Mahala Ray's Impact

✺ My Impact ✺

I believe that change is the only constant and, as a community organizer,

I take pride in using my connections and resources to make the world a better place by centering and amplifying marginalized voices.

Board Member

Earth Day Oregon | January 2019 to February 2022

Earth Day Oregon is an annual statewide initiative bringing sustainably-minded businesses and earth-focused nonprofits together to create a larger impact. In April, Business Partners donate funds to their Nonprofit Partners in honor of Earth Day and in recognition of the good work these nonprofits do in our communities.

During My Time:

Earth Day Oregon 2019 raised $47,760 for 18 local environmental nonprofits.
Earth Day Oregon spearheaded #MyPlanetMyPledge social media campaign, as a 2020 campaign pivot spurred by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Co-Founder

Paddle Out PDX | June 2020 to September 2021

Paddle Out PDX (POPDX) is a community resource for supporting rallies, protests, and other community events from the water. POPDX hopes to amplify and support the work of organizations who have been on the ground in Portland dismantling white supremacy in the outdoors, and help build bridges to increase outdoor accessibility for local communities of color.

During My Time:

Paddle Out PDX raised $6,500 in a 5-day raffle fundraiser for Wild Diversity and Soul River Inc., two BIPOC-led organizations working to remove barriers to the outdoors for BIPOC and LGBT+ communities.

Board Member

Next Up (fka The Bus Project) | January 2019 to July 2020

My responsibility as a board member is to collaboratively lead the organization to actively pursue our mission of empowering and engaging the next generation of Oregon's leaders to build political power and fight for a more just and equitable Oregon.

During My Time:

Passed SB 861 in the 2019 legislative session, which requires the state to pay for ballot return envelopes and will increase voter turnout in the state of Oregon by an estimated 5-10%.
Navigated successful rebranding process
Supported dismantling of white supremacy in organizational systems and reworking of vision, values and theory of change.

Executive Director

Willamette Week's Give!Guide | December 2016 to March 2020

Willamette Week's Give!Guide is Portland's largest grassroots, city-wide fundraising campaign. Started in 2004, it has raised more than $32.8 million for 387 local nonprofits in the last 16 years. G!G's fundraising provides services for more than 2 million Portlanders each year.

During My Time:

I raised a record $4.7 million in 2019; $13.1 million since 2017.
Increased young donor giving by 65%, and number of young donors by 28%.
Amplified BIPOC voices through G!G's platforms, including G!G Magazine, social media and newsletters.
Led the organization through identity rebranding and built out a comprehensive financial budget for the first time in the history of the organization.
Spearheaded magazine renovation in 2017, with a total circulation of 35,000, moving from a catalogue to editorial format highlighting Portland change makers, philanthropic innovators and impactful nonprofits.
Worked diligently to create an environment of equity and inclusion within G!G, dismantling historically inequitable practices.
Advocated for Willamette Week to undergo organizational anti-racism and equity trainings

Give Back Room Organizer

My People's Market | November 2019

My People's Market is a collaborative event organized by Travel Portland and Prosper Portland. The marketplace is aimed to advance opportunities for business owners of color by connecting them to the travel industry and other professionals who can help expand and scale their businesses. I was asked to coordinate the first ever Give Back Room, where the Market's attendees learned how to give back to Portland's vibrant communities of color.

During My Time:

Curated and organized 15 local nonprofits doing a range of work that focuses on building racial equity and demanding racial justice in the community.

Co-Founder

Babes on Waves | February 2017 to September 2018

My friend Sami is the most badass surf babe I know, and when she approached me about starting a lady surf club in 2017, I just couldn't resist the chance to break up the boy's club. I brought the community organizing experience, and she brought the surf experience.

During My Time:

Our first Babes on Waves gathering boasted a turnout of 20+ babes, and provided a sorely needed outlet for cold water womxn surfers to connect.

Planning Committee

What Now Oregon | September 2017 to November 2017

The first What Now was organized in just eight days, in reaction to the 2016 presidential elections. The intention was to provide an outlet for Oregonians feeling disheartened to turn their discouragement to action and forward movement. Two thousand people showed up to activate in 2016, and What Now continues as an annual event.

During My Time:

Collaboratively selected 55 diverse nonprofit and community partners to table at the 2017 event. The selected organizations provided short, medium and long-term actions that attendees could take to support their respective causes. Causes ranged from environmental education to refugee services to reproductive rights, and more.

Student Education Manager

University of Oregon Zero Waste Program | Sep 2012 to Aug 2014

The University of Oregon Zero Waste Program provides state of the art waste reduction and recovery opportunities to campus, maximizing waste diversion with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas production.

During My Time:

Educated more than 4,000 incoming students on University of Oregon sustainability goals and zero waste practices.
Researched and authored the Zero Waste Campus Toolkit, which was used by five other universities as a guideline for building their own zero waste infrastructure and programs.

Co-Director

Climate Justice League | May 2012 to August 2013

The mission of the Climate Justice League is to empower students to organize their communities and be leaders in the climate justice movement through direct action campaigns.

During My Time:

Oversaw six campus-wide initiatives to increase sustainability practices and minimize the University's carbon footprint.
Supported the work of the "Take Back the Tap campaign, which worked directly with University of Oregon administration to successfully ban the sale of plastic water bottles from the student union.
Supported the "Revamp the Climate Action Plan" campaign, which collaboratively developed and passed a University ballot measure to create a tangible actions appendix to the University of Oregon’s Climate Action Plan.

Ethnobotany Student Educator

Environmental Leadership Program | May 2012 to August 2013

The mission of the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is to support visionary, action-oriented, and diverse leadership for a just and sustainable future. During my time with ELP, I:

During My Time:

Educated more than 300 students on native ethnobotany.
Built a curriculum centered around native ethnobotany at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum for 5th graders that meets statewide academic standards.
Developed the internship program, training and managing over 15 participating interns.
Facilitated and attended over 30 classroom visits with participating schools.

Research Assistant

Tribal Climate Change Project | May 2012 to August 2013

The Tribal Climate Change Project focuses on understanding needs and opportunities for tribes in addressing climate change, examining the government-to-government relationship in a climate context and exploring the role of traditional knowledge in climate change studies, assessments and plans.

During My Time:

Created, organized and maintained a funding database to empower Native American tribes in EPA Region 9 to plan and execute climate change-related projects.
Researched and authored profiles on tribes, highlighting their implementation of various climate change mitigation projects.