established in 2012, winners in the Northwest and Alaska include the Rasmuson Foundation, Home Partnership Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation.

Housing has long been one of Meyer’s highest priorities because we recognize that all people need a home that is stable, safe and affordable. The Housing Opportunities portfolio’s core goals address housing development and preservation, housing support services and sector strengthening. We are proud to support a strong network of nonprofit partners across the state that are addressing the needs of Oregonians and advancing Meyer’s vision of a flourishing and equitable Oregon.

You can learn more about Worksystems and the Economic Opportunity Program here.

Read more about the recipients of the 2020 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships here.

Fred G. Meyer, founder of Meyer Memorial Trust. Image source: hud.gov