Board Leadership
Our Board is a group of passionate and powerful community leaders, who allow us to make significant change and share our mission with the widest possible audience. We are ever grateful for their considerable talents, time, resources and energy.
Michele Cruse, Board Chair
Portland Community College, Associate Bursar
Why she loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
BUF's work makes such a huge positive impact in addressing the needs in the community. It is very exciting to volunteer with an organization that, at the end of the day, you know has made a difference in someone's life.
What you won't find on her resume:
I love international travel. My most recent travels were to France, Italy, Rome, Greece, Turkey and Spain. I enjoy learning about the diversity in religion, culture and languages.
BUF's work makes such a huge positive impact in addressing the needs in the community. It is very exciting to volunteer with an organization that, at the end of the day, you know has made a difference in someone's life.
What you won't find on her resume:
I love international travel. My most recent travels were to France, Italy, Rome, Greece, Turkey and Spain. I enjoy learning about the diversity in religion, culture and languages.
William Cabine, Board Member
US Bank, Initiatives Coordinator
Why he loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
I volunteer with the Black United Fund not only because it is the right thing to do, but because this is an organization that is doing the right thing. It is much harder to achieve your goal when you are going at it alone. The Black United Fund is a great example of an organization that helps other organizations and collaborates with others to provide valuable resources to those most in need. When I look back on my life I can remembers specific organizations and people that took the time out to help me along the way. Without that guidance, there is no telling where the road of life may have taken me. I am grateful for this and want to do what I can to help someone else.
What you won't find on his resume:
If you were to look at my resume you would not know that the experiences and skills that are listed pale in comparison to the love that I have for my family. My wife is my best friend and we have two beautiful daughters. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. Hopefully, the things that my resume does show, will play some part in making their life better as they grow up.
Portland State University, Assistant Director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services
NW Natural, Senior Billing Analyst
Project Manager, Portland Development Commission
Active Community Member
State of Oregon, Recruitment Relations Manager
I volunteer with the Black United Fund not only because it is the right thing to do, but because this is an organization that is doing the right thing. It is much harder to achieve your goal when you are going at it alone. The Black United Fund is a great example of an organization that helps other organizations and collaborates with others to provide valuable resources to those most in need. When I look back on my life I can remembers specific organizations and people that took the time out to help me along the way. Without that guidance, there is no telling where the road of life may have taken me. I am grateful for this and want to do what I can to help someone else.
What you won't find on his resume:
If you were to look at my resume you would not know that the experiences and skills that are listed pale in comparison to the love that I have for my family. My wife is my best friend and we have two beautiful daughters. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. Hopefully, the things that my resume does show, will play some part in making their life better as they grow up.
Melanie Dixon-Carldwell, Board Member
Portland State University, Assistant Director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services
Why she loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
The Black United Fund signifies hope, optimism, community and opportunity to me. Gentrification has changed the landscape of the neighborhood I grew up in (N/NE) that was once very rich in culture and had a strong sense of community. I think the Black United Fund has the ability to influence the progress of individuals by supporting small businesses, education and scholarships. This is what I love about BUF! The organization serves as a change agent through social and economic development for those that are undeserved and in many cases under appreciated for their contributions.
What you won't find on her resume:
I love games! I grew up in a low income household and we would play Monopoly for hours. I remember my eldest brother would rip off corners of the fake money and tell me "here is a quarter; you are still in the game." Now I am an avid poker player and love the non-verbal communication aspect of the game.
The Black United Fund signifies hope, optimism, community and opportunity to me. Gentrification has changed the landscape of the neighborhood I grew up in (N/NE) that was once very rich in culture and had a strong sense of community. I think the Black United Fund has the ability to influence the progress of individuals by supporting small businesses, education and scholarships. This is what I love about BUF! The organization serves as a change agent through social and economic development for those that are undeserved and in many cases under appreciated for their contributions.
What you won't find on her resume:
I love games! I grew up in a low income household and we would play Monopoly for hours. I remember my eldest brother would rip off corners of the fake money and tell me "here is a quarter; you are still in the game." Now I am an avid poker player and love the non-verbal communication aspect of the game.
Adolph Evans, Board Member
NW Natural, Senior Billing Analyst
Why he loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
My love for volunteering for the Black United Fund stems from the desire to help the underserved communities across Oregon. In my heart I’m compelled to help create better opportunities for present and future generations. I hope to leave a legacy of a helpful hand when I leave this earth.
What you won't find on his resume:
What you won’t find on my resume is that I enjoy cooking! I’m a decent cook at the present, but I yearn to be better.
My love for volunteering for the Black United Fund stems from the desire to help the underserved communities across Oregon. In my heart I’m compelled to help create better opportunities for present and future generations. I hope to leave a legacy of a helpful hand when I leave this earth.
What you won't find on his resume:
What you won’t find on my resume is that I enjoy cooking! I’m a decent cook at the present, but I yearn to be better.
Stephen Green, Board Member
Project Manager, Portland Development Commission
Vanessa Morgan, Board Member
Active Community Member
Why she loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
I love the fact that the Black United Fund is a community organization that empowers the youth to attain their best through education and service. Also the Black United Fund supports local grassroots organizations that provides services to neighborhoods and their families.
I love the fact that the Black United Fund is a community organization that empowers the youth to attain their best through education and service. Also the Black United Fund supports local grassroots organizations that provides services to neighborhoods and their families.
Kory Murphy, Board Member
State of Oregon, Recruitment Relations Manager
Why he loves and volunteers with the Black United Fund:
Simply because of the mission. BUF of Oregon has continued to actively build familial, social and economic capacity in racially and economically disadvantage communities for almost 30 years. That's why I continue to volunteer: to help carry on the Mission. Not to mention, the staff and volunteers are incredible people!
What you won't find on his resume:
I have four brilliant and insane kids who really are the future... and I'd love to write a book one day — about parenting four brilliant and insane kids. I was also in a movie...
Simply because of the mission. BUF of Oregon has continued to actively build familial, social and economic capacity in racially and economically disadvantage communities for almost 30 years. That's why I continue to volunteer: to help carry on the Mission. Not to mention, the staff and volunteers are incredible people!
What you won't find on his resume:
I have four brilliant and insane kids who really are the future... and I'd love to write a book one day — about parenting four brilliant and insane kids. I was also in a movie...