Our Team

Director

Kelley is the Director for Uplift Oregon, working with the Board of Trustees and staff to bring the power of our labor-management partnership to fruition through consistent, quality training for state employees. Kelley has 25 years of program development and organization building in the nonprofit sector, bringing a broad set of skills to this first-of-its-kind partnership. In her past work she served as Executive Director of Western States Center from 2011 to 2017, a hub for nonprofit training and leadership development. Earlier work includes community organizing in rural areas across the state, and interfaith collaboration for racial justice. She is a 2012 graduate of Rockwood Institute’s “Leading from the Inside Out” national fellowship program and holds a BA from the University of Oregon in Political Science and International Studies. Kelley lives in Portland with her partner and son and enjoys digging in her garden, traveling the state and beyond, and playing board games.

Training and Education Coordinator

As a Training & Education Coordinator, Sherri’s role is to create and assist in the design and facilitation of training for state employees moving towards equity and inclusion.

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.

Data and Operations Manager

Jeanette is the Data and Operations Manager for Uplift Oregon. She comes to us from SEIU 775, the long-term care union covering Washington state and Montana. Prior to her role in the labor union, she covered similar roles in non-profit mental healthcare, particularly in quality improvement and electronic medical records (EMR). While she was at SEIU 775, she spent four years on the Equity and Inclusion Committee as a senior member and collaborated on several workshops for the organization. Her passions for race and social justice continue within her community, and globally.
When she’s not fighting the good fight, Jeanette can be found spending time with her two energetic terrier mix dogs along with her spouse and adult kids. She enjoys visiting the zoo, playing with otters (it’s an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience), puzzles, reading, taking day drives, listening to podcasts, and of course being a foodie.

Training and Education Coordinator

Brad is an anthropologist, educator, and author who holds an interdisciplinary MA from Portland State University. He is an expert at applying both anthropology and interactive/experiential methods to adult learning and training. Brad’s writing is based on his research on improvised theater and its effects on people. He has applied his skills to working with unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border and running a social justice education program that uses interactive theater at Portland Community College. Brad has also been a consultant to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for his work with experiential methods. He will be supporting the efforts of the Uplift team by developing and delivering content in their three domains of benefits; health and wellness; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

 When he is not at work, Brad is an active performer and teacher in Portland’s improvised theater scene (which he has been a part of since 1996). He has traveled the US, Canada, and Europe as a performer and director. Brad is an avid outdoors person boating, hiking, and camping. He also loves spending time with his husband and their two cats.

Wellness Training and Education Coordinator

Dr. General has spent many years working in Higher Education as a Director/Program Manager, Health Studies/Public Health Professor, and Developer of Equity-based Educational Programs and Mentoring Initiatives. His experience includes developing and evaluating research data to make informed decisions to implement strategic initiatives to establish equitable programming and services to recruit, sustain, and enhance adult learners’ success and experiences. He is also a Trainer for the OHA (Oregon Health Authority) Covid-19 Rapid Response Training Team. In his role as Wellness Education and Training Coordinator, Dr. General will lead collaborative efforts to design, build, and improve equitable and engaging educational materials that provide access to and knowledge of benefits related to wellness activities, seminars, and events to state employees.

He holds a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine. He is nearing completion of his Educational Doctorate in Leadership for Change from Fielding Graduate University and the Public Policy and Leadership Credential from Harvard University. He is originally from Washington, DC, and currently resides in Portland, where he enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Program Support Specialist

As the Program Support Specialist for Uplift Oregon, Raquel helps coordinate benefits trainings for state employees while assisting with data processes including data analysis, data entry, and systems maintenance. Prior to her position with Uplift Oregon, Raquel worked for the Department of Human Services at the State of Oregon and in various capacities in non-profit and for-profit settings. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting farmers markets, the Oregon coast, and fostering dogs. She is pursuing her MBA at Oregon State University.

Benefit Training and Education Coordinator

Donisha is the Benefit Training and Education Coordinator with Uplift Oregon. She has a host of education, knowledge, and experiences in the realm of adult learning. With an earned doctorate of Organizational Leadership and Development, Donisha has taught both undergraduate and graduate students in General Business and Human Resources. She is passionate about guiding and helping people recognize their talents and tools to further their goals. Whether it is training, performance management, coaching, and/or organizational change — and working with individuals, groups, and organizations to bring change — she enjoys all aspects of synthesizing and efficiency.

A nice day for Donisha would include a sunrise and sunset at a warm tropical beach in the comfort of a great book and writing her thoughts on paper, observing all that is naturally occurring around her