Khanh Le Appointed as New Executive Director of Unite Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore., October 7, 2021 (Newswire.com) - Unite Oregon, a nonprofit organization bringing together immigrants, refugees, people of color, and low-income Oregonians to address racial and economic disparities and improve quality of life in the state, partnered with Motus Recruiting and Staffing, Inc. in selecting Khanh Le as their newest executive director. Khanh Le succeeds Unite Oregon's founder Kayse Jama who served as executive director from 2002 through 2020.

Khanh Le previously worked as the State Director for Main Street Alliance of Oregon, a small business advocacy organization. Prior to returning to Portland, Khanh worked for Congressman Mike Honda in Washington, D.C., and Senator Tim Kaine and on various national and local political campaigns. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Oregon State University with an emphasis on civic and political engagement.

"Over the past five years, Khanh Le helped build Unite Oregon into the diverse statewide organization it is today, with four offices, strong programs, stable funding, and an amazing staff. His innate ability to create a vision and move that vision into action is exactly what we need today in Oregon," said Kayse Jama. "As someone who worked closely with Khanh, I've witnessed his dedication to racial justice, immigrant and refugee rights, and economic opportunity, and climate advocacy, and I know he will lead Unite Oregon with integrity, equity, and inclusion."

Khanh joined the Unite Oregon staff in 2018 as their finance director, but his relationship with the organization, and its predecessor Oregon Action, started decades ago when he first volunteered as a high school student to eventually serving on the board of directors.

"I'm excited to continue the vision and important work of Unite Oregon's former executive director and founder, Senator Kayse Jama, and many community members who have dedicated their energy to the growth of the organization," said Khanh Le. "The last two years, our communities have encountered many extreme hardships from the pandemic, the loss of economic opportunities, housing, and wildfires. Unite Oregon will put forward a bold vision and innovative solutions to tackle climate change, housing crisis, community economic prosperity, and wealth creation."

Khanh started his new role as executive director on Sept. 27, 2021.

About Unite Oregon:

Unite Oregon/Unite Oregon Action was founded in 2002 in the response to anti-Muslim, immigrant, and refugee sentiment in the wake of 9/11. Led by people of color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty, Unite Oregon works across Oregon to build a unified intercultural movement for justice. Unite Oregon has four chapters and 22,000 members and supporters across the state.

Contact:
Elizabeth McGarry
[email protected]

Source: Unite Oregon