How Our Staff Identify!

 

Non-profit organizations are full of staff who connect and identify themselves in various ways and communities. Not only are these identities crucial to their role in UTOPIA Portland, but often influence the way they navigate the world and their work. Our hope is to provide a lens into the different lives of people in our organization so our community sees that we are a diverse group of individuals who understand the ins and outs of challenges our people might face.

We value the importance of intersectionalities and understand these intersections impact the way we serve our communities. Please note that this staff survey was anonymous and had opportunities for our staff to not disclose information they’d like to keep private.

 

RACE & ETHNICITY

UTOPIA PDX staff is full of diverse backgrounds. Some of the backgrounds include Indigenous peoples hailing from various Pacific Islands such as Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, Palau, and American Samoa.

4 staff members identify as two or more races and 4 identify as biracial. 2 identify as Indigenous.

4 staff members identify as Asian-American. 1 staff member identifies as Hispanic/Latine. 1 identifies as Black or African-American.

5 identify as Polynesian and 3 identify as Micronesian.

 

GENDER IDENTITY

UTOPIA PDX is an organization ran by QTPIs, for QTPIs. Our lived experiences help us connect with our community to make a positive impact.

4 staff members identify as Gender Non-conforming and/or Non-binary.

2 staff members identify as Transgender or Genderqueer. 3 staff members identify as Male.

1 identifies as Two-Spirit.

 

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT

Part of the UTOPIA PDX mission is to engage with political stewardship. Though we set our goals on advocating for Queer & Trans Pacific Islanders, our staff also has a diverse political alignment.

4 staff members identify as Democrats. 2 staff identify as Socialist.

3 identify as Unidentified. 1 staff member wishes to not disclose.

 

language

Our staff communicates in various ways, including through spoken language. In our office you’ll notice multiple languages used in our daily operations.

All staff members are fluent in English. 3 are fluent in Two or more lanuages. 1 is fluent in Three or more languages.

2 staff are fluent in Samoan. 2 staff are fluent in Hawaiian.

 

disabilities

As we learn more about our communities, we also continue to grow and learn more about ourselves. Every day our team views the world the lens of various physical disabilities, nuerodivergencies, or mental health disorders we must navigate.

5 staff members have Anxiety/Stress & Anxiety. 2 staff members have Major Depressive Disorder. 2 staff members have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

1 staff has ADHD. 1 staff has Autism. 2 staff members have Mobility Disabilities such as the use of wheelchair, walker, or cane.

1 staff member has Fibro. 1 staff member has Diabetes.

2 staff members wish to not disclose. 1 staff member listed Other.

 

Sexual orientation

Many reasons and experiences have led our staff to become leaders at UTOPIA PDX, including their sexual orientation.

6 staff members identify as Queer. 4 staff members identify as Gay.

2 staff members identify as Pansexual. 1 staff member identifies as Lesbian. 1 staff member identifies as Polyamorous or Ethically Non-Monogamous.

 

Highest Level of Education

We believe that despite your level of education, your lived experiences bring value to the impact you can on your community. Our staff members have diverse educational backgrounds.

4 staff members hold Bachelor degrees. 2 staff members hold Graduate degrees.

2 staff members completed Some College. 1 holds multiple Certificates.

 

Religious Affiliation

Our staff comes to engage in religion in diverse ways best suited for uplifting and feeding their spirituality. As they grow, so do their beliefs.

2 staff members identify as Unaffiliated. 2 staff members identify as Christian.

1 staff member identifies as Mormon. 1 staff member identifies as Agnostic.

1 staff member identifies as an Atheist. 1 staff member identifies as Other.

 

Household

An important aspect of our staff is that they have various support systems and ways they support themselves. We share intimate moments with people, places, and things daily.

7 staff members drive or drive but like to use public assistance (public transport, carpool, etc.). 1 staff member does not drive.

4 staff members rent their place. 3 staff members own their place.

4 staff members live with their partners. 2 staff members live with their partners & kids.

2 staff members live with roommates. 4 staff members live with pets.

 

Age

Age is a number that is full of yearly experiences that have influenced who our staff has become together. We have a range of ages of people on our staff that give insight to how we serve our communities.

2 staff members are in their 20s. 3 staff members are in their 30s. 3 staff members are in their 40s.

 

GEOGRAPHY

UTOPIA PDX has seen many walks of live, including where they were born, grew up, and where they reside.

UTOPIA PDX staff were born in Oxnard, CA; Inglewood, CA; Kailua, HI; Portland, OR'; Dallas, TX; Seattle, WA; American Samoa; and Indigenous American lands.

UTOPIA PDX has grown up in areas such as Ventura/Oxnard, CA; Honolulu, HI; Molokai, HI; Hawaii; 'Ili'ili, American Samoa; South King County; and Portland, OR.

All of our staff reside in NE/SE Portland, OR, on the lands of Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla; Kalapuya, Clackamas, + Confederated tribes of the Grand Ronde; and in Washington state.

 

Other Identities

Beyond what we have listed, there are other identities that our staff proudly claims.

2 staff members are children of immigrants from places like Mexico, Guam, Japan, and the Philippines. 1 staff member is the first in their family to move off the islands.

1 staff member is a U.S. National but not citizen, having grown up in American Samoa.

2 staff members are a first generation college graduate, 1 of them having both a Bachelor and Master degree.

1 staff member is a first-generation high school and college graduate.

1 staff member is a second-generation, first-time college graduate.