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Board Stories

A deeper look at how and why our board members chose to serve

We asked the members of the Cherriots Board of Directors to share how they came to serve on the board. These are their stories:

Our metropolitan area is well positioned to prepare for the substantial population growth projected in the coming decades. Thanks to the transit funding increase included in the Oregon Transportation Package (HB 2017), and the transition of the board from directly elected to governor-appointed (SB 1536), we have the potential to realize dramatic changes in mobility options. These changes give the transit district and city the opportunity to leverage state money in both sensible and creative ways, establishing a firm trajectory for the future.

In the trio of Oregon’s biggest cities: Portland, Eugene, and Salem; Salem lags behind in public transportation infrastructure and investment. A well-implemented public transportation system can inspire investment and development, spark the community’s imagination, and garner broad support.

I want to create a place where my children want to raise families. Our future starts now.

The reason I serve on the Cherriots board, and why I had wanted to serve, was because I find it important to participate in the public sector, especially as a person of color. Transit systems can be the life-blood of our cities and are an integral part of how people decide to move about. Transit systems connect people to their jobs, their errands, and other community members. During a time when undocumented people were denied a license to drive, a bus ride could be the difference between being able to arrive to work on time or losing their livelihoods.

I serve on the Cherriots Board to do my part to ensure we have a livable community--a Mid-Willamette Valley region that is affordable, sustainable, and equitable. Public transit, particularly in this time of crisis, is an essential part of our community well being. Whether you ride or not, we all benefit from transit, from the cleaner air to the clearer streets.