About Us.

Founder Story

Founded in 2012 by a group of five women, including four Black women, who understand the pivotal role that education plays as a gateway to opportunity

Key Staff

Board Executive Committee

Marsha Williams

Co-Founder and CEO


Timothy Rodgers

Head of School


Donald Jackson

Assistant Director of Mental Health


Board Treasurer

Mark Washington

CBRE Capital Markets


Tyrone Foster

Precision Landscape


Garmai Gorlorwulu

Perkins Coie, LLP

Terry Ann Cabine

Chief Administrative Officer


Tiffany Dempsey

Director of Community Relations


Vice-Chair & Secretary

Kira Cador

Rembold Properties

Jake Kindrachuk

Kali Thorne Ladd

Children’s Institute KairosPDX Co-Founder


Marsha Williams

Chief Executive Officer KairosPDX Co-Founder

Judy Stringer

Acting Early Learning Site Director


Board Chair

Tiffani Penson

Oregon Department of Transportation


Board of Directors

David Anderson

Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt

Miron Washington

Parts Town


Brooke Brownlee

Portland General Electric

Village Family Capital

Mujidat Saaka

Tahn Analytics

Awards and Recognition