Bynum Holds Roundtables with Key Community and Labor Leaders

June 12, 2025
Press Release

Oregon City, OR – Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) hosted two roundtable discussions with key community and labor leaders from Oregon's Fifth District to hear about the challenges these groups face as a result of federal funding cuts and the Trump Administration’s latest attacks on our communities.

These were the ninth and tenth roundtables Rep. Bynum has hosted and the third specifically with labor leaders.

“Every day, we see the Trump Administration’s actions undermine our community and our country,” said Rep. Bynum. “These roundtables have been essential for me to hear directly from unions and other key stakeholders about how they are continuing their work while battling cuts and attacks from the federal government. While President Trump and House Republicans may find it easy to slash line items and numbers from budgets, these cuts have very real impacts for Oregonians. I’ll keep fighting for our community in Congress and against the reckless, harmful policy coming from the White House.

Attendees from both roundtables included representatives from:

  • Alex Aghdaei, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon
  • Alex Rieldlinger, Coalition of Communities of Color
  • Antonio Jackson, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Building Blocks 2 Success
  • Cary Colgan, CEO, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity
  • Carol Greenough, Family Promise Board
  • Catalina Sanchez Frank, Executive Director Latino Community Association 
  • Gina Vorderstrasse, Immigration Counseling Service,
  • Jeffers Dickey, Urban Alchemy
  • Justice Rajee, Urban League of Portland
  • Kelsey Hill, Oregon Food Bank
  • Dr. Lena Miller, CEO, Urban Alchemy
  • Leticia Davies, Thrive Oregon
  • Mari Ceci Hinojos Pressey, PCUN, Oregon's Farmworker Union
  • Matt Newell-Ching, Oregon Food Bank
  • Mike Vernon, Deschutes Land Trust
  • Rebecca Gundle, Project Lemonade
  • Rinahda Dodd, Project Lemonade
  • Brandy Westerman, City of Portland Humanitarian Operations
  • Daniel AH, Latino Community Network
  • Marcus Mundy, Coalition of Communities of Color
  • Amanda Sager, IATSE Local 154
  • Andrea Kennedy, ODHS, OHA Local 200
  • Cassidy Kotter, OSEA
  • Chelsea Alionar, AFL-CIO
  • Kathy Aarset, AFGE Local 2157
  • Marshall McGrady, IBEW
  • Matt Findley, ILWU
  • Neil Schulman, North Clackamas Watersheds Council
  • Elizabeth O’Neal, NTEU Oregon
  • Erik Rau, AFL-CIO Cascades to Coast Central Labor Chapter
  • Russell Lum, Oregon Nurses Association
  • Tom Pansky, NARFE and LIUNA

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Issues: Costs & Jobs