Noni Causey is a native of Portland. Her family settled in the NE Portland community in 1902 and Noni has remained in the community to this day. For more than 60 years, she has worked with families and youth through local community-based organizations, all while raising her four sons in the public school system. She has centered her work in advocacy for youth at risk of falling through the cracks of our public education systems, on those youth and families who need our assistance in overcoming systemic barriers in their lives. 

After fifteen years in social services, Noni Causey returned to college after to expand her knowledge base.  She discovered that many of the problems faced by families were the result of embedded institutional racism, oppression, and discriminatory practices and policies.

She graduated from Linfield College in 2007 with a BS in Social Behavioral Science, and received her MS degree in 2012 from Portland State University, with a concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy. 

In 2013, Noni was elected co-chair of a special task force for equity and inclusion in the workplace at Portland Community College (PCC) Cascade Campus.  In 2017, she was selected to the Portland State University’s (PSU) President’s African American Black Student Success Task Force. In 2017, Noni also came the 1st Vice President of the local NAACP Chapter, 1120B, and served as the chairperson of the Educational Committee, where she established the chapter’s first youth council. Noni was reappointed to serve as the Educational Chairperson in 2020 to present

Noni designed and implemented the Black Student Success Summit, “BSSS”, while teaching at Portland Community College.  The BSSS is an annual full day college to career summit that brings hundreds of Black students together from the across City of Portland, SW Washington, and outlying communities as far south as Eugene, OR.  

Each year, Noni expands her reach by collaborating with student leaders, local schools, community-based organizations, and Black professionals in both public and private sector, higher education institute, and parents to insure the BSSS provides the social capital, foundational networking skills, information and learning experiences needed to thrive. 

An educational entrepreneur, Noni Causey continues to dream, design and implement culturally-specific and informed programs that increase Black students’ access to resources and opportunities to allow them to be successful on their educational journey and better prepared to compete in our global marketplace. She is dedicated to building unity in our community, has an extreme passion for quality education, and works hard for social, racial, and environmental justice. 

When time permits, Noni can be found camping, traveling with her friend in their recreational vehicle club, spending quality time with her four sons, and trying to keep up with her five grandsons and one granddaughter, as well as listening to audio books, and pursuing scrapbooking and other crafts.   

Mariotta Gary-Smith is a 3rd generation Oregonian & social justice agitator, cultural sexologist, and public/sexual health educator. 

She’s a Co-Foundress of Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN), an online network of women/femmes of color sexuality professionals and has over 20 years of experience as a trainer/facilitator on the intersection of Black sexuality, racial justice, sexual and health equity, and sexuality education. 

Mariotta is a graduate of the CESH (Center of Excellence in Sexual Health) Scholars Program at Morehouse School of Medicine and holds an MPH from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. In her day job, she is a Health Equity Strategist/Practitioner for a large health care organization.

In 2005, Monique began her career in radio working under owner Paul Allen for Hip Hop station - Jammin’ 95.5. In an effort to align new partnerships Monique found success as a Marketing Manager exceeding her yearly six figure sales goal 4 years in a row while highlighting the number one morning show in the country “The Play House”.

When the station shifted markets from music to sports, Monique helped launch the first ever FM Sports Station on the west coast- 95.5 The Game. The new station would work hand in hand with The Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregon Ducks, and The Portland Timbers. With new station opportunities, Monique focused her efforts on partnerships that would impact communities of color and give access to underserved youth.

In 2009, Monique began working for the largest Black-owned agency in Oregon; Self Enhancement Inc. During her time at SEI Monique would become a Senior Program Manager as well as the Partnership Manager for the agency.

While creating new partners for 20+ sites, Monique was responsible for 1 million + in annual budgets as well as managing over 43 employees quarterly. She would be responsible for implementing the first all Male and all Female leadership program for the agency. 2010-2019 Monique was responsible for leading the design program - Nike Product Creation Experience (NPCE), a partnership created specifically with Nike executives and Self Enhancement youth that would teach design, marketing, and ultimately lead to in-store product sales.

Monique found her gifts in community work, she quickly realized she wanted to commit her daily life to creating opportunities that will advance communities of color and underserved populations in the city she grew up in, Portland Oregon.

In 2017, Monique joined PLUS ONE society - an award-winning minority and female owned event production and marketing agency servicing the sports, entertainment and media industries. She holds the role of Project and Partnerships Manager where she oversees new business partnerships and will continue the company’s commitment to social justice and enhance the brand with partners and clients.

Dr. Aisha Hollands is a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience assisting both publicly funded and non-profit organizations to understand the impact of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity. Dr. Hollands develops strategies and tools to assist in strengthening equitable practices for individuals and systems that are intentional about making room for voices that have been underserved, invisible and marginalized. Dr. Hollands brings a wealth of knowledge and experience providing professional coaching, mentoring, training, and a personal centered approach. She believes that social justice can be an integral part of our day-to-day lives, personally and professionally, and this requires a consistent amount of introspection, reflection and action.

Dr. Hollands has worked in the largest behavioral health care organization in Oregon, and the largest school district in Oregon, providing both strategic development, coaching, training, planning, and a commitment to recruit, develop, and support a culturally diverse workforce. Dr. Hollands is dedicated to helping employees identify and acknowledge their own biases, and providing the highest standards of equity and achievement that creates an environment of empowerment and success for students, consumers, employees, families and community partners.

Dr. Aisha Hollands earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of Oregon, a Masters’ of Social Work Degree from Portland State and holds a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Portland State University.

Shelia Searight is a Software Systems Architect with Intel Corporation. She develops and implements factory software and applications to startup and support Intel’s state-of-the-art 300mm factories in Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico. She is also a co-founder and member of the Oregon HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) special interest group at the Oregon site.

Shelia is passionate about arts and education – STEAM and is a serial volunteer with organizations that have STEAM focuses. She is a mentor for the Portland Portfolio Project, an 11-week college preparatory program, and serves on the board for World Arts Foundation Inc and the United Negro College Fund PDX.

Shelia has been a volunteer with BEAM for 8 years in various capacities, including Black Student Success Summit HBCU fair project manager; HBCU workshop development lead and panelist, and most recently, Black Student Success Summit and Black Baccalaureate project manager.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Systems from the illustrious Florida A&M University. 

Tiffany Dempsey is a passionate leader who focuses on people. She co-founded and lead the 1st Intel Oregon Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni special interest group that annually supports several community events geared towards the education and the promotion of attendance at HBCUs.

Tiffany has recently “retired” but is an experienced Product Ecology Engineer with a demonstrated history of 25 plus years working in the semiconductor industry at Intel Corporation. She’s skilled in People Management, Operations Management, Business Process Improvement, Technical Training, Team Building and the emotional intelligence to drive impact in business and the community.  Tiffany takes pride in providing the best learning and development opportunities wherever possible.

Tiffany is a mentor for the Portland Portfolio Project, an 11-week college preparatory program, and serves on the board for the Friends of Baseball and the United Negro College Fund PDX. She has been a volunteer with BEAM for 8 years in various capacities, including Black Student Success Summit HBCU fair; HBCU workshop development lead and panelist.

Tiffany is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a "PROUD" graduate of Prairie View A&M University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. When shes’s not busy managing global regulatory transitions, she can be found singing at professional sporting events or being a co-manager of her sons’ creative arts business: www.ecdcomics-dezigns.com  IG: @ecd_comicsforreal