The Cascade Chapter serves Oregon and Southwest Washington. We offer regionally hosted public involvement trainings, conferences, learning and networking events, micro-grants for public participation, and best practice awards. Engage with our local community to share in a mutual exchange of equity-focused best practices in public participation.
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Beyond the Buzzwords: Finding a Way Forward A panel conversation hosted by the IAP2 Cascade Chapter Wednesday, June 11 | 3:30 – 5pm In today’s polarized climate, the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion can spark strong reactions—even when the underlying goals remain widely shared. Join us for a timely discussion with CeCe Ridder, Metro’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy and Programs Manager, Alexis Ball, Latinx Community Partnerships Strategist at Multnomah County, and Fabián Hidalgo Guerrero, Community Engagement Manager at Espousal Strategies, on how to approach equity work with authenticity and adaptability in today’s shifting political landscape. We’ll examine how to navigate current tensions while staying grounded in the importance of centering community. This is a hybrid event open to public involvement professionals and others interested in equitable engagement. Zoom link available upon registration: Register here - IAP2 USA - Beyond the Buzzwords: Finding a Way Forward |
Volunteer for Cascade Chapter Committees!
Do you value diversity and feel decisions are better when diverse voices and lived experiences are uplifted? Are you looking for ways to further your career, get up on the latest trends, enhance your network, create professional relationships, or put your skills to work for the public practitioner community? If you are located in Oregon or SW Washington, we encourage you to apply to volunteer with the IAP2 Cascade Chapter! Committees are seeking new members NOW to help the Board move the organization’s work forward.
Take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference in the P2 community. Develop your leadership skills and grow your professional network by volunteering to serve on a committee or task force. If you're interested in growing personally or professionally, we have a place for you.
Who is Eligible?
You do not have to be a member of IAP2 USA to be involved in a committee. While the Board of Directors must be members, committee volunteer opportunities are open to non-members and can be a good way to learn about the organization without a financial commitment.
Why should I volunteer?
Volunteering will help you take charge of your career and broaden your knowledge. You can gain access to current events in your career area or take advantage of a safe space to learn about other areas while you have a chance to enhance leadership skills. It’s also a great way to just have some fun while meeting new people.
How do I volunteer?
Fill out a volunteer application, including the prompts asking about your interest and lived experiences. To apply, visit https://bit.ly/3v6RxO5
Organizational Commitment to Equity
The Cascade Chapter of IAP2 USA is committed to advancing social and racial equity by supporting and elevating public involvement professionals and work that is equitable in processes and outcomes. To accomplish this, IAP2 Cascade applies an equity lens across its organizational functions and obliges to the following credos:
Organizational Culture
Our chapter will foster an organizational culture that positions equity at the core of all that it does.
Organizational Capacity
We will build our capacity to do this work by developing our shared knowledge and skills.
Auditing our Practices
We will evaluate our policies and practices through an equity lens.
Collaborative Development
We commit to working with the community and with our members to continue to elevate and advance this work.
Diversifying Membership
We will recruit, support, and promote the leadership of a diverse membership and practitioners.Meet our Chapter Board Members
| Photographs | Name | Position | Organization | Bio |
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Ann Griffin | Board President | City of Oregon City |
Ann is an experienced economic and community development professional, with strong business outreach and community engagement skills. Ann has worked in the local government, private for-profit and nonprofit sectors. She is driven to develop and implement programs that bring sustainable solutions to communities while enhancing the local economy. Ann currently works in the Economic Development Department for Oregon City. During her 20 years in Portland, Ann has been executive director of the Portland non-profit, Alberta Main Street, a program or project manager for Prosper Portland (then PDC), Earth Advantage, the Lloyd EcoDistrict and Griffin Planning & Development. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and is a volunteer outings leader for the Sierra Club. |
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Kimberlee Ables | Board Member | Metro |
Kimberlee Ables is eager to join the board for the Cascade Chapter of IAP2 to work towards authentic relationship building with members of the community and connecting those who make decisions with the community those choices impact. In her work as a Public Affairs Specialist at Metro she has been able to partner with community-based organizations to help amplify the voices of the community and constantly sees how valuable these opportunities are. She is currently working with the Garbage and Recycling team and has played a large role in community engagement for the 2030 Regional Waste Plan. Kimberlee has also worked on the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 5-year plan and will continue to help coordinate the agency-wide effort to release additional department plans. Taking a deeper dive into equity issues in her community, Kimberlee has been appointed to the Leaders for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council for Clackamas County by the Board of Commissioners. She is passionate about this work and ready to find interconnections and shared learning opportunities she can bring to the table as the chapter’s Micro-grant pilot program chair. Kimberlee received a bachelor’s degree in Digital Technology and Culture from Washington State University and a master’s of arts degree in Journalism from Regent University. Currently residing in the outskirts of Clackamas County, Kimberlee finds joy with her family of four by exploring the outdoors, cheering on their favorite teams and enjoying time in their garden. |
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Jordan Imlah | Board Member | City of Milwaukie | Jordan is the communications program manager for the City of Milwaukie where he oversees public involvement, print and digital communication, branding and graphic design. He also serves as the staff liaison to the Milwaukie Arts Committee. Jordan has spent most of his career working for local government agencies to help engage communities in public decision-making processes, build relationships and increase transparency. He is passionate about creating communication and engagement plans that reflect IAP2’s Core Values, and encouraging people from all backgrounds to share their voices. Jordan has a master’s degree in strategic communication from the University of Oregon and enjoys making cat-themed art in his spare time. |
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Natalie Warner | Board Member | David Evans and Associates, Inc. |
Natalie is an experienced public engagement professional with a strong background in land use and transportation planning. She has 10 years of experience working on a variety of planning and construction projects. She has experience developing and leveraging effective tools to engage interested parties, facilitating productive conversations, and synthesizing information into implementable policy and project recommendations. She has been a member of IAP2 since 2022 and earned an IAP2 certificate in 2024. In her free time, she loves adventuring on her gravel bike with her fiancé, making art with friends, and spoiling her tabby cat, Daisy. |
| MJ Jackson | Board Member | WSP | Bio coming soon! | |
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Franziska Elliott | Board Member | JLA Public Involvement |
Franziska is a Program Manager at JLA Public Involvement where she helps public agencies engage meaningfully with their communities. Prior to joining JLA, she spent over a decade in local government, including serving as the Public Involvement Coordinator for the City of Beaverton. She is deeply committed to creating equitable, authentic community engagement processes, driven by the conviction that it's more important than ever to ensure people have a voice in decisions that impact them. She holds a degree in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University and brings a global lens to her work, informed by disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and time spent living in Southeast Asia and Australia. Franziska is also a volunteer community mediator and restorative dialogue facilitator with Beaverton's Center for Mediation and Dialogue. Outside of work, you can find her hiking with her husband and two daughters, curled up with a good book and her Australian Shepherd, or seeking out gastronomic delights in Beaverton, where she resides. |