Portland, April 10th, 2013. For more than 40 years, Jean DeMaster has worked tirelessly to get homeless and low-income families and individuals out of the cold, off the streets, and into housing. (Photo Courtesy of Human Solutions)
Jean DeMaster at the Family Winter Shelter
This week, DeMaster, Executive Director at Human Solutions, was selected by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors® and was honored at the Portland First Citizen Banquet at The Nines Hotel. DeMaster is the 85th recipient of this distinguished award, created in 1928 to honor civic achievements and business leadership.
“When I see families in really desperate situations, I know if Human Solutions can help provide shelter and housing, they won’t be suffering anymore. When people are waiting outside in the cold for the shelter to open, and you know that what they really need and want is housing, it makes me want to work harder to be sure that housing can be available for them,” said DeMaster.
The turnaround is gratifying, she said. “Many of the families are so miserable because they are literally living in their cars or in abandoned buildings,” DeMaster said. “We are happy we can provide shelter for them. They are so relieved at that point. That’s what keeps me going.” Typically, families only stay in shelter for three to five weeks before being placed into housing.
Realtors® understand just how much a safe and attractive house means to families, and it’s one of the reasons DeMaster feels so honored to receive the 2013 Portland First Citizen award. “The families we work with are all very low income, but they have the same desire to find a home, and begin to rebuild their lives. I’m honored to be recognized by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors®.”
Carla Piluso, a member of the Human Solutions Board of Directors since 1996 and its current chair, called DeMaster one of her personal heroes. “Jean is the champion for those who cannot always speak for themselves. Not only does she provide those in the greatest need with a voice, she gives them the strength and confidence to find, and intimately shout out, with their own voice. She has touched the lives of thousands,” Piluso said.
A Wisconsin native, DeMaster moved to Portland after college and fell in love with the area, rain and all. Putting her graduate degree in clinical psychology to use, she initially worked as a social worker at Head Start. She moved on in 1973 to serve as Executive Director for Children’s Club, a child care center for children of low-income families.
During that period, DeMaster volunteered her time to an issue that would serve as a common theme throughout the next 40 years – ensuring safe places for women and children to live.
Over her career, DeMaster has volunteered her time to many different organizations, but the volunteer work she is most proud of is her part in the founding and early beginnings of Bradley Angle House. Founded in 1975, Bradley Angle House is the West Coast’s first domestic violence shelter, as well as one of the first emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence in the country. It still exists as a safe shelter for women and children today.
In 1976, DeMaster, along with Kay Sohl, founded Technical Assistance for Community Services (TACS), an agency designed to provide training and consultation services for nonprofit agencies. TACS still exists today as the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
In 1983, DeMaster became Executive Director of Transition Projects, Inc., a position she held for 11 years. It would prove to be a pivotal move. It was there she met Don Clark, former Multnomah County Commissioner, Sherriff, and Director of Central City Concern. He was instrumental in her understanding of the City of Portland.
DeMaster was also able to once again work on the issue near and dear to her heart: providing safe places for women. She succeeded. In 1993, Transition Projects opened Portland’s first homeless shelter and transitional housing facility that was solely for women. In honor of DeMaster’s leadership, the shelter was named Jean’s Place.
DeMaster went on to serve as Executive Director of the YWCA of Greater Portland. Her biggest project wasraising $9 million for the renovation of the downtown YWCA building to enhance programs ranging from aging and disability services to transitional housing.
That knack for fundraising would serve her well in the next major step in her professional career: Executive Director of Human Solutions. For the past 10 years, DeMaster has led the organization as it provides housing and services to people in Mid and East Multnomah County – eliminating barriers to escaping poverty through emergency family shelter, job training, affordable housing, eviction prevention, and emergency shelter. On any given night, Human Solutions provides housing or emergency shelter for approximately 240 homeless families – and more than 700 homeless people.
DeMaster’s proudest accomplishment at Human Solutions is the Rockwood Building, a four-year, $19 million project including 47 units of affordable housing and a multi-service center to serve homeless and low-income people in the Rockwood area, which faces one of the deepest levels of poverty in all of Multnomah County.
Today, the Rockwood Building includes 15 units of housing for homeless families and 32 units for low-income families. The Mt. Hood Community College Head Start Program, a Loaves and Fishes Center, LifeWorksNorthwest, Metropolitan Family Service, and the Wallace Medical Concern share office space there with Human Solutions.
Currently, DeMaster is tackling a 67-unit project that will provide workforce housing to people just starting out in their careers. Next, she’d like to mirror the Rockwood Building in the Portland area by creating another multi-service building that would house expanded office space for Human Solutions as well as bring people in the community together. It’s an exciting time for the organization, and DeMaster’s enthusiasm for her work hasn’t waned over the past 40 years.
“I have enjoyed my work immensely. It doesn’t always seem like work; it just seems like what I want to be doing.”
Silverton, March 7th, 2013. Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART) is a national nonprofit which opened up a Portland office about a year ago. Since then, it’s been reaching out to kids and teachers and coordinating activities like this farm field trip for Meek Professional Technical High School students, many of whom had never been to a farm. The trip was the collaborative effort of HEART and the Green Acres Farm Sanctuary.
Gioia spends some time with the goats.
At the Green Acres Farm Sanctuary students met animals like Daisy, a 6- year-old POA Quarter horse mare and Nash, a 23-year-old Arabian gelding. The two were displaced as a result of a domestic violence situation.
Nailah is one of the students who benefits. The mission of HEART is to foster compassion and respect for all living beings and the environment by educating youth and teachers in Humane Education.
One of the students, Adam, remarked that this was the best field trip he had ever experienced. He was happy these animals could live free from harm at Green Acres and that he could be away from the hum of electricity and constant noise of the city.
Local Director HEART, Dani Dennenberg explained, “I have no doubt that the hearts and minds of these 15 young people were opened in a way that may have never happened without this trip. We are so grateful to the generosity America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) whose grant made this trip possible.”
Launched in New York in 2001, the Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART) program includes:
Humane Living Program An integrated character and humane education instructional program for students of all ages.
Teacher Training Professional workshops and classroom presentations that introduce humane and character education to teachers and provide them with the tools to implement this instruction in daily classroom lessons.
Humane Education Consulting Individual guidance and instruction to administrators and teachers on how humane education can be infused into school curricula.
Advocacy Raising awareness about and securing support for humane education in the educational and governmental sectors.
Portland, February 23rd, 2013. Over 300 guests were, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” to support the Northwest Academy’s scholarship fund. Attendees enjoyed student performances throughout the evening, including the “shoe shine kids” who perform brief dance routines followed by a real shoeshine. The Jumptown Jazz Club benefit at the Portland Art Museum included hits like “Minnie the Moocher” and “Fascinating Rhythm.” (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
Jeff and Annette Johnson (Northwest Academy parents)
Guests bid on silent and live auction items, including a McKenzie River Fishing Excursions, a Private Dinner at Silk and a Jackson Hole Getaway. The evening raised over $97,000 in support of the Northwest Academy Scholarship Fund. One in four students at Northwest Academy receives financial aid to attend the college preparatory middle and high school located in downtown Portland.
Jumptown Jazz Emcees
Tom Manley, Pacific Northwest College of Art and Susanne Hashim (Northwest Academy Board of Trustees)
Mark Stevenson (Sponsor, Capital Pacific Bank) with Jilma Meneses (Northwest Academy Trustee and Alumni Parent) and her husband Nathan Reynolds
Molly Meier (NWA ’15) and Betsy Meier (Club Cabaret Chair)
Mary Vinton Folberg, Northwest Academy Head of School
Rajko and Vesna Kostur are in the mood for a Speakeasy at Club Cabaret’s Jumptown Jazz Club.
Molly Meier (Northwest Academy Class of ’15)
From Northwest Academy:
Northwest Academy is an independent school, grades 6 through 12, committed to education through academics and the arts. Founded in 1997 by Mary Vinton Folberg, Northwest Academy offers rigorous academic and arts programs that emphasize and value creative thinking, individual choice, and self-discipline. Classes are taught by master teachers and professionals active in their fields – from dance and the arts to the humanities and sciences. Northwest Academy prepares students for the demands of the twenty-first century through a strong focus on independent thought and problem solving combined with an emphasis on new approaches to contemporary issues. Northwest Academy is located at 1130 SW Main Street, Portland, Oregon 97205; 503-223-3367. For more information, please visit www.nwacademy.org. Follow us on Facebook at Northwest Academy.
Portland, February 15th, 2013. Spotlight on Kerr: Rock Around the Clock drew 317 people to the LeftBank Annex for a retro good time. The benefit raised $188,611 for the services Albertina Kerr provides to strengthen Oregon families by helping children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. (Photo Credit, Andie Petkus)
The Blue’s Brothers, Chuck Sauvain, Tony Seashore, Ollie Collins, Peter Nielsen, Bill Ashenden, did their own special performance – in true Jake and Elwood Blues form!
The co-chairs were Kim Borton, Traci Richardson and Kirsten Chambers
Peter Nielsen and Bill Ashenden
Denise Smith, and Albertina Kerr board member Rich Smith of Kaiser Permanente Northwest at the Rock Around the Clock at Albertina Kerr’s Spotlight on Kerr Gala (Photo credit, Paparazzi Tonight)
Albertina Kerr governing board chair Priscilla Lewis of Providence Health and Services with board members Angela Hult of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Celia Murphy
Bev and Bill Ashenden
The silent auction featured a host of hot items.
Erik Pierce from Paparazzi Tonight was snapping photos.
The gala raised funds for services benefiting children and support for their families.
From Albertina Kerr:
Our Mission Albertina Kerr partners with the community to support people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges to lead self determined lives and realize their full potential.
Our Vision All children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges will thrive in nurturing homes and inclusive communities.
It is our goal that Albertina Kerr’s services will create a community where all children, adults and families facing mental health challenges and developmental disabilities:
Live rich and meaningful lives in their communities.
Have a sense of identity and learn successfully.
Are supported in connecting with their biological families and live with biological families whenever possible.
Enjoy the same educational opportunities as their peers.
Develop the capacity to earn a living wage.
Learn to live independently and in the least restrictive setting possible.
Have the choices to participate in the daily life activities of their non-disabled peers.
Have hopes, dreams, friends and the ability to shape their own futures.
Portland, February 12th, 2013. The Baghdad Theater echoed with mortifying memories for the 4th annual Valentine’s benefit: “It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating!” Jimmy Radosta (center) hosted storytellers sharing about their worst dates: Clockwise from left, Meagan Kate, Meredith Shield, Lori Ferraro, Arianne Cohen, Michael Heald, B. Frayn Masters, Ted Douglass and Erin Ergenbright. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus.)
Attendees purchased “Love Boxes” containing mystery gifts donated by local businesses to support Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. Photo by Andie Petkus.
“It’s Not Me, It’s You” drew hundreds of supporters of reproductive rights. Photo by Andie Petkus.
Bagdad Theater has served as the home for “It’s Not Me, It’s You” since 2010. Photo by Andie Petkus.
About Planned Parenthood Advocates
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the political arm of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon engages in educational and electoral activity including public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.
In 2002, we formed Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, which is a statewide, non-partisan political action committee that supports pro-choice, pro-family planning candidates for office. ChoiceAdvocates.org
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