Brandy Memory
Portland,OR
Summary
Nonprofit founder and child welfare practitioner with over 10 years of experience building community-based supports for youth and young adults impacted by foster care. Skilled in program design, systems problem-solving, stakeholder facilitation, implementation support, cross-sector partnership, and trauma-informed practice. Experienced translating frontline needs into practical tools, workflows, partnerships, and programs that improve outcomes for youth, families, and community partners. Passionate about centering lived expertise, strengthening public systems, and supporting scalable, youth-centered solutions.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER
PROJECT 48
Portland, OR
03.2019 - Current
- Built and led a community-centered nonprofit serving youth ages 7–23 impacted by foster care, growing P48 from the startup stage into a trusted regional resource serving more than 1,200 youth annually across the Portland metro area.
- Designed, implemented, and scaled responsive programs that addressed placement transitions, independent living skills, resource access, culturally responsive care, and long-term support for youth and young adults navigating foster care.
- Managed grant-funded programs from design through implementation, reporting, and evaluation, including budget oversight, compliance responsibilities, outcome tracking, documentation, and funder communication.
- Developed practical tools, workflows, and processes to support referral coordination, program delivery, partner communication, volunteer engagement, reporting expectations, and consistent implementation across programs.
- Provided staff, volunteers, and community partners with guidance and technical assistance related to program requirements, documentation, resource coordination, implementation challenges, and youth-centered service delivery.
- Built and maintained trusted relationships with public child welfare partners, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic partners, community leaders, businesses, volunteers, and youth-serving providers to coordinate resources and advance shared goals.
- Used program data, youth feedback, community input, and partner observations to evaluate outcomes, identify service gaps, improve program design, and communicate impact to funders, board members, and community stakeholders.
- Planned and facilitated partner meetings, community presentations, workshops, and convenings to share information, strengthen collaboration, gather feedback, and support effective program implementation.
- Led trauma-informed and culturally responsive program development rooted in dignity, accessibility, lived experience, and practical support for youth navigating vulnerable transitions.
- Managed organizational systems, budgets, timelines, grant requirements, board communication, and operational processes during a period of significant growth, funding shifts, and organizational change.
- Represented the organization in public-facing settings, including community presentations, media opportunities, partner convenings, donor meetings, and large-group events.
- Translated frontline needs and community feedback into actionable programs, partnerships, and implementation strategies that strengthened support for youth, caregivers, and child welfare partners.
Court-Appointed Special Advocate - Volunteer
CASA OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY
Oregon City
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Advocated for children and youth in foster care throughout court proceedings by conducting visits, interviews, case reviews, and written recommendations focused on safety, stability, permanency, and well-being.
- Assessed child and family needs through direct engagement, observation, documentation review, and collaboration with caregivers, child welfare professionals, attorneys, and court personnel.
- Collaborated across the child welfare and legal systems to share observations, identify concerns, elevate youth needs, and support informed, child-centered decision-making.
- Translated case information, youth experiences, and stakeholder input into clear written reports and recommendations for the court.
- Maintained a trauma-informed, youth-centered approach when engaging with children, caregivers, families, and system partners.
Skills
- Technical Assistance & Capacity Building
- Systems Design & Root Cause Analysis
- Youth-Centered Program Design
- Stakeholder Facilitation
- Child Welfare & Transition-Age Youth
- Implementation Planning
- Cross-Sector Partnership Development
- Continuous Quality Improvement
- Trauma-Informed & Culturally Responsive Practice
- Grant Writing & Donor Reporting
- Program Evaluation & Outcome Tracking
- Training, Tools & Resource Development
- Community Engagement
- Strategic Communication
- Team Leadership & Change Management
Timeline
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER
PROJECT 48
03.2019 - Current
Court-Appointed Special Advocate - Volunteer
CASA OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY
01.2016 - 06.2018