We are celebrating with Jann Carson, who has been an invaluable staff member of our ACLU of Oregon team for over 35 years, as she announces her retirement starting in Spring 2022. Jann is a longtime respected community leader and is considered the utility player for the ACLU team in Oregon. Throughout her extensive career with the ACLU, Jann has developed partner relationships and strategies to support our legal, policy and education programs; worked on numerous ballot measure campaigns; assisted in fundraising and fiscal management; staffed the board and its committees; and served as a spokesperson. We have so much gratitude for Jann’s leadership and we celebrate all of her contributions.
“I have been so damn lucky to do this work for more than half of my life. As much as I am ready to write my next chapter, I will be filled with mixed emotions as I transition out of the ACLU,” said Deputy Director Jann Carson. “Over these many years, I have had the privilege of learning from and working with so many amazing people: staff and board colleagues, clients, volunteers, supporters and so many inspiring and dedicated advocates doing the hard — at times, crushing — work to make some part of Oregon a better, safer, more equitable place to live in. Planning for my future includes space for poet Mary Oliver’s advice to ‘keep some room in my heart for the unimaginable.’”
With the news of Jann’s retirement, we are excited to elevate one of our amazing BIWOC leaders, Yvonne Garcia, to fill the role of Deputy Director. As our Development Director for the past three years, Yvonne fostered a culture of philanthropy and fundraising that created more access for donors of all levels and is deeply rooted in racial and social justice. Yvonne has been an incredible leader of our equity work and holds our organization accountable to our values and mission. As Yvonne prepares to step into the role of Deputy Director, we are starting our search for a Development Director to fill the role that Yvonne will be vacating. Please check out this opportunity along with our other job openings on our website.
“Jann and Yvonne are incredible leaders who care deeply about advancing justice, equity and care for all Oregon communities,” said Executive Director Sandy Chung. “I’m very grateful to Jann for her decades of service to Oregonians, and I look forward to continuing the fight for civil liberties and civil rights alongside Yvonne.”
As we grow our team and capacity to work in communities, we will share more news about incoming BIWOC leaders who will be joining our team in early 2022. We look forward to introducing you to our new team members and we hope you will give them a warm welcome to our beloved community. In the meantime, we welcome you to check our current staff listing and bios on our website or visit our Instagram to hear from current staff members.
“In my three years here at the ACLU of Oregon, I have had the pleasure of seeing this organization grow and change in inspiring ways,” said current Development Director and incoming Deputy Director Yvonne Garcia. “With new opportunities to grow and learn in this new role, I look forward to working with this amazing group of colleagues who keep me energized and determined each day. I hope our work together is rooted in our values and through authentic relationships with our partners, supporters, members and all who are part of the ACLU community.”