2025-460

TO THE COUNCIL:

As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP):

I would also like to request Council confirmation of the following reappointments to PCCEP:

All 2-year terms would conclude on December 3, 2027.

Biographies and Statements of Intent:

KAITLYN DAVIDSON 

Biography:

I am union strong, a local chapter vice president, lobby at the state capitol for policy change that protects school employees and students, and support my fellow union family when I can. 

I'm homegrown, born at Portland Adventist, and attended David Douglas School District. This is my soil, and I want to do everything I can to make it a peaceful, thriving, and weird place.

I believe in hearing all voices and finding the answer within them.

I'm known to my friends as "a cup of honest-tea", because I believe the boldest truth is the only way to communicate. When governmental bodies share only parts of a story, the community eventually finds out what was hidden, and trust is broken. I believe in an open, honest, accountable mindset.  

I am a learner, a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and a parent of high needs children; I hope to bring yet another perspective to this committee. 

I've asked to serve because it's time to make moves and Show Up for my fellow Portlanders. 

Statement of Intent:

I sincerely ask to serve on this committee because I want to serve my community. I've spent (what feels like) a long time talking about what the processes of power should be doing, but not doing anything about it. Someone very inspirational to me in the labor movement kept telling me to do something with the power I have within myself, and my passion to better this world in any way for those around me. I want to know that the parent experiencing a crisis will be treated with respect and know they will be safe at the end of their interaction with emergency personnel. I want to know that if my autistic son has a crisis when he's fourteen, he won't end up as one of those terrible news stories. When I see someone of the BIPOC community being stopped by the police, I do not want to feel the need to bear witness to the interaction. I also want to believe that the recommended policies are fair and equitable for the people subject to them. I also want us all to consider that the PPB is full of people who are trying to serve their community in an incredibly meaningful way. Finally, I want to be part of a fair, objective, and invested process for finding the junction between PPB needs, community needs, union contract requirements, and ever-changing legal requirements. The relationship between police and their community is reparable; it just needs time and effort. 

ANDREW HOPP 

Biography: 

Andrew is a Portland resident with a background in economics and applied data science, holding both a BS in Economics and an MS in Applied Data Science from Portland State University. His career has centered on using data, systems thinking, and community feedback loops to improve decision-making at scale. Alongside his professional work, Andrew serves on the board of trubel&co, a national nonprofit that equips youth, nonprofits, and advocates (especially those most affected by climate and environmental harm) with the tools and skills to investigate injustice and drive community-centered solutions through data, design, and technology. His experience at the intersection of analytics, systems thinking, and public accountability shapes his approach to community safety and policing oversight. 
 
Statement of Intent:

My goal in serving on PCCEP is to help strengthen the connection between community experience and institutional decision-making. I want to ensure that data, lived perspectives, and policy commitments align - not just on paper, but in practice. Portland has a long, complicated history with public safety and policing, not unlike many communities, and I believe transparency, consistency, and community trust are earned through repeated, measurable actions.

Through this role, I hope to contribute three things:

1. Clear analysis of what the data actually shows - and where it fails to reflect community reality.
2. Thoughtful engagement that centers the voices of those most affected, without letting the process become performative or symbolic.
3. Accountability structures that don't stop at recommendations, but push toward follow-through, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

I'm committed to approaching this work with humility, curiosity, and a drive to make our systems more responsive, equitable, and effective for everyone who calls Portland home.

ROBIN WISNER 

Biography:

He has been involved in a broad array of issues, areas of the community and constituencies. He has worked from Gresham to Beaverton and from Portland to the State Capitol in Salem. He has volunteered in various ways for the Portland Police Bureau, including on their Hiring Review Board, Crises Response Team, Ride Along as well as several other areas. As a minister he serves on the Albina Ministerial Alliance Board of Directors and has been involved in several ecumenical endeavors. As an activist he has been responsible for either coordinating or strategically assisting a number of significant community projects, such as: the Rosa Parks Blvd renaming, Caesar Chavez Interstate name change attempt, the march to bring together City of Portland and Northeast community for Portland Police Officer Mark Zylawy (known as Z-man), and leading intervention in incidents of youth violence in the City of Gresham with the Chief of Police and the Mayor. He currently serves as City Councilman in the City of Maywood Park and the Community Engagement Director for Trust Lab . As a charismatic, caring person for the wellbeing of humanity he has been very successful in bringing people together from all walks of life in many ways: politically, socially, spiritually, etc. He has served with all the various levels of leadership in making our city a better place and challenging every known kind of problem we face. As many have said, the city of Portland is a better place because of him.

Statement of Intent:

Giving back what others have given me--the choice of living in a safe neighborhood and great schools to send my sons and grandchildren so they can make Portland their choice to live with others who care about this city. Building Portland as our beloved community when we volunteer helps all of us be able to say we made the right choice making Portland home.

FARIYA VASQUEZ-POTTER 

Biography:

Fariya Vasquez-Potter, Mexican American, has worked at Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) for 10 months. Fariya is currently the Reimagining Justice in Cully Project Coordinator at NAYA. Prior to this role, Fariya was the Community Programs Coordinator at AntFarm Youth Services in Sandy, OR. Fariya has been a Project Manager for the past 8 years in the Technology and Software as a Service field. Fariya holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and has studied forensics, anthropology, art, welding and language at various colleges in California and Oregon. Fariya has enjoyed volunteer positions at The San Diego River Parks Foundation, San Diego County Archaeological Society, and has served as the Co-Chair of the Alz is a Drag Fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. 

Statement of Intent:

I am writing to formally accept the volunteer position on the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP). I am honored to have been selected for this role and am eager to contribute my time and effort to the committee's goals of equitable policing which exceed constitutional requirements, and meaningful community engagement with and trust in PPB.

I fully understand the responsibility that comes with this position, particularly the responsibility to the Portland Community. My intent as a member is to work collaboratively with my fellow council members and Portland's diverse constituencies to ensure all voices are heard, especially those from communities who have been historically marginalized.

My background in community work, project management, passion for social justice and lived experience have prepared me for the challenges and opportunities ahead. With skills such as effective communication, community advocacy, and critical thinking, I am committed to working objectively and respectfully through conflicts, contributing to an atmosphere of inclusivity and transparency in our public systems and advocating for equitable policing practices.

I am available for the required time commitments and meetings and will make every effort to be an active and engaged member of the committee. I look forward to contributing to the safety and well-being of the Portland community.

Thank you again for this opportunity. I am excited to begin my service and contribute to the PCCEP's important work. 

FASIKA BEKELE (YOUTH APPOINTEE) 

Biography:

My name is Fasika Bekele, and I'm a college student studying Public and Urban Affairs. Growing up, I witnessed how policing impacts communities of color in unequal ways and how trust has eroded — not only through individual incidents, but through ongoing patterns in policy and response. These experiences motivated me to learn more about the systems that shape public safety. Through my studies, I've examined the history of policing, the consent decree, and how policy decisions are implemented in practice. That combination of lived experience and policy understanding is what grounds my perspective.

Statement of Intent:

Through my service on PCCEP, I hope to help rebuild trust between the community and the city by ensuring that oversight is transparent, accountable, and genuinely impactful. I want to bring forward perspectives that are often discussed but not always represented — those of young people, immigrants, and communities most directly affected by policing. Ultimately, my goal is to help move Portland toward a broader and more holistic vision of public safety — one that recognizes the role of housing, mental health, and community support alongside law enforcement.

VANESSA PERRY 

Biography:

Dr. Vanessa M. Perry (ella, she, her) is a licensed professional counselor, educator, and health professional in training whose work bridges the fields of mental health, education, and community advocacy. Before relocating to Portland to pursue her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Vanessa served for nearly a decade as a faculty member in the Counseling M.A. Program at the University of Arizona—a Hispanic Serving and land-grant institution.

At the University of Arizona, Vanessa taught graduate courses in counseling, multicultural competence, career development, and substance abuse treatment, providing clinical supervision in both English and Spanish. She also served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies, where she strengthened equitable admissions, student retention, and support systems for diverse learners. Her leadership advanced the University's Hispanic Serving Institution mission and helped create pathways for students from historically underrepresented communities to succeed in graduate education.

Outside of the university, Vanessa has maintained a long-standing commitment to community service and social responsibility. In Tucson, she volunteered as a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer with the American Red Cross, providing crisis intervention and psychological first aid to individuals and families impacted by local and national disasters, including deployment to Florida following Hurricane Ian. She also served on the Leadership Team for the Latinx Therapists Action Network, supporting a nationwide coalition of mental health professionals advocating for abolitionist, pro-immigrant, and culturally responsive practices.

Her transition to healthcare through OHSU's physician associate program reflects her belief that true community well-being requires integrating physical, mental, and social health. Across her work in counseling, education, and now medicine, Vanessa's throughline is clear: a commitment to advancing equity, accountability, and holistic care within the communities she calls home.

Statement of Intent: 

My intent in serving on the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP) is to contribute to a model of public safety that is equitable, transparent, and grounded in community partnership. As someone whose professional life has been dedicated to education, counseling, and now clinical care, I believe that systems—whether educational, medical, or law enforcement—must earn and sustain the trust of the people they serve.

During my years at the University of Arizona, I worked extensively on issues of access and inclusion, from redesigning admissions processes to mentoring first-generation and bilingual students. I have also served on national and local committees focused on mental health, disability advocacy, and crisis response. Those experiences taught me that sustainable change happens when institutions actively invite the participation of the people most impacted by their decisions.

PCCEP's mission aligns with that philosophy. The committee provides a unique opportunity to bridge community voices, the Portland Police Bureau, and City leadership in ways that ensure the reforms outlined in the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement are not only met, but also embedded in a culture of accountability and equity. I hope to contribute my expertise in counseling, my experience facilitating difficult conversations, and my understanding of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to support this goal.

Having recently transitioned to Portland to attend OHSU, I am eager to invest in my new community in the same way I served Tucson—through active engagement, service, and advocacy. My aim is to help foster a policing system that prioritizes de-escalation, compassion, and shared responsibility. I envision a city where public safety is understood as a collaborative effort—one that uplifts dignity, promotes prevention, and strengthens the relationship between law enforcement and the diverse communities of Portland.

KIP SILVERMAN (REAPPOINTMENT)

Biography:

I am a Technologist, an Activist, and Father to three incredible human beings.

Portland has been my home for nearly 25 years, and I have been committed to doing what I can to make it a more livable and equitable city for all.

I am passionate about community, collaboration, and inclusivity.

In my professional and personal capacities, I am known to creatively solve complex problems working to ensure that all voices are heard, especially voices that often are pushed to the margins. I have been actively working on issues of home/houselessness and food security/hunger for over a decade.

Statement of Intent:

I strongly believe that transparency and accountability are intrinsic in the relationship between government entities and the public.
I hope to use my knowledge and experience to work with my fellow PCCEP members and Portland's communities to keep everyone engaged and have their voices heard.

TIA PALAFOX (REAPPOINTMENT)

Biography:

Tia Palafox is a retired K-12 School Counselor from the Eugene School District.  She worked as a detention Group-worker at Skipworth Detention Center (Lane Co. Youth Services) meeting police with the youth about to be detained to complete intake and work with the youth throughout their detention; as well as an Employment Specialist/ youth counselor for teens who dropped out of school at Looking Glass Job Center (Eugene), while working on her bachelor's degree in Human Services at UO in the early 90's, she knew that she had a passion working with and serving youth who were really struggling. Tia worked in non-profit agencies that were youth centered, until she returned to get her master's degree at OSU to become a School Counselor, she was hoping to be more on the prevention side, after building so many skills in intervention. While working towards her master's degree in School Counseling in the late 90's, her & her spouse at the time became treatment foster parents for SCAR Jasper Mountain Center and she became a Qualified Mental Health Assistant. She volunteered for several family & youth centered non-profit organizations in Eugene over the years.  Once obtaining her master's degree, she became a School Counselor in 1998, starting off in rural Harrisburg, OR, then shortly after began working for the Eugene 4J School District.  While at 4J she made a commitment to equity & inclusion and became a leader for the Minority Student Achievement Network to "close the achievement gap"; attended hours of Center for Equitable Education trainings and became a leader for Taking It Up, the second part of the CFEE training.  She volunteered for Centro Latino Americano and helped educate immigrants on their rights when stopped by law enforcement.  Tia became specialized in suicide intervention & prevention while working with Lane County Mental Health & Public Health, as a School Counselor.  She completed the Initial Administrative program in Education at UO in 2009 and focused on alternative education. In December 2009 Tia had a massive stroke, which caused her to have a brain injury & disability.  Becoming disabled didn't stop her, she continued to stay active in her community and returned to work as soon she was released to do so.  She said that she was able to have a new lens on accessibility and empathy for others with a disability. Tia retired from the 4J School District and moved to Portland in 2017.  She began volunteering at Buckman Elementary School (PPS); as well as at Rahab's Sisters, a small program that serves marginalized unhoused women, as soon as she moved here.  She has been getting very involved with Portland's unhoused community and is passionate about social & racial justice and mental health & wellness for our community members. Tia is very involved with her niece and nephew, who both attend Jefferson High School, and are the most important people in her life.  She enjoys traveling, especially to Mexico.

Statement of Intent:

After my stroke, I gained a new lens on accessibility and deepened my empathy for others with disabilities. I hope to bring this perspective into my work on PCCEP to ensure policing works for everyone in our City.