Officers, 2022-2023
President: Brandace Rojo, Josephine Community Library District
Vice President: Vacant
Secretary: Kristen Curé, Springfield Public Library
Member at Large: Millie Barringer, Albany Public Library
Vice President: Vacant
Secretary: Kristen Curé, Springfield Public Library
Member at Large: Millie Barringer, Albany Public Library
Committees
The following committees have been developed for REFORMA Oregon. If you are interested in joining one of these committees or have questions for one of the committees, please email [email protected]. Other committees are still being developed.
Fundraising Committee Chair: Eduardo Arizaga
Description: To develop ideas to raise funds for REFORMA OR and implement them
Mock Pura Belpré Awards
Past Chairs: Marci Jenkins, 2019 and Alice Perez Ververa, 2018
Description: Organizing and hosting the Mock Pura Belpré Awards
Communications
Members: Sarah White (website)
Description: To keep the website, Facebook page, and blog updated
OLA Scholarship Chair:
Description: To promote the REFORMA OR OLA Conference Attendance Scholarship and select an awardee
Libros for Oregon
Chairs and Members
Description: To form an Oregon library book-buying cooperative to purchase materials for members at the International Book Fair (FIL), in Guadalajara, to help participating libraries to develop and implement outreach plans for connecting their enhanced collections with their Hispanic/Latino communities, and to create a “Best of FIL” booklist for all Oregon libraries to use in collection development.
Fundraising Committee Chair: Eduardo Arizaga
Description: To develop ideas to raise funds for REFORMA OR and implement them
Mock Pura Belpré Awards
Past Chairs: Marci Jenkins, 2019 and Alice Perez Ververa, 2018
Description: Organizing and hosting the Mock Pura Belpré Awards
Communications
Members: Sarah White (website)
Description: To keep the website, Facebook page, and blog updated
OLA Scholarship Chair:
Description: To promote the REFORMA OR OLA Conference Attendance Scholarship and select an awardee
Libros for Oregon
Chairs and Members
Description: To form an Oregon library book-buying cooperative to purchase materials for members at the International Book Fair (FIL), in Guadalajara, to help participating libraries to develop and implement outreach plans for connecting their enhanced collections with their Hispanic/Latino communities, and to create a “Best of FIL” booklist for all Oregon libraries to use in collection development.
Officer Bios
Brandace Rojo, President
I am the Communications Manager for Josephine Community Library District in southern Oregon. I'm lucky enough to work with a team of people who believe in one another and empower each other to let their strengths shine through their work. Working with my communications team, I help people fall in love with and sometimes re-discover the library through marketing. I get to remind my community through social media, earned media, newsletters, and partnerships that we have a thriving library with so much more than just books to offer. I'm glad to have found a passion for marketing and an even bigger passion for libraries here in Grants Pass. I moved to Oregon in 2014 from San Diego, California, where I spent most of my life. At home I live with my partner of 10 years, my 2-year-old daughter, two dogs, and two cats. My daughter has helped me understand my purpose in life - to raise a creative, critical-thinking, compassionate, and passionate future member of society. When time allows, I love making hand-built pottery, painting colorful abstract portraits, and taking care of my houseplants.
Kristen Curé, Secretary
Kristen Curé is a librarian at the Springfield Public Library. There, she serves the Spanish-speaking community as the Latino Liaison Librarian: she buys materials and books in Spanish and plans events and activities for adults, children and families. Her favorite programs are the annual Día de los muertos community altar and procession as well as the Día de los niños, día de los libros celebration. Kristen came to libraries from a community development background as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Nicaragua. Her volunteer work relied on connecting with community members, listening, and earning trust so that she could work with community members on small development projects that they identified. The sheer difficulty faced in connecting rural Nicaraguans with resources and information (either online or in books) made her miss the public libraries that she grew up with in the United States. After returning home she wanted to continue connecting people to the resources that they needed in order to improve their communities, which brought her to the world of public libraries. Needless to say, Kristen loves libraries and the role that they play in our communities.
I am the Communications Manager for Josephine Community Library District in southern Oregon. I'm lucky enough to work with a team of people who believe in one another and empower each other to let their strengths shine through their work. Working with my communications team, I help people fall in love with and sometimes re-discover the library through marketing. I get to remind my community through social media, earned media, newsletters, and partnerships that we have a thriving library with so much more than just books to offer. I'm glad to have found a passion for marketing and an even bigger passion for libraries here in Grants Pass. I moved to Oregon in 2014 from San Diego, California, where I spent most of my life. At home I live with my partner of 10 years, my 2-year-old daughter, two dogs, and two cats. My daughter has helped me understand my purpose in life - to raise a creative, critical-thinking, compassionate, and passionate future member of society. When time allows, I love making hand-built pottery, painting colorful abstract portraits, and taking care of my houseplants.
Kristen Curé, Secretary
Kristen Curé is a librarian at the Springfield Public Library. There, she serves the Spanish-speaking community as the Latino Liaison Librarian: she buys materials and books in Spanish and plans events and activities for adults, children and families. Her favorite programs are the annual Día de los muertos community altar and procession as well as the Día de los niños, día de los libros celebration. Kristen came to libraries from a community development background as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Nicaragua. Her volunteer work relied on connecting with community members, listening, and earning trust so that she could work with community members on small development projects that they identified. The sheer difficulty faced in connecting rural Nicaraguans with resources and information (either online or in books) made her miss the public libraries that she grew up with in the United States. After returning home she wanted to continue connecting people to the resources that they needed in order to improve their communities, which brought her to the world of public libraries. Needless to say, Kristen loves libraries and the role that they play in our communities.
Past Officers
Bobbye Hernandez and Eduardo Arizaga, Co-Presidents, 2020-2021
Star Khan, President 2019-2020, Vice-President/President Elect 2018-2019, and Co-Secretary 2017-2018
Patricia Morán and Angelica Novoa De Cordeiro, Co-Presidents 2018-2019, Co-Vice-President/President Elect 2017-2018
Elizabeth López, President 2017-2018, Vice-President 2016-2017, and Secretary 2014-2016
Natalia Fernández, President 2016-2017
Martín Blasco, President 2014-2016
Sarah White, Treasurer 2018-2019
Patty Lara, Treasurer 2015-2016 and Co-Secretary 2016-2017
Matías Torres, Treasurer 2016-2018
Alice Perez Ververa and Violeta Garza, Co-Secretaries, 2018-2019
Deborah Gitlitz, Co-Secretary 2016-2017
Gabriela Martínez Mercier, Co-Secretary 2017-2018
Star Khan, President 2019-2020, Vice-President/President Elect 2018-2019, and Co-Secretary 2017-2018
Patricia Morán and Angelica Novoa De Cordeiro, Co-Presidents 2018-2019, Co-Vice-President/President Elect 2017-2018
Elizabeth López, President 2017-2018, Vice-President 2016-2017, and Secretary 2014-2016
Natalia Fernández, President 2016-2017
Martín Blasco, President 2014-2016
Sarah White, Treasurer 2018-2019
Patty Lara, Treasurer 2015-2016 and Co-Secretary 2016-2017
Matías Torres, Treasurer 2016-2018
Alice Perez Ververa and Violeta Garza, Co-Secretaries, 2018-2019
Deborah Gitlitz, Co-Secretary 2016-2017
Gabriela Martínez Mercier, Co-Secretary 2017-2018