PORTLAND, Ore.— The Northwest Health Foundation has named Cyreena Boston Ashby, Jorge Gutierrez and Mechele Johnson to its governing board of directors, following a selection process overseen by its nominating committee. The Foundation also named Dr. Phil Wu chair of the board of directors.
Ashby is Oregon Public Health Institute’s chief executive officer. She’s served in leadership roles for over a decade in Oregon nonprofit, political, health and government affairs organizations. Gutierrez is the executive director at Lower Columbia Hispanic Council in Astoria, Oregon. In 2017, he was named Oregon Title I-C Advocate of the Year for his work with migrant families on Oregon’s North Coast. Johnson is a leader and member of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. She’s worked across Indian country for most of her professional career. Dr. Wu is a retired pediatric obesity specialist from Kaiser Permanente of Tualatin, Oregon. He’s been on Northwest Health Foundation’s board for five years.
“The staff and board of an organization should not only be experts in their fields, but reflect the communities they serve,” said Northwest Health Foundation President and CEO Nichole June Maher. “Cyreena, Jorge and Mechele are community leaders and strong advocates for health across Oregon and Southwest Washington. We look forward to the expertise and perspective they bring to our board.”
"Northwest Health Foundation is engaged in important work at this critical time, supporting our communities to build power and improve their health. I am honored to lead a diverse and capable board of directors who are deeply committed to this work," said NWHF Board Chair Phil Wu.
ABOUT CYREENA BOSTON ASHBY
Photo available at www.northwesthealth.org/cyreena-boston-ashby
Cyreena has served in leadership roles for over a decade in Oregon nonprofit, political, health and government affairs organizations. Cyreena worked with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Governor John Kitzhaber, and most recently directed the Portland African American Leadership Forum. She is currently Oregon Public Health Institute's chief executive officer. From 2007 to 2010, Cyreena helped the Multnomah County Health Department launch its health equity initiative to focus energy and resources on reducing health disparities in Oregon’s most populous communities. Cyreena lends much of her personal time to political issues involving women and people of color running for office, LGBTQ equity and reproductive justice, and has served on several boards of directors, including the Urban League of Portland and Basic Rights Oregon. She is a proud alumna of Spelman College.
ABOUT JORGE GUTIERREZ
Photo available at www.northwesthealth.org/jorge-gutierrez
Born in Mexico and raised in Southern California, Jorge attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine where he graduated with a B.A. in government & legal studies and a minor in Spanish. Prior to joining the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council as their executive director, Jorge lived in Los Angeles, where he worked in the entertainment industry focusing on business and legal affairs. An active member of his community, Jorge has been involved with various local organizations and has served on the boards of the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, Northwest Early Learning Council, Clatsop County Cultural Coalition and Community Action Team. From 2013 to 2017, he served as a small business counselor through the Small Business Development Center in Clatsop County. He was also named Oregon Title I-C Advocate of the Year 2016-2017 for his work with migrant families on Oregon's North Coast.
ABOUT MECHELE JOHNSON
Photo available at www.northwesthealth.org/mechele-johnson
Mechele has worked across Indian country for most of her professional career. Her tribe, the Shoalwater Bay people, located in Pacific County, was honored in 2016 with the Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Prize thanks to the tribe’s intentional strategy to strengthen culture, environmental resources and the health of their people on their own terms. Mechele has served as a Shoalwater Bay tribal council woman and organized as a part of Willapa Bay Resistance, a grassroots cross-racial coalition that recruits candidates to run for office and builds the voices of low-income people of color and rural Washingtonians who want reflective leadership in their community. She serves on her tribe's health board and fish and wildlife board. She also serves on the Pulling Together For Wellness team, an effort convened by the American Indian Health Commission. Mechele is a graduate of Yakima Valley Community College and a licensed chemical dependency counselor. Her most important identity is as a mother and an indigenous woman compelled to decolonize our relationships, our foods and our health.
ABOUT PHIL WU
Photo available at www.northwesthealth.org/phil-wu
Dr. Wu is a retired pediatric obesity specialist from Kaiser Permanente of Tualatin, Oregon. His special interests include obesity prevention in children and promoting healthy living for families. Dr. Wu has been a pediatrician with Kaiser since 1997 and is currently working on broadening the scope of healthcare to include collaboration with community organizations/businesses in addressing healthcare disparities. He received his bachelors from Stanford University and completed his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.
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Northwest Health Foundation seeks to advance, support and promote health in Oregon and southwest Washington. By providing grants to initiatives, forming partnerships with health and community leaders, and advocating for policy change, we are furthering our vision of giving every person the opportunity to lead a healthy life. We have a vision for health, and our grants, partnerships and advocacy form a foundation for action.
More information can be found at www.northwesthealth.org.
