Meet Our Team
Angelica Cortes Mejia
Latino Community Lead
She/Her
Angelica was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and has lived in SE Portland for well over a decade with her husband and son. She has a passion for combining community organizing, accessibility to healthy fruits and veggies, and environmental education. Angelica is heavily involved in Lents and East Portland and is a strong advocate for reducing barriers to engagement and participation. She also works with Growing Gardens as a Community Organizer, Oregon Food Bank, and Leadership Policy Council. In spring 2023, Angelica received her Community Health Workers of Oregon certification.
Since becoming involved with Green Lents in early 2018, Angelica has played an instrumental role in increasing access for Lents Latino community members. What she loves most about her job is growing through it personally and together with the community members, and seeing happy faces of the people she reaches. Helping marginalized members of our community motivates Angelica to continue developing her leadership. In her free time, she can be found cooking and enjoying the time with her family and community.
Jody Nhâm Munson O'Brien
Community Ambassador
She/Her
Jody has worn many hats with Green Lents, as the Youth & Family Programs Coordinator, Board Member, and dedicated Orchard Steward. Jody was born in Vietnam and moved to Portland in 1995, when her parents adopted her. She grew up in a big family with six other siblings. She is one of the four adopted siblings in her family.
She has a Bachelor of Arts from Portland State University with a focus in education and development. In 2014, she spent six months teaching English in Cambodia for a school-orphanage. She then spent two years teaching in preschools in the Washington D.C. area. In May 2022, she joined Green Lents as a board member. In 2025 Jody was honored to be nominated by Urban Nature Partners for Portland Parks Foundation's Joey Pope Award, in recognition for her excellent work leading Green Lents' youth internship programs in 2023 and 2024.
Meet Our Board
Anna Menon
Board Member, Volunteer Coordinator
She/Her
Anna has been a card carrying member of the Green Lents Tool Library since 2019. Her professional background is at the intersection of data, policy, and community work to address health disparities in Oregon. Deeply connected to her neighborhood, Anna is an evangelist for Green Lents and joined the board in 2025 as Volunteer Coordinator. She’s excited to help others become involved with the organization and to continue building community in Lents.
Elaine Verbera
Board Member, Grants
She/They
Elaine lived in Lents for only a few months before coming across Malden Court Orchard while walking their dog. She then joined the Green Lents grant writing team and a couple years later joined the board in 2025. With a degree in Environmental Studies for conservation and restoration and a background in environmental education, Green Lents has been an easy and obvious fit. When she isn't writing in the name of environmental and community resilience in Lents, Elaine is usually sampling a brand new hobby or out on an adventure with their dog.
Marissa Heffernan
Co-Chair/Board Member
He/She/They
Marissa moved to Lents in 2021 and dove into volunteering with Green Lents, spending many hours at the Tool Library and Malden Court Community Orchard before joining the communications committee, and then the Board in summer 2024. With a background in journalism and environmental science, they love building connections, community and gardens. Born in the (original) Portland (Maine), Marissa misses the winter but enjoys rainy season hikes and the long growing season of Oregon.
Randy Lahrman
Board Member, Co-Chair
He/Him
Randy moved with his family to Lents in 2021 and quickly became a member of the Green Lents Community Tool Library. After years of using the services provided by GLCTL, he began volunteering. Shortly after, he found an available board position for Green Lents. He joined the board as Co-Chair in a desire to utilize his professional experience and personal values to contribute to the Lents community and support a good cause. His professional background is in business strategy development, sales and customer service, and leadership development. He currently works at Dark Horse Comics, a local company founded in Portland, and is excited to bring his skills and experience Green Lents!
Amanda Burr
Board Member, Treasurer
She/Her
Amanda joined Green Lents after seeing the call for a Treasurer volunteer and immediately thought it would be a great fit! She manages finances and operations at a local digital marketing company and loves applying what she knows to the nonprofit world. Amanda moved to Portland (from Texas) in 2009 and there is no other place she'd rather be. She currently lives in Lents with her husband and two cats. In her free time, you can find her cooking, doing hot yoga, and working on (never-ending) house projects.
Emily Bamford
Board Member, Communication
She/Her
Emily found Green Lents after moving to the Mt. Scott/Arleta neighborhood in 2020 and joined the board in 2025. She has a background in grassroots and nonprofit organizing and communication. She loves neighborhood community, growing and sharing food, and bike rides with her family.
Mac Capizzi
Board Member, Tool Library
They/Them
Mac joined the Green Lents Board in 2025 and will be taking the lead in supporting the Tool Library program. With a background in architecture and design and over a decade in public-facing roles, they’re excited to support community-led work through a collaborative, hands-on approach. Mac brings a strong interest in building, DIY projects, and sharing knowledge and resources with neighbors.
Their design work often focuses on material reuse and inclusive practices that reflect Green Lents’ grassroots values. Outside of work, Mac enjoys gravel rides, playing guitar, sewing, and gardening—always staying curious and connected.
Amanda Gallegos
Board Member, Fundraising
She/Her
Amanda joined the Green Lents Board in 2024. She has a BS in Environmental Studies from Portland State and is the current Event Director at Columbia Slough Watershed Council. She brings with her years of experience in project management, fundraising, communications, and community engagement, as well as a deep love for her bike, her dogs, and a good book.
Jasmine Co
Board Member, Latino Community Program
She/They
Jasmine joined the Green Lents board in 2025 supporting administrative needs for the Latinx community program offerings. From 2019-2021, they served as the Programs Director at Green Lents and are excited to be returning. Jasmine holds a MSc in Climate Change, Development & Policy and currently works at Verde and the Post Growth Institute. Jasmine loves dancing, making art, and exploring what new stories and cultures we can create during these complex times.
Rachel Griffith
Board Member, Garden Programs
She/Her
Rachel grew up in Portland and received her bachelors at the University of Portland. Her professional background is in advertising and digital media strategy, and she currently works at a small ad tech company. Rachel initially volunteered at a pollinator planting event, and then at the Tool Library, and she has grown a huge appreciation for the resources and people involved in Green Lents. She is an avid gardener and enthusiastic plant hoarder. She also loves exploring the outdoors—whether hiking, backpacking, or enjoying one of Portland’s many parks with her dog.
Join Our Board
Green Lents provides education, volunteer, and leadership opportunities in and around the Lents neighborhood to promote a thriving, livable community. We work to ensure that sustainability is accessible to everyone in our neighborhood. We endeavor to restore pollinator habitat, ensure access to tools and gardening supplies, steward a community orchard, and engage Lents residents on key livability issues.
Board members help provide direction in achieving our mission and goals and bring leadership to our community projects. Participation plays an important role in decision-making and strategic planning activities that influence the future of our organization. Green Lents is committed to having a diverse representation of the Lents populations on our board, as well as engaging the skills & leadership of BIPOC, low-income persons, LGBTQIA+ people, youth, and people with disabilities. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply!
Board Membership Requirements
Dedication to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Enthusiasm for Green Lents programs and mission
Ability to contribute 4-8 hours/month to board responsibilities
Roles and commitments vary and provide opportunities for on-the-ground or remote work.
Attend at least 75% of Board meetings during the year. Meetings are held virtually on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Contribute to staff, organizational, and budget oversight, as well as strategic direction
Willingness to be a part of a cooperative team environment, to use kind & open communication, and to have fun!
Commitment to a two-year term on the Board.
