About Us
Mission
The mission of the Black Southern Oregon Alliance is to improve the quality of life within our communities by bring people together and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all Black/African Americans.
Vision
Black Southern Oregon Alliance will serve as a shining example of leadership by utilizing our diverse talents to create environments where our children are motivated to achieve, and by empowering people of color (PoC) to become self-sufficient shareholders in the economic and social fabric of the communities we live.
Who we are
Becca Berman:
Assistant Principal
Ashland High School
Administrator of Equity and Inclusion
Ashland School District
Becca is first and foremost, the proud mother of three beautiful children. She grew up in the Rogue Valley and as a Kenyan American, is very excited to be a change agent around diversity equity and inclusion work. Becca spent time as a high school teacher at South Medford High school. She currently serves as the administrator for equity and inclusion for the Ashland School district, as well as the Assistant Principal at Ashland High School. Becca served on district equity, diversity, and inclusion work groups, as well as helped facilitate parent meetings in southern Oregon for the Black and African American student success grant. Becca is proud of the work and relationships she has fostered in helping facilitate, and educate around diversity equity and inclusion.
DL Richardson:
Equity Specialist
Medford School District
D.L. Richardson is an Oregon-based educator with more than 25 years of experience in teaching, diversity training, and public speaking. D.L. has taught communication courses at the university and high school levels, including everything from Public Speaking to Media History, Journalism, to Public Relations. He believes his multicultural and diversity training is among the most important work he has done due to its ability to educate and build strong community relations.
Marvin Woodard:
Multicultural Resource Center Coordinator and Diversity Scholarship Administrator
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon
The oldest of eight children from Lake Charles, LA, Marvin has spent the last 27 years in the Pacific Northwest. He is a graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology with a BS in Manufacturing Engineering Technology (98) and a certified “Danny’s Boy” having played basketball for hall of fame coach Dan Miles at Oregon Tech. Marvin’s professional career spans 21 years as an administrator in higher education. He currently serves as the Multicultural Resource Center Coordinator and Diversity Scholarship Administrator at Southern Oregon University where he has been helping students for the past 18 years through a variety of leadership roles. As a member of the SOU Social Justice & Service team, Marvin has dedicated a large amount of his effort to helping others find their place in the work of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Vance Beach
Global sales executive in the valley and current president of the SOU alumni association
He is constantly seeking new ways to build community. He currently is a member of the Black/African American Student Success program, MLK committee and the multi cultural fair committee.
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