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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Leah joined the Alberta Abbey in March 2020 as the pandemic hit and all scheduled events were canceled. She has been working to keep the mission and vision going through bringing together a new board of directors, grant writing, applying for loans, and trying to provide space for artists while our doors have been closed to the public.

Leah brings a diverse background of working in the education and non-profit sector. She has taught in a variety of different educational environments for fifteen years, most recently at King Elementary in NE Portland. She also served as the Assistant Director of Catalyst Education where she worked in a variety of settings with disadvantaged youth including Portland Youth Builders, Open School, New Avenues for Youth, NAYA, and Outside In. 

She holds a Master's of Education from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology from Santa Clara University.

She is passionate about reforming education and giving disadvantaged youth opportunities to flourish. She also is a lifelong fan of live music, so helping to launch The Alberta Abbey is her dream job, even in a pandemic.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

Brika deTar is a community liaison.

She has dedicated the past 5 years to gaining knowledge on how to renew and improve the relationships of her surrounding communities and bringing together people of all races, religions, and backgrounds.

As a Community Event Coordinator, at the Alberta Abbey, Brika is committed to providing resources and opportunities for local and national established businesses, Artists, and musicians. Alberta Abbey is a venue that offers affordable event spaces which create possibilities for occasions such as corporate gatherings, performances, showcases, festivals, and just about any event desired.

Brika is also the executive assistant to the Alberta Abbey‘s board president, J. Peterson, as well as an accredited performing artist, and works mentoring youth in the community through music, theater, and culinary arts. Along with many other trades, in each, she is devoted to serving her beloved community

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MARKETING ASSISTANT

Ronnie Carrier joined the Alberta Abbey team in the summer of 2022. As a local musician, she is an advocate for the thriving Portland music community and believes in tipping the scale to balance out representation in the music scene. She is passionate about creating diverse and accessible programming that more wholly represents all the cultures in Portland, and looks to create those opportunities at Alberta Abbey.

Her background includes working for independent bookstores, community radio, and teaching music to kids. She is an active live musician, and her original music has appeared on television, radio, and in podcasts. She holds a BA in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and spends some of her time working with a local non-profit teaching reading skills to elementary school children.

Ronnie has an extremely cute cat named Clementine who is arguably more vocal than Ronnie is, and likes to sleep on her keyboard when she's trying to work.

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DIGITAL ASSETS

Beck joined the Abbey as a freelance audio technician in late 2021. She is an ardent supporter of equity in the arts and hopes to drive awareness of and support for the Alberta Abbey. She is intrigued by the intersection of art and technology as well as the ways in which we can utilize technological advances to make the arts accessible to all.

Beck has been a technology professional in live events for over a decade, providing audio, lighting, design, and stage management solutions. She cut her teeth in the Detroit music scene and has gone on to work with events of all kinds. She is a lifelong supporter of independent venues and prioritizes working with community-minded projects and enriching the local music scene.

Originally a B.A. in Theater, she obtained her B.S. Cybersecurity and Data Assurance during the pandemic. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics.

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BOARD PRESIDENT

Chef / Owner of Southern Grill Catering

JP is a dedicated community volunteer and activist passionate about helping those disadvantaged and forgotten people in society get another chance.

For him supporting and promoting local musicians and feeding the homeless is priority one and the tip of the iceberg in helping people rise from poverty and share in the American dream of equality for all.

JP attended Linfield College on a full athletic scholarship and went on to pursue his Oregon real estate license. Since then, JP has worked with Corporate Investments NW, Nike, and JFP Investments. In 2011 JP formed his own company, Southern Grill Catering. He has brought good food, good music, and good community to Portland through his work with the Jack London Revue, Botanist, and now the Alberta Abbey.

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Leo has been active in the music Industry for close to 30 years. He has filled many roles including studio engineer, live sound/FOH, tour manager, production manager, and promoter representative. Working with many artists across genres, and traveling the world on tour, has given him a lifelong love and dedication to the music industry.

Currently he works locally in the Portland metro area for various local venues and promoter companies. He enjoys spending time with his family, taking drives in his 80’s classic BMW, and cycling around town. goes here

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For Jeana Woolley, the opportunity to empower the Black community in Northeast Portland and make it stronger and more economically viable is personal. The longtime community activist and business owner has worked for more than 45 years on a variety of economic development initiatives and projects intended to benefit Northeast Portland, its residents, and its business owners.

In 1997, Woolley developed Allen Fremont Plaza, the first affordable housing project ever sponsored by a Black organization in Oregon. She was a founding board member of community development organizations such as Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc. and Albina Community Bank (now Beneficial Bank) that continue to serve the Black and BIPOC communities today.

Among the other projects Woolley has developed are Vanport Square and The Heritage Building on MLK Jr Blvd. She also specializes in economic development and public outreach and facilitation consulting services to ensure the participation and inclusion of feedback of diverse and underrepresented communities in large public projects. She currently serves on the City's Community Advisory Committee for the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center and is a member of the Mayor’s Council of Economic Advisors.

As the longest-standing member of the Alberta Abbey Board, as well as living near the Abbey, she is deeply committed to seeing that the Abbey is developed long-term as an entity that can serve as a meaningful resource for emerging Black and BIPOC artists and creators, as well as be a community performance venue for the broader arts community.

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Brian Gillis’s work is rooted in service related to social equity and access. By using platforms, approaches, and points of exchange in art, he creates opportunities for access to socially valuable information and support. Much of this work involves institutional partnerships that connect individuals and communities to resources associated with food insecurity, housing, mental health, substance abuse, and criminal justice. All ongoing, multigenerational issues in his family and community.

Gillis uses a variety of production strategies and conceptual approaches, often drawing from specific sites, histories, and related partnerships. Outcomes range from functional and sculptural objects and installations to edited publications, educational initiatives, and public actions. In this way, his role is often fluid and responsive, and lines between artist, designer, educator, community organizer, and anonymous steward are frequently blurred.

Gillis has completed projects with a range of partners and institutions, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, CUE Art Foundation, the Mint Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Mildred’s Lane, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Heilongjiang University (China), the University of Applied Sciences in Koblenz (Germany), the Moth Radio Hour, the American Red Cross, Feeding America, the City of Roja (Latvia), and Seattle Public Schools.

Gillis is currently a Professor of Art at the University of Oregon where he was the founding Director of the Center for Art Research (CFAR).

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Dorianna is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in talent acquisition, professional development, career coaching, and marketing communications. She currently serves as the Director of Attorney Recruiting at Fisher Phillips, a prominent international labor and employment firm. Dorianna’s extensive background in leadership, coupled with a commitment to helping others thrive and grow has brought her to the Abbey.

Dorianna has a passion for empowering individuals which extends beyond the legal realm. As the former founder and CEO of I.N.SPIRE Consulting & Coaching, she provided tailored solutions and guidance to clients, fostering their personal and professional growth. She is also an accomplished motivational speaker and a committed community leader advocating for women's empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and social justice.

Dorianna is grounded in core values such as daring greatly, employing vulnerability, continuous education, courage over comfort, compassion paired with drive, and laughter. “I grew up with a single mother who worked tirelessly to ensure my brother and I had access to music, art, education, and activities to enhance our lives and to bring our community together. It is of the utmost importance to me to honor her and the many mentors who have helped me grow by serving others and sharing what I have had the gift of learning.”