Community

Beyond her professional engineering work, J’reyesha dedicates significant time to community leadership and civic engagement. As a lifelong Portlander, her work is grounded in a deep commitment to the city and its people. She serves in leadership roles with multiple community organizations, centering efforts on diversifying STEM, environmental justice, and Black community advocacy.

Across commissions, nonprofit leadership, mentoring, and advocacy, J’reyesha works to ensure communities have a voice in decision-making.

Civic Engagement

Leadership & Advocacy

City of Portland Planning Commission

Commissioner (2025 - Present)

"The Planning Commission is charged with guiding the City of Portland’s land use planning through stewardship, development, and maintenance and of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. In their advisory capacity, and through public hearings and discussions, commissioners will review and propose urban design and land use regulations to City Council to achieve City-adopted goals for equitable growth and development with a climate justice lens.”

Learn more about the Planning Commission and this year's projects here.

State Environmental Justice Council

OCBA Appointee / Vice Chair (2024 - Present)

“In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 4077 that renamed and codified the then existing Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) as the Environmental Justice Council (EJC). The EJC, established within the Office of the Governor, is a 13-member statewide council responsible to advise the Governor and state natural resource agencies on environmental justice (EJ) issues. The statute directs the council, with staff support from the Department of Environment Quality and Oregon Health Authority, to develop an environmental justice mapping tool."

Learn more about the Council’s work here.

Past Positions:

  • "The Metro Parks and Nature Equity Advisory Committee helps to shape the department’s planning processes, policy formation and outcomes on projects and system-wide efforts. The committee's role is to provide program oversight to ensure that funding for new projects provided through the voter-approved bond measure is applied in ways that improve access to nature for communities of color.”

  • "The Multnomah County Home Rule Charter provides that every six years, a Charter Review Committee will be convened for the purpose of making a comprehensive study of the Charter and, if it chooses, to submit Charter amendments to the voters of Multnomah County. The charter is the local version of a constitution, essentially creating the structure of Multnomah County government.”

    In 2022, all but one of the MCRRC's proposed ballot initiatives passed.

    Learn more about the MCCRC and our annual report here.

  • The Portland Branch 1120B's NAACP's Environmental Justice Committee is working to provide environmental justice awareness, programming in the community, educational outreach, and legislative change with partnered environmental justice organizations.

    J’reyesha’s work with the NAACP included:

    • Metro Nature Youth Leadership Program

    • Grant Writing Support and Management

    • Legislative Action

    • Interim Newsletter, Social Media, and Website Management

    Learn more about the EJ Committee's work in our 2021 Annual Report! Join an active and influential committee. Learn more by emailing: environmentaljustice@pdxnaacp.org.

STEM Pathways

Engineering Community

Representation in engineering doesn't happen by accident. Much of J’reyesha’s community work has focused on creating earlier exposure to STEM careers, supporting Black engineers and students, and building stronger pathways between schools, professionals, and community.

NSBE Portland Professionals

Co-Founder | President Emeritus | Current Treasurer (2019 - Present)

J’reyesha helped build NSBE Portland Professionals into a professional and community home for Black engineers in Oregon. J’reyesha developed and continues to support programming spanning student scholarships, paid high school engineering internships, youth career exposure, professional development, networking, and community STEM events, including NSBE’s annual Youth Infrastructure Fair.

Read NSBE Portland’s 2020-2025 Impact Report Here.

Volunteering, Presentations, and Collaborations with:

Brown Girl Rise, Camp ELSO, Saturday Academy, Building Blocks 2 Success, PSU LSAMP, iUrbanTeen, Oregon MESA, Portland Public Schools CTE Program, & More

Boards & Other Volunteering

Commitment in Practice

Verde Action

Board Treasurer (2022 - Present)

Verde Action serves communities by building environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy. Verde Action is the 501c4 section of Verde and will focus on advocacy. More news and updates to follow in 2025

University of Portland Engineering Alumni Chapter

Leadership Team (2020 - Present)

The Engineering Alumni Chapter works closely with the Shiley School of Engineering to support the personal and professional growth of local engineering alumni.

Volunteers of America Oregon

Annual Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship Reviewer (2014 - Present)

Past Positions:

  • Young Alumni Regent (2024 - 2026)

  • Served as a community mentor with HOLLA Mentors - relationship-building, encouragement, and exposure to educational and career pathways with a 1:1 pair match.

  • Board Secretary / Interim Board Chair

    BEC is a grassroots, community-based organization with a mission of community development through financial education, resource allocation, and a collaborative effort.

    BEC partnered with NSBE Portland for Youth Infrastructure Fair, Weekend STEM workshops, and Little Free Library builds.

  • Board Member / Board Chair

    Building Blocks 2 Success (BB2S) aims to get ethnically and gender diverse underrepresented youth from the Portland Metropolitan area excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through exposure and participation in STEM-related programs and activities.

    • Parade Co-Chair (2019 - 2022)

    • Scholarship Co-Chair (2020 - 2024)

    • Social Media Coordinator (2022 - 2024)

    The mission of the Good in the Hood Multicultural Music and Food Festival is to host a family friendly event for community members, businesses, and organizations where they can share their resources, enjoy music, food, and merchandise from small businesses. For nearly 30 years, the Festival has provided a vibrant community space for Portlanders. The goal of the festival is to provide scholarships and strengthen unity in the community.”

  • 2026 Youth Infrastructure Fair

  • Good in the Hood Parade

  • NSBE Board Meetings

  • NAACP Youth Leadership Program

  • Food Justice Workshop