Board of Directors
Joelle Kim | She/Her |Co-Chair | Email
Joelle Kim is an Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator at the Multnomah County Health Department, Behavioral Health Division. In this role, she assesses housing and treatment needs of adults living with severe and persistent mental illness, determining appropriate levels of care. Prior to this, Joelle was a Board Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapist and music educator.
Since relocating to Portland in 2022, Joelle has dedicated herself to advancing social justice for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Her commitment centers on anti-racism, decolonization, and radical community care. At Multnomah County, she chairs the Queer and Trans People of Color Employee Resource Group, actively participates in the Behavioral Health Division Equity Committee, and conducts training sessions on inclusive language (pronouns) and gender-affirming care for mental health providers.
Joelle joined the Q Center Board of Directors in August 2024 during a period of significant organizational growth. She brings valuable expertise to the Board, including grant writing, fundraising and stewardship, and program development, but most importantly, her lived experience as a transgender woman of color.
Chaz Vitale | they/he | Co-CHAIR | email
Chaz Vitale (They/He) is an intersex queer transgender artist activist and small business owner. They moved to Portland to pursue art training and a robust LGBTQIA2S+ community. Chaz graduated with honors from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2004 with a BFA in Intermedia. They then trained in massage and tattooing.
Their energies and commitments since have centered on body autonomy, body positivity and embodiment for intersex, trans and nonbinary Oregonians. They've done work pursuing the end of nonconsensual surgeries for intersex people, volunteering for medical access and std/sti clinics, insurance inclusion, legal protections for trans and non-binary communities, trauma-informed massage clinics for stress reduction and risk reduction for binding practices, providing individual medical advocacy and custom artistic and paramedical tattoos for scar integration.
Chaz is honored and eager to contribute to the weaving of community dreams through collaboration and inclusion for Q Center.
Sarina Saturn, PhD | she/they | Vice Chair I email
Sarina Saturn (née Rodrigues) is an experienced neuroscientist, educator, parent, researcher, mentor, and community builder devoted to health equity, social justice, and belonging for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), 2 spirit, transgender, queer, nonbinary, plus (2SLGBTQ+), disabled folks, women, and other people from non-dominant identities who have been historically excluded from guiding decisions or norms that impact their well-being.
Sarina is a CHamoru and Indian queer femme and prolific scholar-activist whose expertise centers on intersectional advocacy, antiracism, feminism, and the neuroscience and psychology underlying emotions, intergenerational trauma, compassion, coping, affirmation, healing, and post-traumatic growth.
Talia Yasmeen Guerriero | SHE/Her | Board SEcretary | email
My goal as a plaintiff's employment litigator is to provide the highest quality of legal services to ameliorate any harsh conditions or conflicts that may exist in the employment setting. I work hard to represent my clients' interests effectively and for the public interest. I am a strong voice for the underdog with a passion for social justice and civil rights that defines my life. My work has always focused on empowering and protecting the rights of marginalized communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (“LGBTQ”) communities in particular.
Ruben Allen | he/him | Co-Treasurer | email
Financial Health is paramount to a healthy life, unfortunately, it's reserved for a few. I strongly believe in Equity Inclusion within the financial world. Regardless of class, race, gender or orientation, I feel everyone deserves to understand how to manage their finances.
Kaj jensen, MA | They/them | co-Treasurer I Email
Kaj is a trans, genderqueer person who holds a Masters in Creative Writing from University of Brighton and a Masters in Linguistics & Composition Theory from University of Nebraska Omaha. They use their love of stories to build community through participating in live storytelling events and fundraising for causes they’re passionate about.
When they moved to Portland ten years ago for the bikeable and walkable neighborhoods, Kaj knew they had found their forever home. After teaching ESL and working in the service industry for a number of years, Kaj joined the team at East County Rising as Director of Members of Donors, worked for ActBlue for three years, and most recently joined the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office Health Equity team.
They’re excited to support the queer community in the Portland metro area and the Q Center with their background in development, project management, and equity-driven organizing and unionization efforts.
Kyndall Mason | she/her/they | email
Kyndall Mason joined Basic Rights Oregon in June 2023 as the Executive Director. Prior to that, she mobilized broad coalitions that included fast food workers, home care and long-term care workers, and educators to fight for better wages and working conditions in Oregon and Pennsylvania. Kyndall brings over 15 years of experience in legislative and public affairs to the role, including more than a decade with the Service Employees International Union and most recently with the Oregon Education Association.
Kyndall had her first experience in Oregon politics on the 2002 campaign to raise Oregon’s minimum wage. After that, she managed an afterschool program for youth of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds at a nonprofit community center in Portland. Kyndall returned to statewide policy and politics as a member of the communications team at Basic Rights Oregon in 2008. She’s thrilled to be back!
Kyndall earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University. She was born in Mississippi, and spent her childhood summers in Wallowa County, where her grandmother and mother were born and reside. In her free time, Kyndall can be found buzzing around the wilds of Oregon. She and her wife are proud foster parents and dog moms.