Our Team

Program Manager

Originally from New York City with a background in Education and Counseling, Sherri worked for New York City’s Health and Hospitals Corp. She assisted with New York City’s efforts to provide emergency counseling for those affected by 9/11as well as the implementation of a therapeutic child care center for abused children. 

Since moving to Oregon, she has worked for many nonprofit agencies, designing curriculum and/or facilitating innovative programs such as Rethinking Job Search. This program, being the first job search program of its kind to focus on Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT), was a collaboration between the Oregon Employment Department and Willamette Workforce Partnership. Prior to joining Uplift Oregon, she was contracted to work with the Department of Human Services to assist TANF recipients with engaging in culturally specific treatment resources. 

She currently teaches undergraduate-level courses, enjoys spending time with her family, movies, thrifting for new finds, and is passionate about ceramics and works out of a studio in her home.

Career Mobility Program Manager

Whitney Johnson is an avid dog lover with a background in Communications and Educational Program Direction. With more than a decade of experience in the non-profit sector and a wide variety of program development projects under her belt, Whitney has discovered that her greatest passion is helping people grow by brining them together to build systems of support that help them navigate the highs and lows of personal and professional growth. In her spare time, she is a runner, an outdoor enthusiast, and an improviser with a variety of groups in Portland. Whitney is thrilled to be continuing her professional journey with RISE Partnership and Uplift Oregon in the role of Career Mobility Program Manager and can’t wait to get to work!

Operations Specialist

Born and raised in Oregon, Raquel is a dedicated professional with deep roots in the community. A proud Oregon State University alumna, she earned her Bachelor’s in Management in 2018 and went on to achieve her Master’s in Business Administration in 2023. Since 2021, Raquel has been an integral part of Uplift Oregon. As the Operations Specialist she excels in supporting major events and addressing organizational needs.

Outside of work, she is passionate about fostering dogs and enjoys trying new local restaurants.

Program Support Specialist

Communicator

Kat is the Communicator for Uplift Oregon, dedicated to educating state workers on Uplift’s offerings and building trust with our state and union partners. They are focused on meeting audiences where they are, building equity and accessibility into the foundation of all communications and helping people share their stories in an effective and impactful way. 

Kat is a non-binary individual who spends their time working to build and bolster trans community in Portland, Oregon, by providing resource education and assistance to those in need. In their free time, they love playing board games, trying new coffee shops and attending community events.