(Photo: The Street Trust)
Sarah Iannarone was hired by The Street Trust to set them on a new course. Now she’ll stick around long enough to steer them down it. Tapped back in January as interim executive director with a specific task to create a new strategic plan, Iannarone announced this week that she has accepted an offer to stay on for the long haul and the plan is already in motion.
“I plan on leading with grit and determination, and using the platform this position provides to advance the vision laid out in the plan,” Iannarone shared in a post on the group’s blog. In addition to working in urban planning at Portland State University, Iannarone ran for Portland mayor twice (in 2016 and 2020). Her most recent campaign netted 41% of the vote (to winner Ted Wheeler’s 46%).
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Iannarone’s employment status is just one of several bits of news from Portland’s oldest bike advocacy group (although they took “bicycle” out of their name in 2016): The organization has also unveiled several new staff members and the new plan.
The new staffers and positions are: Anouksha Gardner, Strategic Partnerships Manager; Henry Latourette Miller, Grants and Impact Manager (Henry is a former contributor to BikePortland); André Lightsey-Walker, Policy Transformation Manager; and Zeyaad Moussa, Member Voice Manager. These four new hires join existing staffers Lindsey Huber (Education Director) and Madi Carlson (Engagement & Events Coordinator).
As we shared in an interview with Iannarone back in May, this new team will be charged with completing goals laid out in the new plan — the type of work many in the community have expected from The Street Trust since they changed their name and mission in 2016.
A list of actions from the new plan The Street Trust says they’ll complete by the end of 2022 include: getting more involved in politics by training candidates, issuing endorsements and grading legislators; adding more business and labor voices to the movement; boosting membership and engagement among a diverse swath of Portlanders to record levels; and providing research, reports, and data to measure progress.
Learn more at TheStreetTrust.org.
In related news, Portland’s other bike and safe streets advocacy group, Bike Loud PDX, will discuss an expansion of their organizational structure at their monthly meeting today (6:00 pm at Colonel Summers Park). The plan is expected to lead to neighborhood-based chapters and leaders.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Thanks for this update! This looks like lots of positive movement from The Street Trust. In looking at the strategic plan I’m a little confused on the geographic focus of TST.
They talk about grading legislators, but the mission statement is focused on Portland and the Metro region. Are the policy changes needed to make this vision a reality made at the state level or are they more Metro/City/County level decisions. I’m wondering if they also intend to issue endorsements at the local level. I’m also wondering how many active transporation issues there are in the legislature for scoring.
That is a weird photo mask around everyone’s hair. Is there a better photo by chance?
Exciting news from both organizations! Kudos to the new Street Trust plan for centering on advocacy and activism centered on an equity lens! I’ll be rejoining them now that they have a clear path and what looks to be an exciting and successful plan. Still, Sarah for Mayor!!!
I’m happy to hear this news and believe The Street Trust will be a better iteration with Sarah at the helm. I look forward to seeing how they navigate the strategic plan update and hope they can grow more support at the state level. Congrats to the organization!
Welcome, folks! Hope to cross paths with you each soon.
Does this mean Iannarone will not run for mayor again should Wheeler be recalled?
This seems like something Iannorone should clarify. Running in a contentious race while also trying to lead an advocacy group seems like a conflict, and could very much disrupt the implementation of this plan.
This action will unfortunately limit The Street Trust’s abilities to reach out to others of even slightly difficult political persuasions due to Inarone’s combative nature and extreme beliefs.
Ummm. WTHeck comment is this?!? I am relieved that Sarah is running the Street Trust. As a former employee, I have more confidence than ever in the organization, now.
One,
Sorry but I agree with Pete. When Street Trust goes down to Salem it’s helpful to be able to forge a compromise. The rest of the state doesn’t alway agree with the extreme far left beliefs that some in Portland have (such as Inarone).
Extreme FAR LEFT? What are you talking about?
“A list of actions from the new plan The Street Trust says they’ll complete by the end of 2022 include: getting more involved in politics by training candidates, issuing endorsements and grading legislators; adding more business and labor voices to the movement; boosting membership and engagement among a diverse swath of Portlanders to record levels; and providing research, reports, and data to measure progress.”
Is it the “boosting membership and engagement among a diverse swath of Portlanders” that is the extreme view?
Extreme beliefs such as…?
Great question, Toadslick. Betting that Vasik won’t respond, because there is nothing extreme left about Sarah or about the Street Trust.
Too bad for the employees who have to deal with that unpleasant, fake environmentalist, pro-developer, anti-democracy individual.