Western States Center
JoAnn Hardesty is a seasoned leader in advocacy and community engagement with extensive experience in promoting social justice and equality. Currently serving as President of the NAACP Portland Chapter since January 2015, Hardesty leads efforts to eliminate racial discrimination through various strategies including direct action and political engagement. As a Cohort in the We Are Brave reproductive rights advocacy organization, Hardesty champions women's rights at the state level. Hardesty's consultancy work focuses on enhancing democracy in low-income and communities of color, while also providing training for nonprofits. With a history of leadership roles including President of the Coalition for a Livable Future and service as a State Representative in Oregon, Hardesty's career reflects a commitment to civic engagement and strategic planning in various organizational contexts. Hardesty holds an AA in Business from the Community College of Baltimore.
This person is not in any teams
Western States Center
Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, we work nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy. There are four pillars of our work: Building Movement We strengthen the organizing capacity of often-marginalized communities, with a particular emphasis on gender justice, racial justice, and tribal sovereignty work. Developing Leaders We provide training, leadership development, and organizational capacity support to social movements and leaders committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Shifting Culture We convene culture-makers to shift the narrative and use culture as a vehicle for base-and power-building in non-traditional social change spaces. Defending Democracy We assist communities and civil society to uphold the rule of law by effectively responding to social movements that exploit bigotry and intolerance.