The following volunteers were nominated by county staff to receive a 2022 Volunteer Award in recognition of their significant contributions to Multnomah County over the past year.
Department of Community Justice
Stacey Davis
Stacey thinks deeply about how to create positive change in her community and in our system. She has contributed positively to our efforts to reform the juvenile justice system.
Zola Neal
Zola consistently takes the initiative to improve our outreach efforts to community members experiencing homelessness. In her work with both members of the community and staff, Zola demonstrates compassion and care while maintaining appropriate boundaries and can quickly engage individuals even in difficult circumstances. Zola has taken a leading role in helping to launch our outreach program and to develop data tracking so that we can continue to maintain and refine our efforts.
Matt Ross
Matt is an incredible addition to the DCJ Volunteer team as a leader of our community partnership with Portland State University. Matt fosters a safe, trusting and educative partnership between students at PSU and youth detained at Donald E. Long. Matt stepped in the role with little training, amidst a pandemic when the entire course structure was abandoned and quickly established relationship and dialogue. Matt is focused on human connection and it shows in the way he asks questions and remembers details about our staff and youth's personal lives. He is a kind and productive community builder - a real gift to DCJ.
Department of Community Services - Animal Services Division
Kim Bowen
Kim always has a smile on her face and is ready to take on the day when she comes in to walk dogs starting at 6am on Saturdays. Volunteering that early takes a lot of dedication, but doing it with a smile on your face is something else. That's what's special about Kim. Everyone enjoys interacting with her and we all appreciate her time, talent, and dedication here at Multnomah County Animal Services.
Helen Chauncey
Helen has been a dedicated volunteer here at Multnomah County Animal Services. While Helen typically walks dogs on a weekly basis she also volunteers for special projects that come up occasionally. Helen has a great attitude and is always happy to help with whatever is needed.
Savannah Hodge
Savannah is a dependable and dedicated 6am dog walker at Multnomah County Animal Services. She is always happy to be here, bringing along a smile and a positive attitude. We value her time and talent immensely.
Lori and Steve Moenig
Lori and Steve have been some of our go-to transport drivers at Multnomah County Animal Services. They have driven chickens and roosters, cats, dogs, and a variety of other animals to our partner agencies across the region, often volunteering for the longer drives. Their service is invaluable and we appreciate them so much.
Departments of County Assets & Management
Moses Ross
Moses serves as Co-Chair of our Community Budget Advisory Committee and leads with compassion and enthusiasm. He is very welcoming and creates as safe space to ask questions and learn.
Karen Williams
Karen serves as Co-Chair of our Community Budget Advisory Committee and leads with professionalism, kindness and an inquisitive mind.
Multnomah County Charter Review Committee
Every six years, the Multnomah County Charter Review Committee convenes to study our charter, like our local constitution, and recommends changes for voters to approve. The volunteers of the 2021-2022 committee are playing a critical role in ensuring our county government serves the community effectively and equitably. We appreciate the time they are investing in this important process.
J'reyesha Brannon
Meikelo Cabbage
Ana del Rocío
Timur Ender
Samantha Gladu
Marc Gonzales
Ana Gonzalez Muñoz
Maja Harris
Annie Kallen
Nina Khanjan
Danica Leung
Theresa Mai
Georgina Miltenberger
Jude Perez
Donovan Scribes
Salma Sheikh
Multnomah County Library
Stefanie Aschman
Stefanie supports our weekly virtual English conversation program by delivering creative presentations to help her learners improve their language skills. She continues to welcome new learners into her group while supporting additional English learners with weekly one-to-one meetings.
Sarah Astorga
Sarah supports two of our weekly virtual English conversation programs. She also supports additional English learners with weekly one-to-one meetings.
Maria Baker
Maria has been an incredible advocate for adult reading student, J. She meets with him several times a week at the Midland Library. They have set a goal that he will be reading by next year and they are working really hard to make that happen.
Leidy Benitez
Leidy tutors language arts in our Spanish GED program. She adjusted her schedule for her students and now she tutors on Saturdays, while working a full-time job. Leidy has worked hard to improve her tutoring skills and takes advantage of any opportunity to learn more so that she can help her students.
Hazel Burke
Hazel assembled a bajillion Makerspace minikits from home this winter and has jumped in to put all of our library's bags together this spring. We really appreciate how she looks out for opportunities to help!
Cloud Chu
Cloud, a pre-pandemic regular on Holgate Library's Teen Council, was among the first to step up and return as soon as it was allowed. They bring exuberance and cheerfulness, but also a keen eye to detail in their new volunteer role as a 'Search Assistant'. The one way we can reward reliable volunteers is to give them new and more challenging things to do. To that end, Cloud is now helping us evaluate items in the collection, carefully checking their condition and bringing worn or damaged items to staff attention. Even cooler, Cloud recently took part in a focus group on the library's behalf, offering a teen's perspective on the Library Bond project. When they build the new Holgate Library, Cloud's ideas will turn into a reality that benefits the whole neighborhood.
Nancy Galster
Nancy is one of the pioneer tutors for the K-12 Virtual Tutoring service which began in March 2021, and her experience, wisdom and insight have helped us greatly improve the service along the way. Nancy has personally tutored around 15 K-5th graders in reading and writing - and occasionally, math! Both the kids and their families love her enthusiasm, patience, encouragement and knowledge, which she freely shares with her students, fellow tutors and library staff. We don't believe this service would be as successful as it has become without Nancy's involvement. She is a superstar tutor!
Yang (Kate) Geng
Yang (Kate) supports our weekly virtual English conversation program by delivering creative presentations to help her learners improve their language skills. Her impromptu translation assistance ensures that the program’s Mandarin speaking learners stay up to date with the happenings of the program.
Jerry Hanson
Jerry has been a long time math tutor in the library GED program. He has helped several GED students improve math skills, so they can pass the GED math test. He continues to work with students virtually and he always agrees to work with one more math student, when we need him.
Janice (Jan) Olsen
Jan supports our weekly virtual English conversation program by delivering creative presentations to help her learners improve their language skills. She continues to welcome new learners into her group while supporting additional English learners with weekly one-to-one meetings.
Olivia Rangel
Olivia is one of the pioneer tutors for the K-12 Virtual Tutoring service which began in March 2021, and her enthusiasm, flexibility and insight have helped us greatly improve the service along the way. Olivia has tutored around 20 students, ranging from Kindergarten to High School, from Language Arts to Math. Olivia has helped them all! Her positive attitude and desire to help kids facing barriers to their education has helped make this service a success. We could not have done it without her, and she is a real hero to the kids she has helped! And to the library!
Rocío Sánchez Sánchez
Providing Listos para el Kínder (Ready for Kindergarten) program through a virtual model requires more material production. Rocío has been a huge support to the program during the pandemic. We can depend on Rocío to complete packages on time for all participating families.
Hannah Schmalz
Hannah supports our weekly virtual English conversation program by delivering creative presentations to help her learners improve their language skills. She continues to welcome new learners into her group while supporting other English learners with weekly one-to-one meetings.
Marshall Welch
Marshall supports our weekly virtual English conversation program by delivering creative presentations to help his learners improve their language skills. He continues to welcome new learners into his group and he’s always willing to support his fellow volunteers’ groups by sharing innovative lesson ideas to use in their learning sessions.
Winston Wheeler
Winston Wheeler is a fantastic volunteer, always eager to help with whatever tasks need to be done on the Mobile & Partner Libraries work group. Whether it's shelving, packing shelter boxes or processing donation items, Winston's dedication, work ethic and team spirit shine through and he has been an invaluable addition.
Office of Community Involvement
Malcolm Hoover
Malcolm joined the Community Involvement Committee in August 2020. He's a stellar committee member and we really appreciate the continued drive and enthusiasm he shares for the committee's work.
Michelle Kosta
Michelle has served on the Community Involvement Committee (CIC) since March 2019 and has been a stellar committee member. We truly appreciate all of her hard work on the committee over the last 3 years!
Pau Thang
Thang has a deep commitment to serving the community and we appreciate the fervor he brings to the Community Involvement Committee! He is currently the Extreme Weather Subcommittee Co-Chair and we appreciate him jumping into a leadership role during his first year on the committee.
