Amandeep Sohi - Interim Board Chair

Raised in Oregon City, Amandeep has called the Portland-metro region home for most of their life. They are passionate about building bridges between marginalized communities, community-based organizations, and government agencies. In their role as a community engagement coordinator at the nonprofit organization Verde, Amandeep is grateful for the opportunity to do just that: build relationships and connections, all while creating more equitable spaces. Prior to joining Verde in 2022, Amandeep held positions at the regional government agency Metro and at youth-led non-profit organization Momentum Alliance.

Fatmah Worfeley - Treasurer

From a long line of organizing and building with community, Fatmah Worfeley has been involved in community organizing and social services since 2012. Fatmah Worfeley is a Portland native, and a child to immigrants. A facilitator, story teller, organizer and strategic leader who often is making sure everybody gets to eat, has an opportunity to lead, make decisions and feels seen.

Fatmah is currently holding the Executive Director position at Momentum Alliance, a youth of color led social justice nonprofit, based in Portland, Oregon.

Fatmah is also a mentor to many youth- often youth who have graduated and become alumni of Momentum Alliance programming.

Ira Cuello-Martinez

Ira is the Policy Advocacy Director at PCUN, Oregon's Farmworker Union based out of Woodburn, OR. He has experience in electoral campaigns, policy advocacy, community organizing, and coalition management. He played a crucial role in the passage of Oregon’s farmworker overtime law and the strongest heat and smoke worker protections in the country.

Ira believes in a world where everyone gets to live their lives with dignity, respect, love, and joy. In his spare time, he enjoys soccer, jaripeos, music, and spending time with his friends and family.

​Jimmy Balderas

Jimmy Balderas is a program consultant and equity-focused leader with extensive experience in energy efficiency, affordable housing, and community development. He has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, coordinated diverse stakeholders, and led programs funded through the Portland Clean Energy Fund, the Energy Trust of Oregon, and the Department of Energy, delivering sustainable solutions to underserved communities. Jimmy brings a strong commitment to advancing green infrastructure, economic justice, and equitable access to green jobs that uplift frontline communities.

Jimmy’s foundation in advocacy was shaped by his years as a union organizer and shop steward, where he led campaigns to improve workplace equity, trained emerging leaders, and helped pass pro-worker policies. His organizing background informs his approach to community empowerment, policy navigation, and coalition-building, ensuring programs are not only effective but also people-centered and inclusive.

Joanne Shepard

Joanne Shepard is an educator and union organizer, currently working for the Oregon Education Association. She's held various roles in education for the past 10 years. In her free time she enjoys connecting with her local community and exploring the beautiful PNW.

Paul Brown

Paul Brown (he/him) has worked in organizational management, business operations, fundraising, workforce development, and nonprofit engagement for many years. Deeply committed to social justice and community building, Paul co-founded the Portland Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Community of Practice and also serves on the boards of WorkSystems and Free Geek.

Paul is honored to join the Voz board in support of our mission to improve working conditions and protect civil rights. Paul believes “we rise by lifting others” and is eager to learn from and stand alongside the workers and organizers at the heart of Voz.

Raquel Barajas

Raquel is the daughter of migrant parents from Michoacan and Oaxaca. She graduated from Lewis and Clark College as a psychology major and has her Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University. She has worked on campaigns to stop deportations and reunite families using community organizing. This helped shape her ideology and showed there is power in accompanying and showing up as a community to bring families home. She is excited to join Voz’s Board, bringing her expertise in immigrant and economic justice and organizational change. She loves to read, dance, and has a dog named Lula who is stubborn and lovable.

​Úmi Vera

Úmi Vera is a descendant of Tepehuan O’dami indigenous immigrant parents. She has over 15 years of intersectional migrant & trans/queer community organizing experience, predominantly in policy advocacy and executive leadership roles. Úmi also has extensive philanthropic experience through the TRANSform Culture program at Pride Foundation, Borealis Philanthropy’s Fund for Trans Generations (FTG), and the Transgender Strategy Center.