Meet Our Speakers

Councilor Candace Avalos is a first-generation Blacktina, daughter of Black Americans from southern Virginia and Guatemalan immigrants. Since moving to Portland in 2013, she has dedicated her career to public service, including civic engagement work at Portland State University and serving as Executive Director of Verde. As District 1 Councilor for East Portland, Avalos prioritizes communities facing housing instability and limited access to resources. As Chair of the Housing and Permitting Committee, she has helped advance the Keep Portland Housing package, Portland’s first social housing study, zoning and permitting reforms, and development of a comprehensive, unified citywide housing strategy.

Grace Hashiguchi is a native Oregonian and communications professional with a decade of experience supporting organizational storytelling through earned media, experiences, and digital strategy. She currently serves on Oregon Consumer Justice (OCJ)’s Communications and Community Engagement team, with a focus on digital creation and learning. She earned her Bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Oregon with a minor in Spanish.

Ellen is a Habitat for Humanity homeowner and two-year member of the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Homeowner Leadership Council, where she works to deepen connection and belonging among Habitat homeowners throughout the metro region . Having navigated housing insecurity with her family, she knows firsthand what becomes possible when families have the stability to move beyond surviving — to building, dreaming, and showing up fully for one another. She has carried those lessons into her own work developing community-centered affordable homeownership. Ellen holds that people rooted in affordable housing carry a distinctive wisdom and are uniquely positioned to shape the communities they call home.

Leina'ala Slaughter is a lifelong Portlander, rooted in community and guided by a deep sense of responsibility to those around her. A mother of two sons and Habitat homeowner, she brings her voice and lived experience to the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Homeowner Leadership Council — showing up for her neighbors the same way she shows up for her co-workers through LiUNA 483. As a Teen Recreation Lead, she is committed to nurturing the next generation and honoring the village it takes to raise them. Beyond her community work, she finds restoration in baking, dancing hula, time with family, and all things Disney.

Scott oversees OHCS’s Homeownership Lending Program, Flex Lending, which, in early 2023, released Oregon’s first new mortgage lending program since 1977. He started with OHCS in the Affordable Rental Housing division in late 2018 working on LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) financing projects. Seeing a need in OHCS's Homeownership Division, in early 2020 he transitioned to focus on building, developing and launching Flex Lending, OHCS's TBA Based mortgage lending program. Prior to public service, Scott’s mortgage career began in the early 1990’s as a loan officer. Over the next 20+ years he worked his way to secondary marketing and capital markets establishing execution models to mitigate risk and maximize flexibility and meet the needs of the markets.

Marc has spent more than 30 working to address homelessness in Oregon. During his career, he has worked in shelters, as a legal services attorney, and as the executive director of a street outreach program dedicated to rehousing people with long histories of homelessness. Prior to joining OHCS, Marc served as the director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services in Multnomah County and as a Senior Consultant at Focus Strategies, a national firm dedicated to helping communities develop effective strategies to prevent and end homelessness.

Annette Pronk's role as the staff liaison for the Homeowner Leadership Council (HLC) is deeply rooted in her own lived experience of finding safety, stability, and a sense of belonging through affordable homeownership. As staff member, it is a profound honor to continue this work from both a professional and personal standpoint. Annette's firsthand experience allows her to connect more authentically with residents and to ensure that the systems and structures we create are genuinely reflective of community priorities. At the heart of her work is a commitment to holding space for resident voices, building trust, and ensuring that the HLC remains a place where community wisdom is recognized not as an input, but as a driving force for transformational change.

Holly McGuire leads operations and project management work at Oregon Housing and Community Services’ Housing Stabilization Division. She believes in the power and responsibility of the state to bring resources to support the needs of Oregonians and especially those most impacted by economic hardship, housing instability, and homelessness. She has been with OHCS for three years, and previously worked at Neighborhood Partnerships supporting the Individual Development Account Initiative. She has seen deep commitment and partnership across government and nonprofit organizations to move toward justice. She strives to find ways to make this work more effective, compassionate and—someday--unnecessary.

Kenya Luvert, the eldest of five, was raised in Eugene, Oregon, navigating a predominantly non-diverse education system from preschool through college. A lifelong reader, she engages deeply in podcasts, seminars, and conversations exploring intersections of history, race, injustice, privilege, and humanity. An advocate for marginalized communities, Kenya centers curiosity and connection, believing people share more common ground than division. As a consultant, she facilitates equity trainings and dialogues on diversity, race, and inclusion, offering guidance through a therapeutic, healing-focused lens to help envision a unified human experience and coexistence with the earth and all beings. She is a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of Oregon's Homeowner Advisory Council.

Tina Knapp is the Executive Director of Almost Family’s Central Oregon office, bringing years of experience in caregiving, operations, and compassionate leadership. Her personal journey with Habitat for Humanity is a meaningful part of her commitment to community and service. In 2022, Tina became a Habitat partner family and, after an 18-month partnership, purchased her first home. Today, she serves on Habitat for Humanity of Oregon’s Homeowner Advisory Council, bringing her firsthand experience to advocate for and amplify the voices of Habitat homeowners. Tina is passionate about community, service, and helping others achieve greater stability through homeownership.

Daniel is responsible for the coordination and integration of the Center's research, publications, communications, advocacy, and outreach activities. He also leads the Center's tax work. He earned his master's degree in Public Policy at Oregon State University and has been a campaign manager, dishwasher, security guard, and policy analyst in the past. Daniel has written book chapters and academic journal articles but would rather spend his time with his family.

Michelle brings two decades of experience in strategic communications, design, marketing, research, and program development. Her multigenerational upbringing and identity as a white-assumed, mixed-ethnicity Mexican American woman with an invisible disability shape her commitment to equity, access, and authentic storytelling. At OCJ, she leads communications and engagement initiatives to support Oregonians in using their collective power as consumers to build a safer and more just financial system. Previously, she held communications, data integration, and leadership roles at Our Children Oregon, plus roles at United Way and in social research. She holds an MBA and degrees in History and Art.

Megan Quintrell (they/them) is the Advocacy Cohort Lead at Oregon Consumer Justice and supports the convening of the Consumer Alliance of Oregon. The alliance brings together community-based organizations, subject-matter experts, and national advocacy groups to center communities disproportionately harmed by predatory practices. Together, members advance pro-consumer legislation and work toward a marketplace grounded in fairness, accountability, and respect for consumer rights. Their shared vision is an Oregon where transactions are safe, accessible, and trustworthy, and where all people have meaningful opportunities to experience economic security, good health, joy, and greater economic opportunity for themselves, their families, and communities.

Zaneqwah "Zee" Shaw is a Homeownership Support Specialist at Proud Ground, where she helps prospective homebuyers navigate the affordable homeownership process through the Community Land Trust model. She also has a passion for financial literacy, generational wealth-building, and expanding access to homeownership. Whether educating first-time homebuyers, developing outreach materials, or supporting clients through their homeownership journey, Zee is committed to helping create stronger, more financially resilient communities.

As Proud Ground's Post-Purchase Stewardship Manager, I am dedicated to ensuring the long-term success of homeowners in our Community Land Trust. I am here to support, engage, educate, and inform all homeowners across the communities within the counties we serve.

Olympia Church is the Executive Director of Homeownership for DevNW, a statewide leader in Affordable Homeownership. With over a 15 years of residential mortgage lending experience and 14 years in Homeownership program management and direct service delivery Olympia has impacted the lives of hundreds in a positive way. Her passion is collaboration with the goal to create innovative solutions for today’s homebuyers.

Angela Donley is a third-generation Oregonian from Bend and the proud mother of two. She shares her life with her high school sweetheart, and together they enjoy spending time with family and friends. Angela earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Oregon and a certification as an alcohol and drug counselor. With over a decade of direct social work experience, she has worked with underserved families, adjudicated youth, and youth living in foster care. Her passion for systemic reform emerged while pursuing a Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University, where she specialized in Macro Social Work. Angela brings more than ten years of experience in policy change and implementation at both the state and local levels, with a focus on human services, public safety, housing, and education. She currently serves as the State Policy Director at Oregon Consumer Justice, where she advocates for stronger consumer protections. In addition to her policy work, Angela is an adjunct professor at the Portland State University School of Social Work, where she shares her expertise and commitment to social justice with future professionals.

Araceli Jimenez is a Mexican American community organizer and Cultural Leadership Organizer with Coalición Fortaleza. For more than a decade, she has advocated for and supported immigrant and historically marginalized communities through grassroots organizing and volunteer leadership. She earned her associate degree from Lane Community College, where she played two years of collegiate soccer. Born and raised in Southern Oregon to first-generation immigrant parents, Araceli brings lived experience to her work addressing cultural, language, and systemic barriers. She also partners with entrepreneurs and helped establish the first BIPOC-, Latine-, and queer-led Cultural Market, creating spaces where community and culture thrive.

Megen has trained government employees, tribal leaders, nonprofit staff, and candidates to be effective communicators on various issues. Over the past decade, Megen has worked as a political organizer in the Oregon Legislature, advocated for public health policy, served as Communications Director for Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, and consulted on communications for behavior- and social-change campaigns. Megen’s experience spans the labor, climate justice, and voter rights movements — from developing digital strategies for nonprofit clients urgently seeking to reach communities experiencing hunger in the early days of COVID-19 to overseeing highly visible, statewide paid-leave campaigns for government agencies.

Molly grew up on the West Coast and is passionate about housing justice. Housing instability and homelessness are personal for her, and she is convinced that solutions to homelessness rooted in equity and dignity are possible despite a national wave to criminalize people without homes. She holds a master's degree in public policy from Mills College in Oakland, CA. Molly has a background of providing direct service for unhoused youth, non-profit project management as well as working in local, state, and federal government agencies. She has been grateful since joining Welcome Home in 2022 to continue the work of more authentically elevating the voices of those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in public policy in the Portland Metro Area.

Ginny Heller, MSW, CUDE, is Advocacy & Community Development Manager at Kitsap Credit Union (KCU), a certified CDFI, where she leads the organization's advocacy strategy and CDFI initiatives. She chairs the Asset Building Coalition of Kitsap and serves as Secretary of the KCUCares Foundation, leading financial empowerment and community support efforts. With over 20 years in public health and community-driven work, Ginny brings expertise in coalition-building, governance, and cross-sector partnerships.

Jennifer Quiroz is Executive Director of the Financial Empowerment Network (FEN) in Washington State. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience focused on gender-based violence, immigrant communities, and financial empowerment. Before becoming Executive Director in 2021, she led the Economic Resilience Initiative at YWCA of Seattle | King | Snohomish, supporting financial educators and coaches. Jennifer co-developed financial education classes for domestic violence survivors and facilitated bilingual classes for a decade. She also helped oversee secured credit, matched savings, and free tax preparation programs. Jennifer holds a BA in Human Services from Western Washington University and a Master of Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University.

Shyle Ruder is the Education and Outreach Director at the Fair Housing Council of Oregon. Prior to her work at FHCO, Shyle worked in HIV/AIDS Services for 19 years with 14 of those years focused on housing services for people living with HIV/AIDS. She has taught Fair Housing since 2002. Shyle helped develop the Rent Well tenant education series, an intensive 15-hour course designed to teach individuals their rights and responsibilities as renters. She holds a master’s degree in Postsecondary Adult Continuing Education from PSU.

I am a passionate leader and advocate with lived experience from Cottage Grove. My passion and advocacy centers on Social Determinants of Health, specifically housing, homelessness, food stability, and medical access with a focus on seniors, disabled, equity, inclusion and racial justice. I serve on numerous Boards, Council, and Committees, where I use my voice, living/lived experience, and training to communicate the needs and wants of my community. It is my belief that those with living/lived experience and who are directly impacted are essential to understanding and creating sustainable changes and solutions. It is also my belief that they (we) must have a “real” seat at every table and be a part of the conversation and action. When I am not advocating, I am an avid photographer and love spending time with friends.

Roserria Roberts is the Homeownership Program Director at Proud Ground. Her background is housing, housing advocacy, equity and social justice. She has volunteered and worked with the Presbytery of the Synod, a former member of the Metro Services Oversight Committee, Project Manager with United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Homeless Services Coordinator with OHCS to Economic Development Director at Hacienda, CDC. Her motivation stems from knowing that faith, education, and opportunity can overcome all odds if you put in hard work and believe.

Diane Goodwin is an experienced communications strategist and trainer who supports staff across nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and campaigns. Diane has dedicated her career to advancing justice across a broad range of issues, including public health, immigrant justice, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, food waste prevention, criminal justice reform, recycling, paid leave, transit, and healthcare access. She has over three decades of experience in communications and organizing, including roles at Brink Communications, Basic Rights Oregon, President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, TriMet, Hill & Knowlton, Los Angeles County Public Health, and Howard Brown Health Center.

Celinés Garcia is a first-generation Xicana community organizer and dedicated advocate focused on fostering human dignity and a just recovery. Having roots in a migrant farmworker community, her commitment to advocacy and organizing operates at the vital intersections of economic liberation, migrant justice, and equitable disaster recovery. These formative experiences have deeply influenced her dedication to championing justice and expanding economic opportunities for working-class and immigrant families. Celinés holds a degree in General Social Science with a focus on Crime, Law, and Society from the University of Oregon, where she also pursued minors in Business Administration and Legal Studies. As a founding member of the Coalición Fortaleza team, she leads grassroots organizing and community wealth-building initiatives that have successfully directed more than $250,000 in emergency savings to local families. Furthermore, her advocacy work has been instrumental in reclaiming over $8 million in homeownership equity for her community post fire disaster. Her leadership has been instrumental in the growth of trailblazing programs designed to enhance access to stable housing, emergency funds, direct financial aid, and transportation, all through a culturally responsive lens. Celinés is a steadfast advocate for systemic investments and policy changes that cultivate enduring economic sovereignty for the Latine, Indigenous, and marginalized communities throughout the Rogue Valley. Outside of work, Celinés enjoys spending time with loved ones, tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants, doing her nails, exploring the outdoors, baking sourdough, and discovering new creative outlets through pottery.

I am Rolando Velazquez, born and raised in the Lane County area (Junction City). I am a dedicated mortgage lending professional with experience in homeownership, Silent Seconds, and Community Land Trust homes. Throughout my career i have worked closely with borrowers from diverse backgrounds, assisting them in making homeownership possible through strategic lending and education. I have a strong passion for equitable housing access and community development. When I'm not helping families achieve homeownership, I am a proud husband and father of two.