What is a CBAC?
Community Budget Advisory Committees (CBACs) are groups of volunteers from across Multnomah County who review and advise on county department budgets. Learn more about Community Budget Advisory Committees.
About the Non-Departmental CBAC
The Non-Departmental (or Non-D) CBAC is one of 10 county CBACs and focuses their attention on offices that cover a range of programs and services including: Government Relations, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Office of Community Involvement, Emergency Management, and more. Learn more about the Multnomah County Non-Departmental Offices.
Membership
Each CBAC has between four and eleven members who represent a county district or serve at large. CBAC members serve three-year terms, with up to six consecutive years. Learn more about membership and how to join a CBAC. Members represent a diverse range of lived and learned experiences and come together by a shared commitment to community-centered budgeting and public service.
Non-Departmental CBAC Members
Cree Bort, District 1 (First Term)
Cree is a registered member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and is Yakima as well. Cree works as the Advocacy and Policy Organizer for NAYA and NAYA Action Fund.
Jen Mair, District 2 (First Term)
Jen is a facilitator and community engagement practitioner who works with local, state, and federal agencies to collaborate together and engage community members on challenging planning and policy issues. She previously taught Communication Studies with a focus on fostering dialogue and deliberation around relevant and challenging topics.
Liz Leon Esparza, District 2 (First Term)
Liz is a Political Science major at the University of Portland and an active volunteer with City Team and Blanchet House, where they support individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Passionate about public service, Liz is committed to ensuring that Multnomah County’s budget decisions reflect the needs of all residents. Liz aims to help prioritize resources for community safety, sustainability, and equity.
Sean Pingly, District 4 (First Term)
Sean is a Project Manager at Portland State University, where he is also completing his final term of the Public Administration graduate program. He serves as a Board Member for the Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association, leading the neighborhood in creating an updated community plan. He is also an active volunteer at Literary Arts, and is currently facilitating a program evaluation for Multnomah County’s Public Guardian and Conservator program.
Xinying Wu, District 3 (First Term)
Xinying Wu recently earned a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of California, Irvine. She has managed budgets as Financial Director of the Chinese Philanthropic Leadership Association and worked on financial analysis projects. She has also volunteered at community events in Portland. She is passionate about equity, budgeting, and supporting immigrant families.
Salote Iongi, District 3 (First Term)
Salote serves her Tongan community through youth, women’s, and broader community engagement, and is also a member of the Multnomah County Healthy Families Advisory Board. She is passionate about learning how public funds are allocated and how to ensure resources reach communities that need them most. As part of a small but vibrant Tongan community, Salote advocates for greater representation and access to resources. She hopes to bring a strong community voice to the budget process and help build pathways for equity and inclusion.
Gabby Darlington, at large (First Term)
Gabby Darlington is a senior at Portland State University majoring in Political Science with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice. In addition to her studies, she serves as an officer in the Black Student Union, where she helps connect with the student body and take on leadership responsibilities. She also volunteers with Rose Haven, a women’s day shelter in Portland, where she supports community members in need. Through her coursework, she has developed a strong interest in how policies are implemented at the local level, particularly how decisions impact marginalized communities and shape access to resources.
Tre Madden, District 4 (First Term)
Tre Madden is a current MA graduate student of Disability Studies after majoring in Critical Dramaturgy at Vassar College and later receiving a Public Health Certification at Portland Community College. They are passionate about cross-movement, cross-disability organizing, especially person centered emergency preparedness for the low-income disabled communities here in Multnomah County. Having a background on the Committee For Accessible Transportation with Trimet, the Community Advisory Council for Central Oregon Health committee, and the Legislative Research And Policy Office for Oregon, they are dedicated to accessibility and health equity across all levels of state, regional, and local government.
Kenan M. Hendrix J.D., District 2 (First Term)
Ken is a Black, nonbinary, trans man who is passionate about his LGBTQ+ community, public health, consent education, housing, and increasing access to legal services for those who face systemic and cultural barriers to justice. He has worked on immigration policy, tenant organizing, eviction defense, and disability access to education. He holds a J.D. from William and Mary Law School. In his free time, Ken is also a ski instructor, yoga instructor, bootblack, and artist, and he enjoys spending time outdoors.
Non-Departmental Meetings:
The Non-Departmental CBAC meets monthly October through June, with extra meetings during the peak budget season (January to March). Meetings take place 5:30pm - 7:30pm on the third Thursday of every month.
Meeting information, including agendas and minutes (48 hours in advance), can be found on the CBAC Public Meeting Calendar.
For questions or more information, contact the Office of Community involvement: community.involvement@multco.us.