In September, nine members of the AmeriCorps program joined Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East to help create affordable homeownership opportunities for families in the Portland Metro area.
The AmeriCorps program recruits who members serve in a variety of roles within Habitat. Whether they are engaging communities, building homes, leading volunteers, raising resources or developing new programs, AmeriCorps members help Habitat affiliates operate more efficiently and effectively. Most importantly, members help us to serve more families. Learn a little more about our new crew by checking out their bios below!
Elijah Walker was born and raised in Northeast Arkansas, where he studied art at Williams Baptist College. He has worked with several nonprofits in hopes of making affordable healthcare and sustainable community available to low income and minority individuals. Elijah has moved to Portland to participate in the Quaker Voluntary Service. In his free time, he enjoys writing poetry and young adult fiction.
Jillian is originally from West Palm Beach, FL and is a recent grad of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in public policy. At UNC, she was the advocacy chair for her Habitat campus chapter and was a former AmeriCorps member with Rebuilding Together. In 2011, she biked across the country with a non-profit called Bike & Build to raise money and awareness for affordable housing, which prompted her interest in being involved with Habitat.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Michelle has a Bachelors in Geography and is currently finishing her Masters thesis in Cultural Studies. She has a passion for travel and for helping others which has lead her to travel extensively and to volunteer overseas in both Budapest and Cambodia. She hopes that her AmeriCorps experience will help lead her into a career in the nonprofit sector.
Andrea Masullo received her B.S in Art Education from the University of Vermont. Before starting AmeriCorps/ Habitat for Humanity, she worked as an educator at the local Nature Center in her hometown of Mystic, Connecticut. In addition, she taught studio art lessons to youth at the Mystic Art Center. Andrea is excited to be here in Portland and to be a part of the Habitat for Humanity construction team.
Jake is a long-time citizen of the Pacific Northwest. Though bicycling, sailing and living in community are important aspects of his life, Jake is an easy-going generalist who enjoys picking up new skills and hobbies. He studied moral philosophy and architectural design at the University of Washington, and through learning about urban planning and social justice issues, Jake realized that much good can be done by simply providing people an affordable, decent, safe, and loving place to call Home. Thus, he is excited to be a part of the Habitat team!
Mark Foldyna was born and raised in Boise, ID. He studied classical theatre as an apprentice at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and for a year at Niagara University in western New York. This past year, he decided to postpone his formal education and served with AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps on a GIS team, creating maps for disaster responders in Colorado and Massachusetts. Mark fell in love with AmeriCorps and will dedicate another year to service with Habitat for Humanity in Portland, OR as a Construction Crew Leader.
My name is Cassie. I am a southwest transplant that has been in the PNW for a few years now serving with AmeriCorps, the Forest Service, and Portland’s finest Forest Park. I love being out side, building useful things, and working hard. I am motivated by challenge and adventure! I honored to be apart of the Habitat Portland/Metro East team!
