Introducing your NLO 2007 Program Coordinator...NLO Aluma Andrea Cooper!

Andrea Cooper is currently a senior at the University of Portland majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Throughout her four years at UP, Andrea has been actively involved on campus in a variety of ways and is proud to have learned as much out of the classroom as she has inside of it. She will be completing her third year as President of the Black Student Union and her second year as an ASUP Senator. In the past, she has interned for Congressman Earl Blumenauer, worked as a diversity coordinator, and volunteered for Portsmouth Middle School as a youth coach. Above all she is a proud NEW Leadership Oregon Aluma and 2006 NLO Staff member.

Andrea is originally from Granite Bay, CA where she has grown up for the past 12 years with her two sisters and parents. She is an avid Kings fan, and can literally tell you all the statistics you might need to know! She loves California but can honestly say she is quickly becoming a proud Oregonian.
In the near future Andrea looks forward to putting her political career ambitions into action. Although she doesn’t have a job lined up yet, she hopes to move to DC in the fall and begin down the road of public leadership. Further down the line, Andrea plans on attending law school and pursuing a career as a Civil rights lawyer and eventually running for office until she works her way to the Oval office!

Andrea recently journeyed to New Orleans over her fall break to assist with cleanup efforts. Stay tuned to hear more about this story in our next issue!

Introducing Our New Board Members, Ellie Booth, Sarah DeVries and Peggy Ross!

We would like to extend a welcome to Ellie Booth, Vice President, Public Relations & Public Affairs at Gard and Gerber, Sarah DeVries, NLO Alumna, and Peggy Ross, Governor’s Affirmative Action Director, State of Oregon. We look forward to working with you and appreciate your time!

FILC Women's Leadership Forum - Submitted By: Qristy Smith
October 16th, 2006

Portland State University’s Food Industry Leadership Center presented the fourth annual Women’s Leadership Forum on October 16, 2006. The forum was a joint collaboration between the Network of Executive Women and FILC designed to give women executives of the northwest an opportunity to network, think about career planning, and gain advice from a panel of women leader experts. Jan Hill’s Presentation, “Excuse Me, My Life is Waiting” inspired the listeners to reflect upon their individual needs as women. Jan’s message suggested that women, “Pay attention to their intention” and switching our perspectives from a work/life balance (which is impossible) to a work/life harmony.

The motivational presentation was followed by a panelist of women executives proctored by Portland State’s Carolyn McKnight. The topic, “Career Moves and Risk” gave this advice to the audience:

• Find ways to strategically acquire credibility.
• The rewarding career you want may require many physical moves/relocations
• IT IS OKAY TO LEAVE! Taking a break from a career path never means that your opportunities will dry up, or that you can’t go back.
• Stand up – Speak up. Life is more important than failure and trust your instincts,
• Ask for something better. The path to a more satisfying career doesn’t always mean leaving, be brave to ask your superiors for something different.
• Actively observe others. Figure out what is working for them and acquire learned behavior.

The afternoon was capped off by a relaxed wine reception sponsored by Willamette Valley Vineyards. I ended up sitting down with a table of women who work for Health Notes. This more intimate environment really fostered my personal networking and gave me more of a chance to ask real questions of young career women who are actively trying to carve out a satisfying place in the workforce.

NLO Mini -
October 8th, 2006

A small group of NLO alumae and friends (of which I was one) gathered at Oregon State University's Women's Center to learn about debate techniques from NLO alum, Bridget Burns. Bridget covered a variety of topics, including preparation for debate, both personal and presentation, and debate styles.

Bridget did a great job leading the session and our host and new friend, Beth Reitveld, made us feel right at home. The OSU Women's Center is a very comfortable spot, with a lot of great artwork - we look forward to hosting more events there in the future!

NLO Mini - January 28th, 2007

We will be hosting another mini event January 28, 2007 from 1-4 pm at Portland State in the 2nd floor Gallery of the Urban Center. Mini events are a great time to catch up with one another! It is open to NLO alumae and their friends. The topic of the mini will be a discussion facilitated by Melody Rose on what the recent elections mean for women. Please RSVP to nlormail@pdx.edu no later than Friday, January 12, 2007.

Martha Perez is a NLO 2006 alumna. She was born in Portland, Oregon and adopted by her grandparents. Martha earned her educational degree from Portland State University in 1998, while raising her daughter (also named Martha Jr) as a single parent. She advocates and provides public testimony on a wide array of local, national and international issues. Her current service with the federal government, has provided the opportunity to observe government-in-motion and experience how work gets accomplished. Martha's ultimate dream is to someday serve as a member of Congress, where she can create positive solutions on important decisions that impact all Americans, especially working families.

Since graduation from NLO, Martha continues to perform environmental research for a group she co-founded in Spring of 2006, called Native Ecological Research Network, at PSU. She has also been busy this Summer, traveling to places like New Mexico, Minnesota and Alaska. Her next trip will be to California, in October 2006, where she will participate at the annual National Congress of American Indians political convention (she's planning for Washington, DC in mid-2007). Martha is also constantly encouraged by her daughter, who is a freshman at Lincoln HS. Besides looking forward to her Fall term classes, Martha wanted NLO to know that she "misses everyone and hopes that all of their dreams come true". Wow!

If you are interested in telling us what you've been up to, email me at nlormail@pdx.edu