Past Event Archives
2012 Highlights
Video
Our 2012 event featured 25 speakers on the theme of "Becoming Extraordinary" and was attended by 650 Portlanders. Check out what they experienced. You can…
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2013 Highlights
Video
Our 2013 event featured 18 speakers on the theme of "Velocity" and was attended by 700 Portlanders. Check out what they experienced. You can also…
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2014 Highlight
Video
Our 2014 event featured 13 speakers on the theme "Pulse" and was attended by 750 Portlanders. Check out what they experienced.
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Adam Nicholas Phillips
Pastor and Social Justice Advocate
Adam is founding pastor of Christ Church: Portland, an open, active and inclusive faith community established in 2014. In February 2015, Adam and his faith…
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Adrienne Nelson
Servant Leader
Adrienne, a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge, is the second Black female judge in Oregon’s history. She is a sought-after speaker on a variety of…
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Alialujah Choir
Masters of Harmony
Alialujah Choir came about when three well-known members of Portland’s notable music scene took time away from the comforts and constraints of their primary bands…
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Anis Mojgani
Spoken Word Poet
Anis Mojgani is a two time National Poetry Slam Champion, winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam, and a National Book Award Nominee. Everyone,…
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Anton Cobb
Child Hunger Advocate
Anton Cobb is a Chicago native who moved to Portland in 2013 and has never looked back. He lives in Northwest Portland and works downtown…
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Bill Deresiewicz
Author, Essayist and Critic
Bill Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic and the best-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to…
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Blaine Fontana
Artist
Imbuing his vision with the divine symbolism of religious myths, worldly folklore and current social dynamics, Blaine Fontana’s works contain a kind of shamanic exploration…
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Brandi Tuck
Advocate for Homeless Families
Brandi Tuck is the founding Executive Director of Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS), whose mission is to empower homeless families with children to get back…
Bri Pruett
Comedian and Writer
Bri is a Portland-born comedian and writer, currently based in Los Angeles. She was recently featured on Comedy Central's Roast Battle and Fox's Laughs. In…
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Brian Lindstrom
Documentarian
Brian Lindstrom is a filmmaker in Portland, Oregon. His documentary Alien Boy: the life and death of James Chasse premiered at the Portland International Film…
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Bruce Livingston
Creator
Bruce was born during the time between the invasions of Poland and Pearl Harbor and served in the US Army from 1959 to 1961 then…
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Caitlin Baggott
Activist
One of the dozen volunteers who launched the Oregon Bus Project into action in 2002, Caitlin brings backgrounds in experiential education, journalism, and design to…
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Catherine J. H. Miller
Artist
Though Portland native Catherine J. H. Miller‘s art is diverse in medium and topic, one theme emerges frequently. Miller is visually impaired and believes that…
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Chad Fez Gaetz
Artist
Chad 'Fez' Gaetz is a Portland, Oregon-based artist best known for his large scale interactive works. He has created his own niche designing sculptures and…
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Charles McGee
Racial Equity Activist
In 2006, Charles McGee and Johnell Bell co-founded the Black Parent Initiative (BPI) where Charles continues to serve as Executive Director. BPI works to help…
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Cheryl Strayed
Writer
The writing of award-winning author Cheryl Strayed has been described as courageous, gritty, elegant, precise, smart, funny, and sublime. She’s a writer of both fiction…
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Chris Guillebeau
Writer
Chris Guillebeau is a writer, world traveler, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner. He has visited more than 180 countries on a 5-year quest to visit every…
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Chris Goldfinger
Seismological Prophet
Dr. Chris Goldfinger is a marine geologist and geophysicist whose focus is on great earthquakes and the structure of subduction zones around the world. He…
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Colleen Wainwright
Communicatrix
Colleen is a self proclaimed “communicatrix,” that used her social media and attention attracting talents to raise $50,000 in just 50 days for the Los…
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Crystal Schenk
Artist
Award-winning artist Crystal Schenk designed a sculpture that resembles the Aurora Borealis. “It is remarkable and poetic that the magnetic fields and solar storms of…
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Damien Fair
Behavioral Neuroscientist
Damien is an Associate Professor in the Behavioral Neuroscience Department at OHSU where his laboratory focuses on mechanisms and principles that underlie the developing brain.…
Dan Carlin
New Media Pioneer
Dan Carlin is a former television news reporter and radio talk show host who since 2005 has been producing two popular podcasts — one on…
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Daria Eliuk
Storyteller
Daria Eliuk is a familiar voice in the Portland, Oregon entertainment world. In addition to her 20-year influence on Portland radio, Daria’s impact can be…
Dave Miller
Professional Listener
Dave Miller has spent 14 years making radio, and he still thinks it’s the best job in the world. He’s currently the host of Think…
WatchDavid Walker
Comic Book Writer
David F. Walker is an award-winning comic book writer, author, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. His work in comic books includes Shaft (Dynamite Entertainment), winner of…
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DeAngelo Raines
Creative Architect / Artist in Residence
DeAngelo Raines works daily to bring his unique perspective to the narrative of Portland’s growing music and art scene. Previous projects include SERVICE, an underground,…
Dee Williams
Minimalist
After a pivotal trip to Guatemala seven years ago, Dee sold her home, got rid of most of her belongings, and began limiting herself to…
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Derenda Schubert
Intergenerational Community Leader
A licensed psychologist with extensive professional experience in counseling children and families, Derenda has found herself creating, managing, and evaluating foster care and mental health…
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Dick and Jeanne Roy
Agents of Change
A 1970 graduate of Harvard Law School, Dick left his practice of corporate law with Stoel Rives to join his wife Jeanne as a full-time…
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Dmae Roberts
Conversation Ignitor
Dmae is a Peabody Award and Oregon Book Award-winning writer/radio artist who has created ground-breaking personal and multicultural documentaries on NPR and PRI. Her indie…
WatchErnesto Fonseca
Equitable Systems Creator
Born into a small, underprivileged community in Central Mexico, and later an immigrant to the United States, Ernesto Fonseca has dedicated his life to addressing…
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Ethan Knight
Educator
Ethan Knight would gladly admit that college wasn’t for him—at first. So he decided instead to take a “gap year” to India, Nepal, Tibet and…
WatchFrankie Simone
Musician
Frankie Simone offers a vision of pop music as a conduit for collective enlightenment, self-empowerment and awakening. Frankie’s music exists, she says, “to celebrate every…
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Garet Lahvis
Research Pioneer
Garet Lahvis is a pioneer in academic research on the mental experiences of laboratory mice and is an internationally recognized scientific expert on empathy. Using…
Gary Hirsch
Advocate for Co-Creation
Gary Hirsch is an artist, illustrator, improviser, and co-founder of On Your Feet—a consultancy that collides improv with business to help companies relate, create and…
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Gayathri Ramprasad
Mental Health Advocate
Gayathri Ramprasad is the Founder and President of ASHA International, a nonprofit organization promoting personal, organizational, and community wellness, and the author of Shadows in…
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Gideon Freudmann
Cross-Genre Cellist
Composer and electric cellist Gideon Freudmann enjoys an international reputation for his innovative compositions and unique style of playing. He is a founding member and…
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Goodnight Billygoat
Performance Art Group
David Klein began Goodnight Billygoat as a solo project in 2006, combining stop-motion animation and ambient music. Nick Wooley joined soon after to help with…
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Governor Barbara Roberts
Politician
She served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She is the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to…
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Gregory McKelvey
Community Organizer
Gregory earned a Political Science degree from Oregon State University and a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School. In Portland, Gregory is easily…
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Gustav Sculptor and Richard Cawley
Artists In Residence
Manifestation PDX was founded in 2013 by Gustav Sculptor and Richard Cawley. It's a 8,000 sq. ft. Art (ware)House that facilitates and encourages the creation of…
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Ivo Lukas
Female Empowerment Badass
Ivo Lukas is the Founder/CEO for 24Notion. 24Notion is the first integrated marketing/digital PR and lifestyle agency with special emphasis on giving back to the…
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Jan Black
Author
Jan Black is the creator of Ludi-Q’s(R), an unconventional method and suite of products that open our eyes to the unspoken ludicrous questions behind our…
Jeff Mapes
Writer
Author of Pedaling Revolution and political writer for The Oregonian, Jeff is the senior political reporter at The Oregonian and author of Pedaling Revolution: How…
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Jefferson Smith
Democracy Entrepreneur
Jefferson Smith founded the Bus Project, which has registered over 70,000 voters and engaged 1000s in grassroots democracy (like Trick or Vote). Elected to the…
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Jenn Cohen
Social Entrepreneur
Jenn Cohen is the director and founder of the Circus Project which harnesses the magic of the circus to provide opportunities to homeless and at-risk…
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Jensine Larsen
Global Advocate
Jensine Larsen, an award-winning social media entrepreneur and international journalist, is the founder of World Pulse, an action media network powered by 50,000 women from…
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Jesse Laird
Activist
Jesse is a professor at Concordia University and teaches Peace Studies, Global Diversity, Speech, and Ethics. Since 2002, he has marched-on, taught-in, walked-out, blockaded, occupied,…
WatchJessica Katz
Humanitarian
Jessica Katz founded the Family Preservation Project at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in 2003 which is the subject of the documentary film, “Mothering Inside.”…
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Jia Jiang
Rejection Expert
Jia Jiang is the founder of 100 Days of Rejection, speaker and author of a soon to be released book (Crown Publishing) on how to…
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Jim Zemlin
Technology Guru
Zemlin’s career spans three of the largest technology trends to rise over the last decade: mobile computing, cloud computing and open source software. As executive…
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Jo Ann Hardesty
Citizen Representative
Jo Ann Hardesty grew up in Baltimore. She joined the Navy after high school and, as one of the first women to go on board…
Joe Smith
Lawyer
R.P. Joe Smith served as District Attorney for Umatilla County and is the former chair of the Oregon Democratic Party. He was the Executive Assistant…
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Jolie Guillebeau
Artist In Residence
Jolie is an artist, a teacher, a storyteller. Daily rituals and frequent collaboration with others energize her and fuel her creativity. Back in 2010, she…
WatchJonquil LeMaster
Sculptor
Jonquil LeMaster is an artist, designer, and fabricator. Her designs are inspired by nature and informed by 35 years of experience working in a variety…
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Juvie Hall & Cynthia Lopez
Epiphany Starters
Juvie Hall (aka Diana Fedoroff) is a study in wackiness. A born goofball with a penchant for academia, she’s been known to win both karaoke…
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Kelly Schwan
Unconventional Traveler
Kelly Schwan is an occupational therapist at a level 1 trauma hospital in Portland. As someone who works with people with disabilities every day and…
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Kelly Rodgers and Kelley Roy
Sustainable Urbanists
Kelly Rodgers and Kelley Roy are the CoAuthors of Cartopia: Portland’s Food Cart Revolution. Since moving to Portland in 1995, Kelly has worked in a…
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Kevin Jones
Conversation Starter
Kevin E. Jones is the principal conjurer and co-creator of The August Wilson Red Door Project, a nonprofit using the arts to change racial ecology.?…
kin trio
House Band
Eugene Lee, artist and founder of kin trio, formed kin trio in 2011 with the idea to combine bebop and minimalism. The idea of this…
WatchKingsley - Music
Musician
Straight out of college, Kingsley uprooted from Chicago and landed in Portland and has been honing in her skills and working on her first EP!…
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Kristine Anderson
Performer
Kristine (Kris) Anderson will complete her MFA in Dance at Mills College in May 2011 with high honors. Some highlights of MFA program include a…
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Kristofor Lofgren
Ecopreneur
Kristofor Lofgren is the founder and CEO of Bamboo Sushi, the world’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant. A consummate creator, Kristofor likes thinking of new…
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Laura Peterson
Unsung Hero of Compassion
Laura Peterson is the founder/director of Hands to Hearts International (HHI) a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and development of vulnerable children (ages 0-3)…
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Laura Veirs & Tucker Martine
Music Industry Pioneers
Portland power-couple, Laura Veirs and Tucker Martine, have been deeply involved in the DIY indie music movement for decades. Laura is a world renowned folk…
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Lillian Pitt & Toma Villa
Culture Conservationists
Lillian is a Pacific Northwest Native American artist whose ancestors lived in and near the Columbia River Gorge for over 10,000 years. Called simply the…
WatchLillian Karabaic
Cat Economist and Radio Host
Lillian Karabaic is a cat enthusiast, radio host, spandex style-icon, and international public speaker who is on a mission to make boring things fun in…
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Linda K Johnson
Dance Artist and Educator
Linda K. Johnson is a dance-artist performer and has received serious critical reviews from many venues including Metropolis Magazine, NPR, Dance Magazine and Landscape Architecture.…
WatchLuz Elena Mendoza
Musician
Luz's music brings themes of searching, metamorphosis, shared humanity and for a faith that is greater than just religion. Songs that are conversations that been…
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Mark Frohnmayer
Innovator
Mark graduated from UC Berkeley in 1996 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. After 11 years in the computer games industry and…
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Mark Powers
Percussionist
Mark Powers, percussion artist, teacher, and writer, once co-held the Guinness Book of World Records title for longest continuous drum roll (2003-2005). He admits that…
WatchMary Peveto
Environmental Activist
Mary Peveto calls herself an “accidental activist.” In 2010, in response to dangerous levels of industrial pollution in the air at her daughter’s school, she…
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Mathew Lippincott
DIY Advocate
Mathew is of the opinion that the future needs better instructions. An artist and designer working in technology development and education, he splits his time…
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Matthew Collins
Educator and Environmentalist
Friends of Tryon Creek is a non-profit organization devoted to the protection of Portland's greatest ecological assets, Tryon Creek State Natural Area. In order to…
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Mbrascatu
Italian Indie Rock Band
PDX with a Calabrian twist. A musical product of the creative melting pot of Portland, Mbrascatu is an indie rock band that draws from diverse…
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Melissa Delzio
Designer & Storyteller
Melissa Delzio is a freelance graphic designer and creative entrepreneur with over seven years of experience producing print and web graphics for international and local…
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Mercy Mfon
Architect of Change
Mercy’s drive to form Wild Diversity came from the desire to support a robust community of POC & Queer outdoorists and be an architect of…
Mic Crenshaw
Cultural Activist
Chicago-born poet and emcee Michael (Mic) Crenshaw fell in love with music at a young age while living in Minneapolis. His teenage years were challenging…
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Michael Hanna
Micro-entrepreneur
Small-business owner Michael Hanna describes his personal and business transformation from out-of-work corporate executive to mattress delivery guy. Hanna lost his job at the height…
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Michael Curry
Visual Theater Specialist
Michael Curry is the owner and President of Michael Curry Design Inc. in Scapoose, Oregon. He designs and creates live-performance oriented dimensional characters and productions.…
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Michael Allen Harrison
Legendary Pianist
Michael Allen Harrison delivers music to the heart. His classical contemporary style carves a distinct niche of timeless music that has connected with thousands throughout…
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Michelle Rowley
Culture Strategist
Michelle is a self-taught software developer who seeks a deeper understanding of the world and the chance to change it for the better. She aspires…
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Mohammad Khan Kharoti
Builder
Mohammad Khan Kharoti was born in 1943 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan and up to the age of seven lived in a nomadic caravan. In 1950…
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Mohan Nair
Educator and Entrepreneur
Mohan Nair was born and raised in Singapore where he discovered his love for music, watercolors, mathematics. In America, he discovered his love for computer…
WatchMohanad Elshieky
Humorist and Activist
Mohanad Elshieky, originally from Benghazi, Libya, is a standup comedian now based in Portland, Oregon. Mohanad is known as a bold and fearless performer who…
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Molly Gray and Beth Wooten
Music Entrepreneurs
The Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls is a non-profit that builds girls’ self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, they…
WatchMorgan Vague
Scientist
Throughout school, Morgan Vague remembers teachers telling her she should avoid math and science, because she wasn’t “smart enough”. After high school, Morgan tired of…
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Nathan Schmitt
Innovator
Nathan is currently a student at Concordia University challenging the current academic. He thinks more time should be spent acquiring situational knowledge as there’s only…
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Neal Keny-Guyer
Humanitarian
Neal Keny-Guyer is a social entrepreneur committed to creating a more just and peaceful world. He joined Mercy Corps in 1994 as Chief Executive Officer…
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Nichole Maher
Native American Activist
Energetic, vibrant, dedicate, and inspiring, Nichole Maher is executive director of the Native American Youth and Family Center. Under her leadership, NAYA works to enrich…
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Nick Caleb
Activist
Nick Caleb is an alumni of and professor at Concordia University. One summer he went to Delhi, India where he worked as a policy analyst…
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Our School Occupy Education
Activists
“We are the 99%” became the rallying cry of the Occupy Movement which has been at once praised and criticized for its organizational methods and…
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Pippin Beard and Kristen Kingsbury
Filmmakers — Portland, Inc.
Husband and wife filmmaker duo, Pippin Beard and Kristen Kingsbury, have been creating together for the last decade. Pippin, a camera toting Oregonian, is equipped…
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Polly Bangs and Tres Shannon
Social Entrepreneurs
Polly Bangs has worked with youth since 2002 and founded the Program Manager of Urban Opportunities in 2007. She owned her own restaurant in North…
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Prashant Kakad
Entertainer
Prashant Kakad is an ex- Intel Engineer turned Bollywood Singer, Dance Instructor, and DJ, spinning an eclectic mix of International dance music to packed houses…
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Principal Dean (a.k.a. Miles Ewell)
Beatsmith
Principal Dean is an analog-obsessed, melodically rich producer weaned during the peak of the MPC-era and inspired by a unique combination of soul music, found…
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Rachel Harry
Tony Award Winning High School Teacher
Rachel believes teaching should be student-driven and wants students to explore and to reach and to fail, because all of those things — especially failure…
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Rebecca Shapiro
Artist in Residence
Rebecca was born in Portland, OR, and spent her teenage years in Houston, TX, where she learned graphic design and medical illustration at the University…
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Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater
Contemporary Dance
Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater is an ensemble of multi dimensional dancers and musicians under the artistic direction of Oluyinka Akinjiola. Rejoice! looks at tradition through…
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Renee Ward
Activist & Reverend
In 1998, Renee Ward founded Chrysalis Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit agency. She has also established two programs to educate, advocate, and empower those struggling with…
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Rita Golden Gelman
Modern Day Nomad
Rita is the author of over 70 children’s books and two adult books. Her memoir, Tales of a Female Nomad, Living at Large in the…
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Roxie McGovern
Artist Evoker
Roxie grew up in Los Angeles in a big Armenian family where everyone, regardless of relation, is either "Auntie" or "Uncle." Her family and Armenian…
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Rukaiyah Adams
Financial and Cultural Idealist
Rukaiyah Adams is the Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust. Her job is to ensure the long-term strength of the organization. But, Rukaiyah is…
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Ryan Saari
Social Entrepreneur
Ryan Saari is pastor of The Oregon Community, a hip, young Portland church. He is also Director of the Oregon Public House—the world’s first non-profit…
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Ryan Wines
Creative Culture Chemist
Ryan is co-founder and CEO of Marmoset, a boutique music house based in Portland that crafts original music for story-driven mediums such as film, advertising…
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Sabina Haque
Artist in Residence
Sabina Zeba Haque is an artist of South Asian descent raised in Karachi by her American mother and Pakistani father. Sabina received an M.F.A in…
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Saeeda Wright
Advocate of Love
Portland native Saeeda “MaMa Sae” Wright has been singing since she was a child, and is today one of the Pacific Northwest premier vocalists and…
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Shannon Walker
Advocate for Veterans
Fox News radio stations seem to think Shannon Walker is the go-to expert voice representing the power of a service-dog in the life of combat…
Sharif Abdullah
Transformationist
Sharif Abdullah is an author and advocate for inclusivity, societal transformation and societal spirituality. He believes we can create a world that works for all…
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Stephen Kellogg
Musician & Philosopher
Stephen Kellogg claims that when he was growing up, his musical interests were divided between his father's record collection, devoted to '70s singer/songwriters like Jim…
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Stephen W. Manning
Human Rights Strategist
Attorney Stephen W. Manning is a founding partner of Immigrant Law Group PC and the founder and director of the Innovation Law Lab, a non-profit…
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Susan Addy & Okropong
Legacy Champions
Susan Addy is currently the Executive Director of The Obo Ady Legacy Project. With her husband, Obo, she founded the nonprofit organization to present and…
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Taylor Adam Swift
Photographer
After a bad auto accident landed Taylor in physical therapy, he found that he couldn’t pursue his calling as a photographer. What drew him to…
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Thom Hartmann
Author & Radio/TV Host
Thom Hartmann is a progressive syndicated talk show host heard in over a half-billion homes worldwide. He’s a New York Times best-selling, 4-time Project Censored…
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Tiana Tozer
Champion and Advocate
A former humanitarian aid worker, Tiana Tozer developed and implemented an innovative program in Iraq that taught advocacy to people with disabilities. She also ran…
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Tim Smith
Civic Ecologist
Tim Smith is a Principal and Director of Urban Design and Planning for SERA Architects, a Portland, Oregon firm that offers integrated services in architecture,…
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Tom Henderson
Punk Mathematician
Tom Henderson is a Cascadian mathematician, comedian, and writer. You can hear him talking about quantum game theory and whether to buy a monkey in…
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Tom Shrimpton
Cryptographer
Tom Shrimpton is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Portland State University. He earned a Ph.D. in 2004 from the University…
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Tony Hopson
Enhancer
Tony is a native of Portland, Oregon, resides in the Northeast community, and is a respected neighborhood and community leader. From 1977 to 1985, Hopson…
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Tyler Jones
Slow Food Advocate
Tyler Jones, and his wife Alicia, own and run a 106 acre sustainable livestock farm in Corvallis Oregon called Afton Field Farm. Ten years ago…
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Tyler Tervooren
Riskologist
Tyler grew up living a conventional, relatively low-risk life. He went to college, got a useful degree and then a good job. However, he always…
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Victoria Lara
Resilient Community Changemaker
Founder and CEO of Lara Media Services LLC, Victoria Lara has been a tireless community leader and civil rights advocate for more than a decade.…
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Vineet Edupuganti
Teen Scientist and Innovator
In December, 2016, at age 16, Vineet Edupuganti was named the national winner of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. His winning project…
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