When Debra Porta returned to school at the age of 36, she had no idea she would eventually become one of the most visible and impactful nonprofit leaders in Oregon. Now the Executive Director of Pride Northwest, Debra leads one of the state’s most celebrated LGBTQIA2S+ organizations and her journey began, somewhat unexpectedly, in a community college classroom and a boardroom she wandered into out of love.
In a wide-ranging interview, Porta reflects on her time at Portland State University (PSU), her deep roots in community leadership, and the values that continue to guide her work.
On Finding Direction Through Education and Community
Porta calls herself a "nontraditional student" a term that hardly does justice to the transformational path she carved for herself. Originally from Texas, she began her academic journey at Portland Community College before transferring to PSU to pursue a Bachelor’s in Political Science. “I needed more skills,” she explained, having left behind a career in restaurant management due to health concerns. What started as a practical decision to find a sit-down job turned into a purposeful leap into public service.
While volunteering for Pride Northwest during her PCC years, Porta discovered a passion for nonprofit work. “If I was going to do this work even as a volunteer I needed to know what I was doing,” she said. That realization led her to pursue an undergraduate degree and, eventually, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in nonprofit management at PSU’s Hatfield School of Government.
The curriculum at PSU wasn’t just academic for her, it was extremely formative. “I could feel the standards to which my professors held themselves,” she recalled. “It wasn’t just about content; it was about integrity.” A standout course on public ethics, taught by Erna Gelles , continues to shape her leadership approach today.
On Learning to Lead by Showing Up
Porta’s first major step into activism didn’t come from a planned internship or leadership training. “My girlfriend volunteered at Pride Northwest,” she said with a laugh. “If I wanted to see her, I had to go to board meetings.” She stuck around, and before long, she was named volunteer coordinator and then board president.
The crash course in nonprofit governance coincided with her graduate studies. She vividly recalls attending class, learning about nonprofit best practices, and then going to board meetings and saying, “Y’all, we can’t do it like that anymore.” The dual-track experience deeply intertwined theory and practice in a way that no syllabus could have predicted.
On Centering Community in Leadership
Porta's leadership style is rooted in authenticity, lived experience, and accountability. “There’s a lot of glamour in having a title, but there’s even more responsibility,” she emphasized. That responsibility shows in how she runs Pride Northwest—not as an isolated event-planning group, but as a mission-driven, year-round advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.
One of Porta’s proudest accomplishments is cultivating an inclusive workplace culture at Pride Northwest. “All of our staff are part of the community. We support their growth, meet them where they are, and help them become the leaders they’re meant to be,” she said. She believes the workplace should be a space where people grow into themselves, not shrink to fit expectations.
On Pride Is Not Just a Parade
Scaling Pride Northwest into a nationally recognized organization hasn’t been easy. Porta points to structural challenges: underfunding in the nonprofit sector, navigating complex intersectional identities, and combating the narrow narrative that reduces Pride to a once-a-year event.
“One of the hardest things,” she said, “is rebuilding the narrative around Pride which helps people understand that it’s a tool in a movement, not just an event.” When people pushed Pride Northwest to organize a march in support of Black Lives Matter, Porta paused. Instead of immediately reacting, she reached out to Black community leaders and asked: What do you need from us? The answer? Not another march but funding, infrastructure, and visibility.
“That’s the culture we’re trying to build,” Porta said. “Intentional allyship that listens before it acts.”
On Lessons for the Next Generation
Asked what advice she would give to PSU students aspiring to nonprofit careers, Porta urged introspection and flexibility. “Be clear about why you want to do this work,” she said. “And give yourself permission to be organic. Life isn’t a straight line, it’s a braid. Let it twist.”
She also emphasized the importance of learning how to learn. “The most valuable thing I got from school wasn’t just content, it was the skill of going and finding information, asking questions, and building on what’s already been done.”
Reflecting on the values that have guided her from Texas to Portland, Porta is unwavering: community first. “My responsibility is to add to the world, not take from it,” she said. She believes in walking the talk, holding herself to high ethical standards, and staying true to the mission, even when it's hard.
That integrity has cost her friendships, she admitted. But to her, staying committed to her community and Pride Northwest is non-negotiable.
Debra’s Final Reflections
Looking back on her PSU years, Porta credits courses like Richard Clucas’s Oregon political history class for opening her eyes to the deeper contexts behind her advocacy work. “It didn’t make things easier,” she said, “but it made them make sense.”
Debra Porta’s story is not just about professional success, it’s about finding one’s purpose through service, integrity, and community. Her journey reminds us that leadership isn’t defined by a title or degree, but by showing up, staying curious, and never losing sight of who and what you’re fighting for.