Board
Israel Bayer is currently the Executive Director of Street Roots, a street newspaper in Portland, Oregon. Bayer is also the Vice-Chairperson for the North American Street Newspaper Association, a regional network of more than 30 street papers throughout North America. Bayer has also worked at Real Change in Seattle, Washington and is a published poet.
Monica Beemer (Treasurer) is the Executive Director of Sisters Of The Road, a 29-year-old community organizing, systemic-change organization located in Old Town Chinatown of Portland, Oregon. She is passionate about non-violence and human rights and is on the National Coordinating Committee for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. She grew up in both Portland and Newport, Oregon – both beautiful cities, both struggling to support/meet the basic needs and uphold the basic human rights of many members of the community who are experiencing extreme poverty and/or homelessness.
Lisa Blakely is currently Director of Tenant Services at Community Housing Partnership (CHP). She has 20 years of experience working to develop the capacity of individuals to reach their highest potential. She has spent the last 12 years working in the field of supportive housing and workforce development. Prior to joining CHP in 2010, she worked for the Corporation for Supportive Housing as a Senior Program Manager providing technical assistance and training across CA. In addition to front line positions in supportive housing, Lisa has provided consulting to job training organizations working primarily in communities of color. She also spent 8 years working for Kraft Foods as a Regional Customer Service Manager. Lisa graduated from Howard University with a B.A. in International Business and Finance and is a Certified Life Coach and Massage Therapist.
boona cheema (Interim Chair) was born in India and at age two moved with her family as refugees from newly separated Pakistan, an experience that instilled her with a lifelong dedication to human rights. boona spent time in Vietnam working with wounded children before coming to the United States in 1971, when she arrived at the doorstep of a small outreach project that helped her get on her feet. She went to work for the organization – now Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency – where she has served as executive director for nearly 30 years. Over the years, she has also served on Boards of Directors for Oxfam America, Seva Foundation, Food First, Eureka Communities, and California Homeless and Housing Coalition. boona has degrees in journalism, economics, and divinity.
Jennifer Friedenbach (Secretary) is currently the Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco. She has worked for the Coalition for twelve years, as Executive Director, as organizing director, substance abuse and mental health work group coordinator and fundraiser. Before coming to San Francisco, Jennifer was Director of the Hunger and Homeless Action Coalition of San Mateo County. Jennifer currently sits on San Francisco Ten Year Implementation Council, is a former member of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board, and was a founding member of the Treatment on Demand Planning Council. She is also a tireless advocate for a fair city budget as founding member of the People's Budget Collaborative.
