Board

                            Jason Staats, He/They –  Board President/Chair, Founder

Jason Staats is the Board Chair and the original youth founder of Rainbow Youth, first established in 1994. Growing up queer in the Willamette Valley, Jason helped create what he wished had existed—a safe, affirming space where LGBTQ2IA+ youth could find belonging, support, and community.

Over the years, Jason has remained a passionate advocate for inclusion, equity, and youth empowerment. His leadership is rooted in lived experience and sustained by decades of nonprofit, tourism, and entrepreneurial work. Today, he brings a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities queer youth face, and he is committed to building lasting infrastructure to support them—including Rainbow Youth’s long-term goal of securing a permanent community home.

Jason has served on numerous boards and community initiatives throughout Oregon, always centering the voices and needs of the most marginalized. His work with Rainbow Youth reflects his lifelong commitment to making sure every young person knows they matter, they are loved, and they are not alone.

 

                                               Dani Davalos, They/She – Vice President, Facilitator

Dani identifies as a non-binary trans Latine. Originally a transplant from Los Angeles, she has worked with various marginalized communities and takes pride in her ability to help you discover themselves. Dani hold a Masters degree in Secondary Education and uses her knowledge to develop programs and opportunities for Rainbow Youth. As the vice president of Rainbow Youth, she works hard to get to know the needs of the youth and find ways to help youth get connected to resources. Dani is currently working on her Masters In Social Work with which she hopes to further improve her abilities to help the LGBTQ community.

As a former queer youth who found friendships and support through Rainbow Youth in the early 2000’s, I recognize the importance of providing safe spaces dedicated to our growing LGBTQIA+ community. Many of the friendships I made in Rainbow Youth have lasted into adulthood and without the communication and coordination of former volunteers to host weekly meetings, I would likely not be where I am today.

 

 

                                Vincent, He/Him – Youth Board Member 

I’m Vincent, a Youth Board Member. I provide answers from the youth to the adults and vise versa. I can talk to the adults to give them opinions from the youth, and I make sure the adults know of anything going on related to Rainbow Youth. I was drawn to this work because I’d been looking for a place to volunteer since I was younger, and it seemed interesting to work for a queer organization. I love the youth and the adults there, and I enjoy helping the youth out when they don’t want to speak for themselves and would prefer someone else make a suggestion.

 

                                  Zane, They/Them – Board Member at Large

Zane is a former attendee of Rainbow Youth, now proudly serving as a board member.

 

                              Amanda Love, She/Her – Board Member at Large

I began volunteering with Rainbow Youth in 2017 after reconnecting with former friends/volunteers. Over the years I have held various positions within Rainbow Youth, but currently my focus is behind the scenes as a board member using my time, energy, and knowledge as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate in Washington and Professional Counselor Associate in Oregon to advocate for our queer and gender-diverse youth so they can feel seen and supported. Mental health struggles impact marginalized communities and our youth deserve trauma-informed, educated advocates who can empathize with their struggles and offer compassion and resources that do not create further struggles.

 

                             Tate Jackson, They/Them – Board Member at Large

When not serving on the Rainbow Youth board, Tate is connected with Chemeketa Community College’s Safe Haven, a resource center for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

Silver Walls, He/Him – Board Member at Large

As a former youth, I got a lot of fun opportunities to attend events and form a community that I otherwise don’t think I would have been able to have. RY offered volunteer opportunities, scholarships to camps that were accepting of queer youth, and internship opportunities that have given me the skills to get to where I am today. But even more importantly, RY provided a space where I didn’t have to justify my identity to anyone, I could just be a kid who happened to also be queer. This was also the first space where I saw queer adults who were thriving. They weren’t constantly facing homophobia or transphobia at every turn. They had built lives and futures, and made me realize that I could have a future too.
Now that I’m an adult, I want RY to continue providing a safe and welcoming space to as many queer youth as possible. I would also like to work towards expanding what RY can for its youth. In the future, I’d like this to include educational classes, field trip opportunities, and resources ranging from access to food pantries to transition assistance.

Moss Lobos, They/Them –  Lead Facilitator