(yehuatl/yeh)
liliana (yehuatl/yeh) was born in Salinas, California and comes from a migratory family that originated from both coasts of anahuac. liliana was raised around tables and in circles tended to and cared for by matriarchs who offered love and is a descendant of storytellers, teachers, pathmakers, bridgebuilders, and community conveners. yeh has lived in redmond, oregon since 2015,  engaging in education, advocacy, community building and gardening during that time.

(He/Him)
Iraq War Veteran. Rural Queer Advocate. Klamath Tribal Member. First-Generation College Graduate. Parent. Partner. Nature Wanderer. Bridge Builder.

JD Hermann wears many hats—sometimes all at once. As a proud member of the Klamath Tribes and a fierce advocate for rural and Indigenous LGBTQIA2S+ voices, JD works at the intersection of identity, community, and justice. With a background shaped by military service in Iraq, and a future grounded in healing and equity, JD brings lived experience and deep compassion to every space they enter.

A first-generation college graduate, JD understands the power of education and the barriers that come with it. Whether mentoring youth, fighting for inclusive affirmative behavioral healthcare, or building systems that uplift the often-overlooked, JD is committed to doing the hard, heart-centered work that change demands.

When not working, JD is likely out in the woods, recharging in nature, or home surrounded by a beautifully chaotic household: three incredible kids, a husband who’s in it for the long haul, two pugs who believe they run the show, and a 16-year-old cat who definitely does.

JD builds bridges between worlds—rural and urban, tradition and innovation, pain and possibility—always with humor, heart, and a clear sense of purpose.

(they/them)
Marika Straw is a lover of new, creative, collaborative projects for social change, which is why they are so thrilled to be a part of the PiN team. Some of their favorite projects in the past have been an ethnomusicology project on drumming and social change in India (2012 & 2016) and co-creating and leading a songwriting course at a women’s prison in North Carolina (2019). In the summer of 2024, they piloted the “Rural Queer Open Mic Tour,” traveling with their fellow “Fruit Snaxxx” to 11 small towns in rural Oregon/Washington to create space for rural queer joy, vulnerability, and belonging. In July 2025, they are releasing their first album as a singer-songwriter on piano and voice, “Love, the Heartache,” which is chock-full of - you guessed it - queer love songs. When they’re not helping start up People Like Us, Wallowa County’s new 2SLGBTQIA+ nonprofit, or wrangling students as “the cool sub” (they hope), Marika is almost certainly petting their cat, Gorgeous.

(she/her)
Kari is a professional nerd, and has spent 20 years as a public servant supporting research and evaluation activities for Oregon Public Health Division and Multnomah County Health Department. She sparkles when she gets to hear the stories of people and communities, and loves working as part of a larger team using data for action, policy change and preservation. Kari feels so lucky to be part of Pride in Numbers!

(She/They)
Hello! My name is Kaylie. I was born in Springfield, Oregon and currently located in Eugene, but have moved around a lot throughout my life, primarily between Oregon, Texas and Louisiana. I earned my degree in Emerging Media and Digital Arts from Southern Oregon University in 2021 and have used what I learned to support causes that I care about through art and social media platforms. I have a lot of passion for the QTBIPOC community as a biracial (black and white) queer person. I have experienced my fair share of struggles from poverty to mental health and am excited to continue to help make Oregon a safer and more enjoyable place for all Two-Spirit, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC folks!”

(she/her)
Erin Waters is a passionate educator and advocate for marginalized communities. She has spoken at hospitals, colleges, universities, and conferences across the country throughout her roles as organizer, speaker, facilitator, program director, and board member. Her work has ranged from both small federally qualified health clinics to large-scale non-profit healthcare systems, where she has helped build and stabilize access to care for thousands of people.

(she/her)
Nimisha is a nonprofit leader and community builder who’s all about collective care, big-picture change, and joyful resistance. She believes in community as survival and softness as strength. As the Co-founder and Director of Creative Queer Collective, she creates queer-centered spaces where creativity and connection thrive. With a background in survivor advocacy, peer support, and trauma-informed program design, Nimisha brings heart, humor, and some SERIOUS spreadsheet skills wherever she goes.

When she’s off the clock, you’ll find her diving into her latest craft obsession, whether it’s making keychains, painting coasters, crafting wreaths, or experimenting with a brand-new recipe.

(he/him)
Jesse Beason is Northwest Health Foundation’s President & Chief Executive Officer. He leads the Foundation in pursuit of its vision of health for everyone in Oregon & Southwest Washington. Before this, Jesse served as the foundation’s Vice President of Strategy & Public Affairs. He also served, among other roles, as Executive Director of Proud Ground and a Senior Policy Director for then-Commissioner Sam Adams. Jesse keeps saying yes to serving on boards—too many, really. It's a terrible hobby. He moved from Denver, Colorado to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College a score and a quarter ago. Jesse is a proud guncle, a semi-closeted sci-fi geek and a middling beekeeper

(she/they)
Bio coming soon.

(she/they/ella)
Bianca “Fox” Ballara, Indigenous latina, Taino and Ciboney of the Caribbean on both my mother and father's family lines. I am Co-Founder of NativeWomanshare, a Land Back project for the Takelma Tribe of Southern Oregon and Inter-Tribal Native women and Two-Spirit to reconnect with land, traditions, and stewardship. I have worked as BIPOC Environmental Justice activist for Beyond Toxics, 350.org, and with the immigrant farmworkers of rural Oregon; also as bilingual Project Manager for the 2020 U.S. Census in efforts to reach greater diversity. I make a damn good cup of café con leche and: I am farmer, Indigenous land steward, astrologer and also co-lead House Del Mar for Southern Oregon 2SLGBTQIA+ event and party organizing.

(she/her)
Khanya is initially from Michigan but has made Portland, Oregon, home. She identifies as a queer woman of color of biracial Swazi and white descent. She is the Data Manager at the Coalition of Communities of Color. In this position, Khanya is responsible for organizing, developing, and maintaining datasets. Khanya and her colleagues support justice and equity efforts by building data capacity among BIPOC community-facing organizations and collaborating with dominant institutions to make way for community-desired solutions. Khanya is trained in Prevention Science with a focus on mental health promotion and suicide prevention in the LGBTQ+ community.