Board

Juli Ray Jackson Chair

Juli Ray Joy is a community organizer, racial justice advocate, and founder of Black Joy Oregon, a grassroots organization established in 2020 to center Black joy, healing, culture, and community connection throughout Oregon. Guided by the belief that “joy is resistance,” Juli Ray created the organization to uplift Black communities while advocating for equity, safety, and belonging.

With a background in labor organizing and movement building, Juli Ray has worked with organizations including SEIU, AFL-CIO, and Safety and Justice Oregon, where she served as Movement Building Director. Her work has focused on racial and economic justice, coalition building, community education, and advocacy for historically marginalized communities.

Juli Ray is known across Oregon for facilitating customized diversity, equity, inclusion, and de-escalation trainings for organizations, community groups, and public institutions. She has also served on numerous panels and public discussions addressing racial justice, equity, public safety, and community empowerment.

Through Black Joy Oregon, she has helped connect communities with resources, leadership development opportunities, mutual aid efforts, and culturally responsive support systems.

Under her leadership, Black Joy Oregon has expanded its outreach to communities across the state, particularly in rural areas where Black and Brown families may feel isolated or underserved. The organization’s work emphasizes celebration, visibility, healing, and collective care while creating opportunities for advocacy and meaningful community engagement.

Based in Salem, Oregon, Juli Ray remains deeply committed to creating a safer and more equitable Oregon for all marginalized communities through service, advocacy, and community-centered leadership.

Sarah Arbuckle Vice Chair

Sarah is committed to applying an anti-racist lens to her work and leadership, focusing on dismantling systems of oppression through equitable policies, practices, and community-centered change. A biracial woman raised in Southern California, she developed an early passion for service through years of involvement in Girl Scouts and later through service in the U.S. Navy.

Sarah began her career in Public Works, supporting agencies nationwide with business process improvement, policy development, and workforce training. She became actively involved in the American Public Works Association (APWA), participating in leadership programs, presenting at conferences, and contributing to professional publications. She also volunteered with programs encouraging youth to pursue careers in engineering and public service.

After relocating to Oregon, Sarah transitioned into state government work, serving with the Oregon Department of Transportation and later the Oregon Department of Education. Her experience in government relations and legislative work led to her role as Legislative Aide and later Chief of Staff for Representative Hoa Nguyen. In these roles, Sarah has supported education, student success, and community-centered policy initiatives, including legislation focused on Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander student success, chronic absenteeism, childcare, and school-based services.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, painting, and spending time with her husband and animals. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy at Oregon State University and remains actively involved in volunteer efforts supporting local students and food access initiatives in her community.

Melinda Richardson Treasurer

Melinda’s work is grounded in a commitment to building systems that reflect and reinforce community power.

Melinda brings a background in financial systems, compliance, and operational strategy, with a focus on supporting mission-driven organizations navigating complex regulatory and funding environments. She approaches financial governance not just as oversight, but as an active tool for enabling community-led work to move from vision to implementation.