JANUARY 5. 2007 jUStlOUtj 5
outstanding
just askin
Beginning at the Center
Free from the shackles of Multnomah County,
what mountain should former Multnomah County Chair
Diane Linn scale next?
ot many 22-year-olds run com
munity centers. This did not stop
Gene de Haan from becoming
Q Center’s coordinator and only
full-time staff person last
February. Almost a year later, she marvels at
the changes already resulting from her work,
both in the community and herself.
“I’ve learned more in the past 11 months
than I had any idea 1 would. And it’s a new
organization, so everyone is figuring out
‘What is a queer center in Portland, and
what does it look like?’ ” de Haan said.
Having studied English at Reed College, she
imagined she would have been in graduate
school at this point in her life. “I’m glad I’ve
taken the year to get more practical experi
ence before going. 1 didn’t expect to be here,
but it’s really taught me a lot.”
On a typical day at Q Center, de Haan
Gene de Haan looks to a bright future.
attends meetings with volunteers, communi
ty members and other organizations. She coordi animals. I’m taking pre-veterinary classes to see if
nates programming events and handles the logistics
1 have the stomach for it,” she said. A fan of athlet
of an office. She draws from her experiences volun
ics, de Haan also has played rugby and started doing
teering with different nonprofits, including the No
triathlons last summer.
on 36 campaign, the Trans/Identity Resource
Though she is at the investigative stage of her
Center and Reed’s Paradox Café, a nonprofit
future career, de Haan has a clear vision for the
community space she ran for two years.
future of Portland’s queer community. "Portland
When she isn’t working for the queer commu already has amazing, well-established, dynamic
nity, she does volunteer work with animals. The
queer communities. 1 feel like that’s just going to
owner of a few strays, de Haan said her biggest
grow—hopefully with more cross-pollination
between groups that are already out there.” ©
passion is for animal rights and welfare. “1 am
N
kxiking to go to grad school in a field involving
R ob N osse
Union Activist
S usan S toltenberg
Portland Impact
Executive Director
“Maybe a bartender or
a minister, because
both are really gixxl at
helping people with
their problems.”
T rinity W ilson
Psychiatric Nurse
“There are so many
mountains that need
her passion and
wisdom. She won my
heart when she
championed for
mental health issues.”
“The one she’s most
passionate about,
which is related to
children and
education, truly
closing the
achievement gap and
serving the needs of
kids with the greatest
obstacles to success.”
D ick L evy
First Registered
Domestic Parmer in
Portland
“Any mountain she
chixsses. I’d love to
see her remain in
public service,
because she’s really a
gem.”
—Malka Geffert
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