Board of Directors
Chaz Vitale, they/he | CHAIR | email
Chaz Vitale (They/He) is an intersex queer transgender artist activist and small business owner. They moved to Portland to pursue art training and a robust LGBTQIA2S+ community. Chaz graduated with honors from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2004 with a BFA in Intermedia. They then trained in massage and tattooing.
Their energies and commitments since have centered on body autonomy, body positivity and embodiment for intersex, trans and nonbinary Oregonians. They've done work pursuing the end of nonconsensual surgeries for intersex people, volunteering for medical access and std/sti clinics, insurance inclusion, legal protections for trans and non-binary communities, trauma-informed massage clinics for stress reduction and risk reduction for binding practices, providing individual medical advocacy and custom artistic and paramedical tattoos for scar integration.
Chaz is honored and eager to contribute to the weaving of community dreams through collaboration and inclusion for Q Center.
Lauren Niolet (she/her), secretary | Email
Lauren is a marketing professional and former journalist. Lauren’s career has focused on effective storytelling and communication. She has written nearly 1,000 published news articles over a decade at metro daily newspapers, managed crisis communications for a state governor and used a full spectrum of modern channels to deliver effective messages to drive successful, measurable outcomes. She currently works as a marketing leader for Mozilla, the mission-driven software company behind the Firefox web browser.
She was born and raised in the Southeastern United States where she came out as queer and transgender. Throughout her coming out journey, local LGBTQIA2S+ centers provided Lauren with a sense of safety and community. Everyone deserves the opportunity to become their best self and a vibrant, diverse Q Center is a vital resource in that journey for LGBTQIA2S+ people in Portland and beyond.
She has lived in Southwest Portland with her wife since 2019 and enjoys reading, woodworking and gaming.
Sebastian Sanchez, Msc | (he/him/el) | Board member | Email
Sebastian has diverse professional experience in process improvement, operations, investor relations, and real estate. He is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Oregon, dedicated to helping clients achieve homeownership goals.
Previously, Sebastian founded his own real estate consulting, and management company. He holds a Master's degree in Executive Global Management from the London School of Economics (LSE). He has also excelled as an Account Manager at a tech start-up, and as a Project Management roles for non-profits and corporate. Sebastian played a key role in community emergency training in crisis management during the Pulse Orlando attack. Sebastian worked with victims, survivors, and the community during the aftermath of the Pulse shooting.
His career also includes business consulting for non-profits, collaborating with an NGO in Peru, and working in the U.S. Senate. Outside of work, Sebastian volunteers on non-profit boards, enjoys exploring new destinations, and engages in philanthropy. He resides in Portland with his partner, and Luna their Husky/Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix.
Leslie W. Batchelder, PhD | Board Member | email
Leslie (she/they) grew up in the Seattle area where she found a home in the early punk and alternative art scene in her late teen years. Leslie has been actively engaged in the LGBTQI community since college. Leslie moved to Portland from Davis California where she completed her PhD in German Cultural Studies at UC. Davis in 1999.
Her doctoral work included an emphasis on feminist pedagogy and research. Leslie’s dissertation examined the influence of African American Culture on late 20 th century German Identities from hip hop to memoirs of black Germans, many of whom are the children of African American GIs. Leslie has been a faculty member at Portland State University since 1999 serving n the General Studies program where she coordinates popular culture courses at PSU.
In addition, she serves as affiliate faculty for the Women, Gender and Sexuality program, as well as in International Studies Program. Leslie has an 18-year-old son, Rhys, who attends the University of Oregon. Leslie resides in Beaverton Oregon with her partner and two crazy basenjis.
Brie Stoianoff, SHE/Her | Board Member | email
Brie has worked in health technology for the past twenty years and is dedicated to altering the institutional and social norms that keep people from bringing their whole selves wherever they are, from middle school to the corporate boardroom.
Brie lives in southwest Portland with her partner, tween daughter, and rescue dog. In her spare time, you can find her cheering on the Portland Thorns, riding her motorcycle, doing needlework, and planning her next adventure. She currently works as the Regional Director of Healthcare Alliances for Philips Healthcare, focused on improving healthcare in our region. Brie holds degrees from The College of Idaho and Temple University School of Pharmacy.
Board Treasurer: Kaj jensen, MA | They | Email
Kaj is a trans, genderqueer person who holds a Masters in Creative Writing from University of Brighton and a Masters in Linguistics & Composition Theory from University of Nebraska Omaha. They use their love of stories to build community through participating in live storytelling events and fundraising for causes they’re passionate about.
When they moved to Portland ten years ago for the bikeable and walkable neighborhoods, Kaj knew they had found their forever home. After teaching ESL and working in the service industry for a number of years, Kaj joined the team at East County Rising as Director of Members of Donors, worked for ActBlue for three years, and most recently joined the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office Health Equity team.
They’re excited to support the queer community in the Portland metro area and the Q Center with their background in development, project management, and equity-driven organizing and unionization efforts.
aaron blaise | he/they | Email
Aaron Blaise (he/they) is a passionate activist, visual artist, and data nerd dedicated to fostering equitable and accessible spaces. Identifying as Queer, Trans, Jewish, Neurodivergent, Disabled, and a survivor of intimate violence, Blaise holds a BA in Sociology from Columbia University, New York, specializing in public health, gender, and human geography. Furthering his love of Big Data, he completed advanced studies in Data Analytics and Visualization at the University of Oregon.
Blaise is proud to bring a portfolio of data tools informed by over 25 years of activism. Blaise developed his skills through collaborations with influential organizations such as GLSEN, PFLAG, ACLU-IL, About Face Theatre in Chicago, NYC Anti-Violence Project, and the MIX Queer Film Festival. He served as the youngest full board member of the Princess Diana Memorial Fund, US, contributing capacity-building tools to youth-driven organizations. He also feels grateful for the lessons learned living out of a van, as the tour manager for a national arts organization serving rural LGBTQ2IA communities. Currently, Aaron serves as the Diversity & Equity Data Analyst for the Office of Equity & Human Rights in Portland, supporting deliberate community growth through data-driven initiatives.
Additionally, Blaise serves as the VP of the Board of Howards' Heart, supporting Multnomah teens in foster care. Outside of his professional life, Blaise enjoys relaxing in St. Johns with his husband, exploring the Oregon coast, and creating art with friends.