Thank You
for attending We ARE Impact!
190 community members attended We ARE Impact, raising $160,000, which will ensure that over 100 families stay housed.
Together we find a way.
At We ARE Impact, we highlighted Lisa’s Story of how housing + Impact NW services strengthen families.
Thank you to Person People for creating this inspiring video.
Thank You
to Our Sponsors!
We ARE Impact Speakers
Join Impact NW for an impactful night of community, advocacy, and action! Meet some of our incredible speakers who are deeply committed to our homelessness prevention efforts.
Keynote Speaker
Stefanie Kondor, Executive Vice President, Related Northwest
As Executive Vice President for Related Northwest, Ms. Kondor is responsible for establishing Related’s presence in the Northwest while leading and managing all aspects of the development and financing for Related’s affordable developments throughout Oregon. Since the opening of the Related Northwest office in 2018, Ms. Kondor has played a lead role in the development of more than 1,000 affordable housing units under construction and in pre-development in the Portland Metro area.
Prior to joining Related, Ms. Kondor was Director of Real Estate Development for Central City Concern (CCC) where she managed the land acquisition, entitlements, and due diligence process for the development of new clinical and affordable housing in Portland. She led the development team that was the recipient of the top affordable housing developer in 2018 by the Daily Journal of Commerce. Under her leadership, CCC’s development, the Blackburn Center, received the prestigious American Institute of Architects Healthcare Design Award and the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credit QLICI Development of the Year Award. As Senior Asset Manager for Bayside Communities, Ms. Kondor managed a portfolio of more than 60 multifamily properties throughout the West Coast, including senior housing, assisted living, low-income housing, and HUD communities.
Ms. Kondor is the recipient of Housing Oregon’s Star Player Award in 2017, and was named a Woman of Influence by the Portland Business Journal in 2024. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland and is a member of the Portland State University Real Estate Advisory Board. She is a Portland Housing Advisory Committee Commissioner and an advisor on the Central City TIF District Housing Production Committee. Ms. Kondor holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Emcee
Cupid Alexander, Deputy Director of Housing, San Jose
Cupid Alexander is the Deputy Director of Housing in San Jose, California, concentrating on enhancing the city’s response to homelessness. His diverse career in public service spans roles such as Senior Vice President of Operations at the Houston Housing Authority and Assistant Director of Housing and Planning in the City of Austin, Texas.
Before his roles in Texas, Cupid Alexander’s work in Portland, Oregon—his hometown—involved direct engagement with vulnerable families and strategic roles, including Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor and Senior Policy Analyst. His efforts focused on community engagement and developing equitable policies, including anti-displacement strategies, density bonuses, and renter protections. These initiatives aimed to help families flourish and improve the quality of life across communities. With extensive experience in diverse communities, Cupid’s deep commitment to social equity shapes his thoughtful and compassionate approach to housing issues.
Guest Speaker
Candace Avalos, Portland City Council
Candace Avalos, also known as Candis Ávalos en español, is a first-generation “Blacktina.” She is the daughter of Black Americans from southern Virginia and Guatemalan immigrants who relocated to Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. Candace’s upbringing in a multiracial family with a rich cultural history has profoundly shaped her commitment to justice. These early experiences sparked her interest in government and politics, which ultimately led to her passion for government accountability. She became involved in student government and leadership from a young age, which inspired her first career as an educator. After earning a Masters of Education from James Madison University, Candace moved to the West Coast and chose Portland as her home.
Candace spent many years working at Portland State University and has served on several boards and commissions. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Verde, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing environmental investments to Portland’s neighborhoods.For over a decade, Candace has been dedicated to Portland, serving as a solutions-oriented leader who brings people together to address the city’s many challenges. As the District 1 Councilor, she continues her advocacy for Portlanders, striving for a more equitable and prosperous future.
Impact NW Leadership
Ada Dortch, Interim Executive Director and Patrick Shen, Impact NW Board Member
Ada Dortch has been a leader at Impact NW since 2013 and currently services as the Interim Executive Director. A passionate advocate for human rights, Ada has a background spanning 25 years of fundraising, advocacy, program development, and direct service with non-profit organizations locally and globally. She previously worked at Legacy Health Systems and at the International Planned Parenthood Federation where she led program development, fundraising, and advocacy for youth rights across 40 countries in Europe and Central Asia. Ada is committed to helping the community where she was born and lives.
With over 15 years of experience in consulting and benefits expertise with multi-state employers, Patrick Shen is an accomplished employee benefits consultant with Alliant Insurance Services. He understands the need to support employees doing great work everyday. After relocating from California to the Pacific Northwest in 2020, Patrick embraced the region’s vibrant culture and dynamic business landscape. He also saw first hand the devastation of the pandemic. And like many of us – he wanted to find a way to help his community. In September of 2021, Patrick joined Impact NW’s Board of Directors to support its mission to prevent homelessness, where he has been a passionate advocate for the work of the organization.
Live Lead Appeal
Chad Melvin, Executive Director of Strategy, Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Chad Melvin is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Impact NW. Through his position as Executive Director of Strategy at Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Chad contributes a diverse array of experience in public health.
Chad says, “I am incredibly proud to serve on this board as Impact NW continues to make a positive and measurable impact on our community!”
We ARE Impact Speakers
Join Impact NW for an impactful night of community, advocacy, and action! Meet some of our incredible speakers who are deeply committed to our homelessness prevention efforts.
Keynote Speaker
Stephanie Kondor, Executive Vice President, Related Northwest
As Executive Vice President for Related Northwest, Ms. Kondor is responsible for establishing Related’s presence in the Northwest while leading and managing all aspects of the development and financing for Related’s affordable developments throughout Oregon. Since the opening of the Related Northwest office in 2018, Ms. Kondor has played a lead role in the development of more than 1,000 affordable housing units under construction and in pre-development in the Portland Metro area.
Prior to joining Related, Ms. Kondor was Director of Real Estate Development for Central City Concern (CCC) where she managed the land acquisition, entitlements, and due diligence process for the development of new clinical and affordable housing in Portland. She led the development team that was the recipient of the top affordable housing developer in 2018 by the Daily Journal of Commerce. Under her leadership, CCC’s development, the Blackburn Center, received the prestigious American Institute of Architects Healthcare Design Award and the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credit QLICI Development of the Year Award. As Senior Asset Manager for Bayside Communities, Ms. Kondor managed a portfolio of more than 60 multifamily properties throughout the West Coast, including senior housing, assisted living, low-income housing, and HUD communities.
Ms. Kondor is the recipient of Housing Oregon’s Star Player Award in 2017, and was named a Woman of Influence by the Portland Business Journal in 2024. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland and is a member of the Portland State University Real Estate Advisory Board. She is a Portland Housing Advisory Committee Commissioner and an advisor on the Central City TIF District Housing Production Committee. Ms. Kondor holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Emcee
Cupid Alexander, Deputy Director of Housing, San Jose
Cupid Alexander is the Deputy Director of Housing in San Jose, California, concentrating on enhancing the city’s response to homelessness. His diverse career in public service spans roles such as Senior Vice President of Operations at the Houston Housing Authority and Assistant Director of Housing and Planning in the City of Austin, Texas. Before his roles in Texas, Cupid Alexander’s work in Portland, Oregon—his hometown—involved direct engagement with vulnerable families and strategic roles, including Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor and Senior Policy Analyst. His efforts focused on community engagement and developing equitable policies, including anti-displacement strategies, density bonuses, and renter protections. These initiatives aimed to help families flourish and improve the quality of life across communities. With extensive experience in diverse communities, Cupid’s deep commitment to social equity shapes his thoughtful and compassionate approach to housing issues.
Guest Speaker
Candace Avalos, Portland City Council
Candace Avalos, also known as Candis Ávalos en español, is a first-generation “Blacktina.” She is the daughter of Black Americans from southern Virginia and Guatemalan immigrants who relocated to Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. Candace’s upbringing in a multiracial family with a rich cultural history has profoundly shaped her commitment to justice. These early experiences sparked her interest in government and politics, which ultimately led to her passion for government accountability. She became involved in student government and leadership from a young age, which inspired her first career as an educator. After earning a Masters of Education from James Madison University, Candace moved to the West Coast and chose Portland as her home.
Candace spent many years working at Portland State University and has served on several boards and commissions. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Verde, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing environmental investments to Portland’s neighborhoods.For over a decade, Candace has been dedicated to Portland, serving as a solutions-oriented leader who brings people together to address the city’s many challenges. As the District 1 Councilor, she continues her advocacy for Portlanders, striving for a more equitable and prosperous future.
Impact NW Leadership
Ada Dortch, Interim Executive Director and Patrick Shen, Impact NW Board Member
Ada Dortch has been a leader at Impact NW since 2013 and currently services as the Interim Executive Director. A passionate advocate for human rights, Ada has a background spanning 25 years of fundraising, advocacy, program development, and direct service with non-profit organizations locally and globally. She previously worked at Legacy Health Systems and at the International Planned Parenthood Federation where she led program development, fundraising, and advocacy for youth rights across 40 countries in Europe and Central Asia. Ada is committed to helping the community where she was born and lives.
With over 15 years of experience in consulting and benefits expertise with multi-state employers, Patrick Shen is an accomplished employee benefits consultant with Alliant Insurance Services. He understands the need to support employees doing great work everyday. After relocating from California to the Pacific Northwest in 2020, Patrick embraced the region’s vibrant culture and dynamic business landscape. He also saw first hand the devastation of the pandemic. And like many of us – he wanted to find a way to help his community. In September of 2021, Patrick joined Impact NW’s Board of Directors to support its mission to prevent homelessness, where he has been a passionate advocate for the work of the organization.
Live Lead Appeal
Chad Melvin, Executive Director of Strategy, Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Chad Melvin is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Impact NW. Through his position as Executive Director of Strategy at Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Chad contributes a diverse array of experience in public health.
Chad says, “I am incredibly proud to serve on this board as Impact NW continues to make a positive and measurable impact on our community!”
Event FAQs
What can I expect?
We ARE Impact is our annual event celebrating and recognizing the incredible achievements of Impact NW while we raise awareness and funding for our mission. The event will consist of a happy hour with heavy appetizers and complimentary beer and wine, followed by incredible storytelling from our staff and community. The event will run from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. We invite you to attend and hear how your donations are being put to work.
Where is the event?
631 NE Grand Ave
Portland, OR 97232
Where do I park?
AVENUE is located in Portland’s Lloyd District which includes multiple parking structures and surface lots, street parking, and mass transit options. View and download the Parking and Transportation Options Map.
What is the attire?
The attire is business casual.
What time should I arrive?
Please arrive at 5:30pm for guest registration.
Do I need physical tickets for the event?
No, you do not. Guests will be checked in at registration upon providing their name.
What time is the event program?
The program will begin at 6:15pm and conclude at 7:30pm.
Will there be food and drink?
We will be serving heavy hors d’oeuvres that accommodate many different dietary restrictions. We will also be serving complimentary wine and beer.
Will I have a reserved seat?
Those attending as a guest of a sponsor or table host will be given a table number at registration. Otherwise, there is open seating.
Will the event be accessible?
The AVENUE event space is ADA compliant. If you have any specific accommodation requests, please contact us by emailing lgoodwick@impactnw.org.
When does registration close?
Event registration will close a few days before the event and tickets ($50 per person) will also be available for purchase at the door.
Will the event be live-streamed?
This year’s event will be in-person only.
I am not able to attend. How can I make a donation?
You can make a donation here: https://impactnw.org/how-to-help/donate/
What if I have additional questions?
Contact Arleda Martinez at amartinez@impactnw.org or 415-525-2962