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Wednesday, November 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Kerani Mitchell departs Sisters Folk Festival
By Katy Yoder
Correspondent
It’s been almost four years
since Kerani Mitchell joined
the Sisters Folk Festival staff
as volunteer and program
manager. Over the years her
time with SFF staff, volun-
teers and students has truly
evolved into a family of co-
workers and friends.
Volunteer Kip Wheeler
reflected on Mitchell’s
impact: “I’ve never worked
with a better volunteer coor-
dinator. Kerani’s ability to
combine head and heart
never failed to amaze me.
She will be missed at SFF.”
Mitchell worked to
streamline the volunteer
management process by
implementing new database
management software. She
also spent time in the pub-
lic schools overseeing SFF’s
Americana Project classes.
As a Sisters High School
graduate, she enjoyed walk-
ing the halls of her former
high school and supporting
students as they navigate
their academic and artistic
endeavors. She also served
as a volunteer at Sisters High
School as an ASPIRE men-
tor where she helped students
prepare for college and life
after high school.
During her tenure with
SFF she joined the Portland
nonprofit Oregon Humanities
as a facilitator for their
Conversation Project. She has
travelled throughout Oregon
leading discussions on what
it means to be an Oregonian
and the role race and other
identifiers play in feeling a
sense of community. She’s a
founding board member for
Bend International School, a
public charter school, where
her son attends. She’s proud
to be part of the found-
ing team of the Community
Conversations Bend and an
advisory member for the
Bend 2030’s Civic Equities
Project.
As she’s travelled across
Oregon for the Oregon
Humanity’s Conversation
Project, Kerani has seen how
much work still needs to
be done in Oregon and the
United States around equity,
diversity and inclusion for
nonprofits as well as main-
stream society. Her passion
for supporting underrepre-
sented populations kept her
focused on using her skills
to benefit others and build
community. Mitchell met the
Groundswell Fund CFO at a
diversity training session at
COCC. Eventually, a posi-
tion opened up and Mitchell
was encouraged to apply.
Mitchell will join her
new co-workers in early
December at a staff meeting
in New York. She’s excited
to work with women who
share her vision and mis-
sion for making life bet-
ter for women of color and
those in the LGBTQ com-
munities. Mitchell’s new
employer focuses on pro-
viding resources that enable
those populations to access
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“I’m excited about
Groundswell’s approach to
grant-making, where they
believe that those who are
closest to the problem are
best able to develop strate-
gies to achieve solutions,”
said Mitchell.
Her position as an
accounting assistant includes
supporting the CFO so they
can deliver their grants. Since
their inception, Groundswell
has awarded over $32 million
in grants engaging women of
color, low-income women
and LGBTQ people to access
and advocate for healthcare
services.
Mitchell’s former SFF
boss, Ann Richardson,
respects her both profession-
ally and personally.
“Over the almost four
years she’s been working
with us, Kerani has demon-
strated her passion, intel-
ligence, and ambition in all
she does. She has dedicated
herself to helping SFF per-
sonalize and professionalize
our volunteer program and
bring consistency and sup-
port to the Americana Project
students and activities.”
Although Richardson is
sad to see her go, she knows
that Mitchell’s skills will
benefit an even larger group
in her new role.
“Kerani has earned this
amazing opportunity to use
her gifts to support a cause
dear to her heart. It’s time to
let this butterfly expand her
wings and fly — to learn,
grow and continue to help
others. It has been my pure
joy and pleasure to work with
her,” said Richardson.
Mitchell has been deeply
touched by her time back in
Sisters.
“Being a part of SFF
has been a gift and step-
ping stone. I reconnected
with friends both old and
PHOTO BY LYNN WOODWARD
Kerani Mitnhell has served the
Sisters Folk Festival for the past
four years.
new, where I grew up, while
supporting an organiza-
tion dear to my heart. I’m
ecstatic to keep growing
with Groundswell Fund and
to support its critical grant-
making and approach to
fostering equity. I intend to
stay in touch with SFF and
look forward to enjoying the
music as a patron and friend.
I’m so grateful to everyone
who has been a part of this
journey and transition!”
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