The Social Equity and Opportunity Forum program director is Janet Hammer, Ph.D. Janet brings over fifteen years of experience in sustainability issues and holds particular expertise in multi-stakeholder processes and bridging organizations.
SEOF's 2009-2010 Sidney Lezak Fellow is Raihana Ansary. A student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, Raihana is also pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate development. Raihana has a deep and long-standing commitment to social justice issues. Her passion for public service and interest in planning and policy was further realized through her prior internships with Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congressman Peter DeFazio. Since then, she has served as an Americorps member and has worked in community development for various local non-profits. Conversant in Farsi and Spanish, she worked for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, a social service agency that promotes resettlement and self-sufficiency into a healthy and inclusive community.
SEOF's 2008-2009 Sidney Lezak Fellow is Briana Meier. A student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, Briana is also pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate development. Briana comes to us with valuable experience in planning for social health and sustainability. Most recently, she worked with Williams & Dame Development on the LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot certification process for the South Waterfront Central District. Before moving to Portland in 2007 Briana worked in Madison, Wisconsin as a project manager with the Urban Open Space Foundation, a statewide organization dedicated to promoting and developing systems of green infrastructure in Wisconsin's cities.
SEOF's 2007-2008 Sid Lezak Fellow was George Zaninovich, he earned his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree in 2008. George was a co-founder of Planning Includes Equity (PIE), a student group fostering conversation and action within the department and larger community, and co-developer of the Oregon Land Use Stories Project. Riding his bicycle almost 1000 miles around the state George and his fellow listened to citizens' views on land use issues, learning that there is more that unites us than divides us, and that Oregonians care deeply about the land and about each other. The project won the prestigious AICP National student planning project award.
We were also fortunate to have the talent and enthusiasm of two graduate assistants in 2007-2008. Emily Hicks, earned her Master of Public Health degree and PSU's Graduate Sustainability Certificate. Her diverse experience spans from coordinating kitchen garden projects with low-income families to assisting Washington County with its first Sustainability Plan. Emily has gone on to join the office of Commissioner Nick Fish. Kelly Haines, Master of Urban Studies student, applies her background in sociology and economics to issues of social sustainability. Kelly's applied experience includes union organizing and research on sustainability indicators.
