Intisar Abioto’s Artist Talk at KSMoCA

On June 6, 2024, 2022 Impact Partner the King School Museum of Contemporary Art hosted their final program for this school year – an artist talk with Intisar Abioto, their Spring 2024 artist in residence, and an exhibition opening for her project, “The Hold: Land & Water Stewards of Pacific Northwest Turtle Island.” This event capped a remarkable year focused on artists featured in the Black Artsts of Oregon exhibition on display at Portland Art Museum earlier this year, which Intisar also curated.

Founder and co-director Lisa Jarrett kicked off the program by asking the students why they studied art. Students eagerly offered a broad range of reasons: to see things that people love doing; to see art in a long line of history; for your emotions or enjoyment; to experience art; and to be inspired to do it yourself. All of these reasons and more are present in how they support students in exploring, creating, and curating art at their school. 

Throughout the year, artists in residence engage in programs alongside the students to explore a broad range of topics through the artists’ practice(s) and create original work that culminates in an exhibition and artist talk. The program also has two dedicated classrooms in King School, one of which is the site of ongoing mentorship sessions between King students and undergraduate students enrolled in the recurring “KSMoCA: Museum in a School” class as part of the Portland State University Art and Social Practice Program. 

In her recent talk, Intisar presented her photography series highlighting Black and Indigenous stewards of the land – a powerful series of images depicting often untold or overlooked stories of people and their relationships to place. As a part of her residency, she created a new set of photographs that included a portrait of Ms. Ruby, the beloved food and nutrition steward at King School, and documentation of two workshops with a kindergarten class, where students tasted herbs and created drawings of their favorites on t-shirts.

During her talk, Intisar offered that her project was another vision of our collective relationship and a prompt to take better care of each other by taking care of the land. “Do you think the land remembers us?” was one of the questions Intisar posed to King Elementary students last week, to murmurs and shouts of “yes!” 

This question and spirit of the project feel like a core part of KSMoCA at large – an initiative that is committed to making students active, engaged authors, curators, and interpreters of art; stewards in their own right of meaning, curiosity, place, self, and community. The building of King Elementary remembers its students. The walls sing, alive with their collaborations, evident in this museum-in-a-school’s (extensive and growing) permanent collection and rotating exhibitions, activating the school’s hallways and exteriors. The works on display are the legacy of their being asked not just to learn, but also to dream, reflect on their favorite parts of themselves, look up at the sky, and imagine themselves in the shoes of activists and ancestors. The joy and power in their work is palpable. 

As summer break is right around the corner, programming will be on pause until the fall, but you can still enjoy much of their work online – their amazing catalogs are available online as PDF downloads and for sale in print for your personal bookshelves. Student works are available as collectible prints in their online shop; as well as online archives of photos from programs and audio from their podcast project.

Summer Potlucks are Coming

Girlfriends Margie S, Kathy M, and Jody BS enjoy seeing other Girlfriends during the summer. Each is offering their home for a casual potluck. They hope you can carve out time to attend one (or more!) to get to know your Girlfriends a little better. (These events are not sponsored by ninety-nine girlfriends). 


Tuesday, July 2, 5:30-8:00PM   

HOST: Kathy M. - SW Portland/Raleigh Hills

Backyard: Croquet, badminton, food and drinks

Limit: 30

Email to register: Kathy M.


Monday, July 22, 5:30-8:00PM

HOST: Jody B.S. - NW Portland out Hwy 30 near bridge to Sauvie Island

Houseboat: Swimming, kayaking, hanging out on the deck, food and drinks

Limit: 12

Email to register: Jody B.S.


Sunday, August 4, 5:30-8:00PM

HOST: Margie S. - Gresham 

Farm: Delightful hidden spaces and a beautiful view with food and drinks

Limit: 15

Email to register: Margie S.


Take the Initiative

We enthusiastically welcome everyone's contributions of time but don’t require them. It's up to you to let us know if you want to volunteer. Reach out to us to learn about existing opportunities. Or register for an event and sign up to volunteer at it. Or click through a link when we ask for help and learn more. There are many ways to share your skills and abilities. 

Link to past tips

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON HEATHER HARDY

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

Girlfriends brought me. I've been involved with various Portland nonprofits for years as an employee, board member or volunteer. Four years ago, I was looking for a thoughtful way to contribute to my community even though I didn't have a lot of time to put into volunteering at the time. Girlfriends of mine had been part of ninety-nine girlfriends and recommended I take a look. I liked what I saw.

What keeps you engaged/interested/connected?

I've stayed connected because I respect the thoughtful approach ninety-nine girlfriends takes to philanthropy--streamlining processes and reporting, and allowing operating grants to make our funds as effective as possible within the organizations that receive them. We focus on trust-based relationships and a belief that the people closest to the problem will have the best judgment on how to solve the problem. We are continually reflecting on our biases and evolving our thinking to ensure we are making the biggest impact we can in the way the community needs us. I like that.  

What else would. you like to share? 

I'm finally able to get more involved and am excited to have my mom and daughter as Girlfriends this year so that we can learn from and participate in this group of inspirational women together.

Friends of Noise

Friends of Noise

2023 Impact Partner Friends of Noise provides fun, engaging professional development opportunities for local youth and young adults in the arts and creative sectors. On Saturday, June 15, FoN will host their Find Your Future Fest – a one-day career fair and live concert aimed at participants ages 16-25. Taking place at Parkrose Middle School, this free event gathers more than 15 exhibitors from local employers, entrepreneurs, educational resources, community organizations, and life coaches to help youth discover career possibilities! Know a young person who might like to participate? Pass this opportunity along and make sure they register for their free spot! 

KSMoCA

KSMoCA

You are invited to hear Intisar Abioto, 2022 Impact Partner KSMoCA’s Spring 2024 artist in residence, speak. The lecture takes place on Thursday, June 6 from 10:00-11:30 AM at KSMoCA (at King Elementary, 4906 NE 6th Ave). 

Intisar Abioto is an artist and explorer working across photography, dance, and writing. As a storyteller, her works capture the many narratives of peoples of African descent across various geographic regions. She is also the curator of the monumental exhibition, Black Artists of Oregon, recently shown at the Portland Museum of Art. For her KSMoCA exhibition, Abioto will showcase a photography series that focuses on Black and Indigenous stewards of the land across various landscapes—family farms, gardens, and other rural domains.

If you would like to register for one of our 15 spots, email Van, Impact Team Co-Lead, by Sunday, June 2 – please provide your full name for the guest list, and we’ll respond with more details! 

Apply for one of our Member-at-Large Coordinating Council Openings

We are recruiting for two (2) at-large members of the Coordinating Council (CoCo) so that we may have a more diverse set of voices, experiences, and opinions represented. 

Currently, CoCo is made up of the chairs of all our committees, which means we aren’t getting the perspective of members who don’t have as much time to commit to volunteering and may not be as steeped in everything we do. We seek Girlfriends who can bring an understanding of our mission, equity, commitment to racial equity, and an ability to see the “big picture.”  

CoCo members attend monthly meetings and collaborate to run the day-to-day activities for an interconnected and efficient organization. Meetings are held virtually on the second Wednesday of each month excluding January and August.

CoCo works closely with the Governing Board, conducting all grant-making and education programs and making budget recommendations, and is tasked with member recruitment, engagement, and retention. The Governing Board is responsible for fiduciary (financial, legal, compliance) and mission-related issues.

To better understand our leadership, please see Leadership Team & Org Structure Chart.

2024 Coordinating Council openings

Member-at-large Representative: Brings the perspective of members who are not currently deeply engaged in running the day-to-day activities of the organization as committee chairs. 

Essential Tasks:

  • Participate in discussions and decision-making 

  • Ensure that activities and decisions reflect our mission and values

  • Assist in leadership development and/or other committee activities

  • Provide member perspectives on issues that may arise

Helpful skills/experience:

  • Willingness to work collaboratively

  • Commitment to equity  

  • Interest in learning, adapting, and trying new approaches 

  • Appreciation of the diversity of our membership 

  • Ability to see interconnectedness and the big picture

  • One year of membership with ninety-nine girlfriends preferred

Time Commitment: 

  • Monthly 90-minute meetings (held on the second Wednesday from noon-1:30 via Zoom, excluding January and August)

  • Participation in annual half-day retreat (date TBD by poll)

  • 2-year commitment to ninety-nine girlfriends and CoCo

To apply for one of these openings, please email a statement expressing your interest, abilities and relevant skills/experience to Coordinating Council Chair Tammy Wilhoite by June 30. We will conduct interviews for these positions in early to mid July. Please reply to this email with any questions.

Liaison Report on WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center

Elizabeth Fraser, liaison to 2022 Impact Partner WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center, recently shared some exciting updates from the organization. WomenFirst has significantly enhanced its housing preparation classes within its life skills training program. This has resulted in a notable increase in participants becoming dependable tenants. This improvement is substantiated by positive feedback from landlords. Building on this success, WomenFirst has expanded its support infrastructure by securing a new residential facility in Southeast Portland. This facility will accommodate women for up to a year, supporting them as they engage in employment and continue with life skills management classes. Read more here

In addition, WomenFirst recently organized a leadership skills class led by former Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. This initiative is designed to equip women to effectively advocate before county and state government officials. Encouraged by the success of this program, plans are already in place to offer it again.

Further boosting their efforts, WomenFirst is the recipient of a three-year, $210,000 Dream Big Grant from the Women’s Foundation of Oregon! This grant will enable the expansion and enhancement of their programs, ensuring continued support and empowerment for women in the community. The organization is growing and recruiting as well – seeking a broad range of roles including a housing retention specialist, financial manager. See their job listings here and spread the word! 


Find the Member Directory in the Members pull-down menu on our website

A password-protected Member Directory is available to current Girlfriends. Share your photo, interests, and social links on the “Profile” tab to connect with other Girlfriends. Use the “Interests” tab to let our Membership Committee know what interests and skills you would like to bring to our giving circle. The “About” tab is where you share your private contact information and demographics that help us understand our membership (other Girlfriends can’t see this section). You may choose what information you want to share or opt out of the directory. The directory is for friendly use only. No soliciting.


Three Key Tips for Getting the Most out of your Membership

  1. Stay informed by reading the Member Updates and, if you’re on social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn @ninetyninegirlfriends.

  2. Ask questions by emailing us and we’ll get you to the right person.

  3. Take initiative by reaching out if there’s something you’re interested in or registering if there’s an event you’d like to attend.

Introducing our Coordinating Council for 2024-25

Tammy Wilhoite chairs our Coordinating Council, which is responsible for ninety-nine girlfriends' committees and ensuring all are in sync. The council is made up of the chairs of our five committees and we will soon be inviting applications for new positions of at-large members. Our organizational chart shows our current structure, which evolves as we learn and grow. We are working to get back to having two co-chairs of each committee, so email us if you’re interested in learning more about volunteering.

Tammy Wilhoite, CHAIR COUNCIL AND COMMUNICATIONS 

Megan Leftwich, CHAIR GRANTS STEERING

Barbara Hilyer & Karen Healey, 
CO-CHAIRS, MEMBER EDUCATION                       

Lori Rux & Katrina Machorro,
CO-CHAIRS, MEMBERSHIP                   

Lan Fendors, CHAIR OPERATIONS & FINANCE


 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON CHELSEA MCGRAW

Chelsea McGraw

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

Hi! I am brand new to ninety-nine girlfriends this year! I was introduced to this organization through a women’s event my office has hosted for the last 10 years called Power, Purpose & Passion. Along with a financial education piece (power!) and a keynote speaker (purpose!), we introduced a local non-profit (passion!) at each event. Over the last 10 years we have hosted so many wonderful non-profits and have met many women doing tireless and amazing work for our community. Our event came to an end last year and ninety-nine girlfriends was the last organization to present. Joining the girlfriends seemed to me like a perfect way to continue working with women and help support non-profits in a meaningful way. 

What keeps you engaged/interested/connected?

I attended one of the educational events as well as the initial round of grant letter reviews. It was encouraging to see so many women taking time out of their busy lives to learn, connect and put the time in to make a difference. The lunch session on poverty was eye-opening and a good reminder of how much work needs to be done and how much support is needed for the organizations out there trying to create change. The room of women brought many different perspectives to the table and I enjoyed having those conversations through the different lenses. 

The grant letter review process was also really interesting, fun and felt like we were really getting a lot done. Everyone I have interacted with at the ninety-nine girlfriends events has been welcoming and friendly. So far it has been a great way to connect and learn.

What else?! 

In my line of work as a wealth manager and financial advisor, I deal with high net worth on a daily basis. Taking the time to give back is important to me and also serves as a personal reminder to not get stuck in my own bubble. I believe that if we are in a place in our lives where we can share our time, resources or skills, it is important to use that for good—you never know how it could change the trajectory of someone else’s path in a life changing way. 

On a personal note, I love playing tennis in my free time, attending concerts and traveling with my friends and family. My husband and I are big fans of the Oregon State Beavers and can be found at every home football game rooting for orange and black!  

DISCOVERY FORUM CONTINUES TO EDUCATE AND CONNECT

Our Discovery Forum was a great gathering of Girlfriends and guests (72 in all!) and an excellent exchange of ideas. Panelists from the Oregon Center for Public Policy, The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, and Impact Partner Constructing Hope addressed our learning question for this year:  “How are equity, poverty and social mobility related and how can our philanthropy support positive change?” 

Some unsettling food for thought: 12% of Oregon households live in poverty. Forty percent of households cannot afford basic needs. Poverty is a policy choice.  

Read more here

We will continue to share what we learned via these member updates.

Our Member Education Committee planned the program which was moderated by our own Jody Feldman and Northwest Natural generously donated the space and a delicious, nutritious meal. Girlfriends had the opportunity to socialize at lunch and engage in discussion while developing questions for the panel. 

We moved beyond a recitation of a land acknowledgement as we seek to include more authentic education about Native people in our area and shared Klamath River Meditation by Judi Brannan Armbruster, a Karuk poet, published in Red Indian Road West: Native American Poetry from California (2016), an anthology that Lucille Lang Day co edited with Lakota poet Kurt Schweigman.  

Klamath River Meditation,
                                     by Judi Brannon Armbruster

There is a trail
down through tall cedar,
down to the River. 

The Sun shines
in shafts of gold
creates patterns
on the red dirt.
Light beams glisten
and dance on the water. 

I sit on a boulder
flat and gray
that lies part way
under the water.  

I feel warmth
from   this rock
from   the Sun
from   somewhere
deep inside.    

I listen . . .
the Water’s voice
speaks to me.
I feel . . .
  Peace.
I am . . .
  Peace.

All I see is sacred.  
I am . . .
  sacred.

Ha’a

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON BARBARA O'HARE

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

A very good friend introduced me to ninety-nine girlfriends in 2018 through a World Cafe and I was intrigued by the efficient process and the focus areas for giving.  Particularly refreshing was that ninety-nine girlfriends was making donations to BIPOC communities that traditionally had been overlooked.    

What holds your interest and keeps you engaged?

I was assigned a mentor that walked on water 😊. The events are engaging and are educational. The friendliness of Members is binding. After joining the visionary team, designed to evolve ninety-nine girlfriends for future members, I realized that Girlfriends is destined for the future.  

Why do you volunteer?                                                         

I saw my father and mother volunteer in the local Portland community and they inspired me to volunteer. I believe we should think about individuals that have less access than we do, may be less favored than we are, those that are less resourced and need something we can offer.  The Girlfriends sincerity about creating positive change at the grassroots levels of society is aspirational.

What else would you like to tell us?

I retired from an international airline in the public affairs/sales office. I have facilitated numerous dialogues around superficial differences like religion, culture and economics through dialoguesunlimited.com-serious about bridge building.

My husband and I enjoy live original rock n roll concerts.  I have enjoyed the Oregon Symphony and Chamber Music NW with other Girlfriends.  I’m looking forward to another season of thoughtful-giving with ninety-nine girlfriends.  

POVERTY BY AMERICA

After Matthew Desmond won the Pulitzer for Evicted,about families struggling to stay housed, the Princeton sociologist realized he still didn't understand why the U.S. has more poverty than any other advanced democracy.

His new book Poverty, By America, provides a provocative and compelling answer: It's because the rest of us benefit from it, and act to keep it that way.    
Learn more from Matthew Desmond in this brief interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw5GoTq2vBE

FRIENDS OF NOISE IS RECRUITING

Friends of Noise is looking for a fundraising/development strategist to join their team as a short-term consultant or long-term director to help grow their impact by ensuring the sustainability of our community arts venue. They are also seeking a new volunteer board member with a background in finance to eventually fill the role of treasurer. Their board meets remotely on a monthly basis (and in-person quarterly). Please contact Executive Director, André Middleton, with any interest or questions. 

IT’S GALA/SPRING FUNDRAISER SEASON

A few of our Impact Partners have events coming up, and they can be a great way to connect further with these organizations as they share stories of their impact and engage communities on how to support their future!