Appoint and reappoint members to the Portland Parks & Recreation Board

TO THE COUNCIL:As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following appointment to the Portland Parks & Recreation Board:AppointmentTerm EndingReplacingKitty Firth06-30-2026 (Partial Term)Adam LewisAndre Buenacosa06-30-2026 (Partial Term)David StaczekMyrah Rafi'ah Beverly06-30-2026 (Partial Term)Casey MillsSally Bernstein06-30-2027 (Partial Term)Sameer KanalJacob Karson06-30-2028Erin ZollenkopfTommy Schopp06-30-2028Crys O'GradyReappointmentTerm EndingAdrianne Feldstein06-30-2028 (Second Term)Respectfully submitted,Keith WilsonMayorBiographies and Statements of Interest of appointees attached.Kitty FirthBiographyKitty Firth has been a proud Portland resident since 1975, with enriching stints in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Washington, DC. Time and again, she found that Portland leads the way - our local talent and engaged citizens shaping the city and spaces we love. Kitty earned her degree in Landscape Architecture at WSU with dreams of becoming a zoo designer. Instead, she did just about everything else (cemetery designer, master planner, camp director, and school facilities director) and discovered it is all about the same thing: good places encourage good things.Statement of InterestI grew up in the outdoor spaces of Portland, the Cascades, and the Coast. I failed at piano lessons because there was so much to explore out of doors. My discovery that you can actually go swimming in urban waterfalls (Keller and Lovejoy Fountains) led to a lifelong delight in design that borrows from nature, and appreciation of a City which embraces fun. In my time on the Portland Parks & Recreation Board, I hope to ensure that the sense of fun, joy, discovery, and ownership remains with our citizens.Andre BuenacosaBiographyAndré Buenacosa-Brooks currently works in business development for TriMet, fostering relationships with employers across the district. He helps build transportation demand strategies for companies, to promote transit and other multi-model options to alleviate street congestion, improve air quality and champion sustainability. Prior to working for the transit authority in Portland, he has worked a variety of positions ranging from art glass manufacturing, energy, and publishing. He believes strongly in the public space and its importance to community, identity, and the vibrancy of the town we call home. Originally hailing from the deserts of West Texas, he is an avid outdoorsman taking advantage of the abundant lush green spaces that we are surrounded by. He received his bachelor's degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Manchester in the UK, and calls the Sunnyside Neighborhood his home with his husband.Statement of InterestSince moving to Portland 8 years ago the public parks have played an integral role in building happiness, a sense of place, community, and well being for myself and my family. Growing up learning to play tennis on public courts through community parks programs gave me the foundational building blocks to learn and appreciate public spaces. I believe strongly in the role that public spaces, like our parks, play in bonding and strengthening communities across our city. As our city navigates change and challenges that lie in the future, I look forward to collaboration and creating work that champions our beautiful outdoor spaces and centers our community at its core.Myrah Rafi’ah BeverlyBiographyBorn in Illinois, Myrah Rafiah Beverly has been living in SE Portland for 3 years working as an environmental conservation policy advocate. Before coming to Portland, she was conducting research in Cambodia on the effects of climate change on Indigenous communities along the Mekong River Delta. Her favorite outdoor spots in Portland are Forest Park, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Cathedral Park, and Fernhill Park. You can find her attending slam poetry open mics, skipping rocks on the Willamette River, or looking through fortuitous free piles on street corners. She has a passion for social justice issues, being in nature, and learning foreign languages. She holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative cultures and politics from Michigan State University.Statement of InterestMy favorite thing about Portland is the parks. And my favorite thing to do in Portland is being outdoors together with neighbors and friends. When I moved to Portland in 2022 from the suburbs of Chicago, I was surprised and overwhelmed with the open natural areas. Back home, I was used to paved trails and labeled plants. However, Portlanders have an infectious love of being outdoors. At first, I was scared and uncomfortable to touch soil with my bare hands or even be in the dark without many streetlights. By visiting Portland parks and attending stewardship events, I pushed my comfort zone and unlocked a newfound love of the outdoors. Now I understand that soil is soft and meant to be touched and in the dark you can find owls and nutria. I am enthusiastic to bring this feeling to others who feel hesitant to go outdoors or more familiar to the manicured management of parks. I am excited to find a way to help others explore the variety of parks and recreation centers that Portland has towards an appreciation of nature, community, and public health, and safety.Sally BernsteinBiographySally Bernstein has spent the past decade working in the conservation field to advance programs and policies that increase the health and resilience of National Forests and the communities that rely on them. Working at multiple scales, Sally has established and led collaborative groups, coalitions, and strategic partnerships through which she facilitates creative problem-solving, elevates local priorities, and offers opportunities for shared-learning on emerging science, tools, and authorities that increase the pace, scale, and quality of forest management and wildfire mitigation. Sally holds a Masters in Urban & Regional Planning and graduate certificate in Collaborative Governance from Portland State University, and a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from Lewis & Clark College. She lives in SW Portland in the Hillsdale neighborhood, and spends her free time wrangling her toddler twin boys, gardening, and adventuring throughout the Pacific Northwest.Statement of interestOver the past fifteen years, I have spent endless hours with friends and family recreating and exploring parks in neighborhoods across the city. I visit at least one of our parks daily with my dog or my toddlers, and I feel fortunate to live in a city and a neighborhood that has so many. What I appreciate most about our parks is both how they emphasize the ecological beauty of the PNW, and how they foster a sense of community and place. Portland’s population and climate are evolving which necessitates us to evaluate and ensure our parks and parks programming are meeting current social and ecological needs. I look forward to joining the Portland Parks & Recreation Board to support holistic planning and visioning that captures local community interests and priorities, and that emphasizes management geared towards ecological health and resilience. Jacob KarsonBiographyJacob Karson is a policy wonk and advocacy professional with a ten-year career in energy efficiency, sustainability, and construction regulation. His work entails everything from training teams of volunteers to personally meeting with lawmakers to walk them through the science that informs complicated legislation. Before starting this career, Jacob was inspired to work in policy and politics by his time in the the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps program where he built national park trails, ran a low income tax prep clinic, and contributed to disaster relief efforts. He is passionate about fostering community both our neighborhoods and in our personal lives, as well as his hobbies of gardening, cycling, and reading. Born and raised in Portland, Jacob attended Buckman Elementary School, Winterhaven Middle School, Cleveland High School, and then went up I-5 to the University of Puget Sound for a degree in International Political Economy. Today, Jacob lives with his fiance near Errol Heights Park in Southeast Portland. Statement of InterestPortland's parks are the crown jewel of our city. Seen from the top of Mt. Tabor, Portland appears more like a forest than a concrete megalopolis. Our parks are where we express ourselves through song, art, and dance; where recreation can range from peaceful birdwatching to joyful, loud celebrations; and where we can all experience the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of time spent in nature. Above all, our parks must be places where everyone in our community feels welcome. As a daily user of parks all across our city, I have seen firsthand the incredible services and infrastructure provided, as well as the opportunities for growth and improvement. I am excited to join the Parks Board to be an effective advocate for our parks and our city's communities. I will work to increase access to high-quality parks and services, address challenges with thoughtful, collaborative stewardship, and uphold the golden rule of time spent outdoors: "leave it better than you found it." My goal is to contribute to, facilitate, and lead our collective work to pass on a park system that is more beautiful, accessible, equitable, and resilient for the future generations of Portland. Tommy SchoppBiographyTommy Schopp is a multidisciplinary professional with a background in graphic design, branding, and sleep medicine in both research and clinical settings. He’s also spent nearly a decade as a small business owner, developing skills in operations, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and community engagement. Tommy has volunteered with Portland-area nonprofits including Zenger Farm, The Mazamas, Forest Park Conservancy, and Green Lents Community Tool Library. He also volunteers with Portland Insight Meditation Community and maintains a daily Buddhist meditation practice, which informs his values of compassion, mindfulness, and equity. An enthusiastic hiker, Tommy spends much of his time exploring Forest Park and the Columbia Gorge. As a musician and visual artist, he brings a creative and inclusive perspective to civic engagement and public service.Statement of InterestAs a Portland resident of 25 years, I’ve come to rely on our city’s parks for recreation, connection, and introspection. These spaces allow me to engage with friends and neighbors, recharge and reflect, and deepen my appreciation for the natural world. Through my volunteer work with organizations focused on environmental access, education, and community resources, I’ve seen how outdoor spaces can be powerful equalizers, offering connection, healing, and opportunity to people of all backgrounds.As someone who hikes regularly in Portland's parks, volunteers for trail maintenance, and advocates for access to public green spaces, I understand how essential parks are to Portlanders’ well-being. I’m eager to contribute my experience in communications, nonprofit service, and small business administration to help strengthen the connection between Portland Parks & Recreation and the communities it serves. I believe well-maintained, inclusive public spaces are essential to a thriving city, and I look forward to supporting the bureau in shaping a parks system that reflects the evolving needs of all Portlanders.Adrianne FeldsteinBiographyAdrianne is a physician at Kaiser Permanente Northwest, a swim instructor with PP&R, and a landscape painter and resides in NE Portland. Adrianne has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from Columbia University, and received their Medical Doctorate from George Washington University School of Medicine. Adrianne has demonstrated commitment and experience working with a diversity of people through their work as a public health physician. As a young woman in the sciences and medicine, Adrianne was deeply involved in the reproductive rights movement and in Physicians for Social responsibility and Physicians for a National Health program. Throughout Adrianne’s career they have provided health services to migrant farmworkers and people experiencing homelessness and have also worked to improve worker safety and reduce hazardous exposures. As a population health director at Kaiser Permanente, Adrianne evaluated outcomes to look for inequalities and developed corrective programs. Statement of InterestI have loved supporting the Portland Parks and Recreation vision as a board member this last term. The department is entering a phase of renewal and growth and I would be very pleased to continue to contribute as a board member. This diverse and active group does great advocacy and work.