Portlandia Mermaid Parade Grand Marshals
&
Winners of the Mermazing Citizen Award
Willie Levenson 2017
Founder of the Human Access Project & Local Business Owner- Popina Swimwear
Willie has been a tireless advocate and champion of creating eco-minded, public access spaces to the Willamette River. The Portland’s Human Access Project (HAP) was founded in November of 2010 with a three point mission: 1. Build it – create a human habitat and more accessibility points to the Willamette River in Portland.
2. Use it – inspire people to connect with the Willamette River and embrace it.
3. Love it – facilitate conservation, education, and stewardship of the Willamette River and Watershed
Willie has championed several successful local projects through HAP, including but not limited to:
The creation of Poets beach in 2014. HAP helped forge a path to a semi-hidden Willamette River beach under the Marquam Bridge nicknamed Poet’s Beach. It is now Portland’s first official beach, and is the launch point for The Big Float. Stones along the path are engraved with children’s poems from the Honoring Our Rivers anthology, and native Chinook words from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. In 2019 Willie and HAP celebrated the creation and grand opening of the Audrey McCall Beach, an urban beach located along the east bank of the Willamette River, near the Hawthorne Bridge.
Willie has also lead HAP over the years to “UnRocked the Bowl” to create a beach area at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and is doing ongoing work to solve the toxic algae bloom problem at Ross Island lagoon. Willie also continues to ensure HAP is able to remove concrete, debris, and trash from the banks of the Willamette River by organizing several beach clean-up projects each year. Future efforts include advocacy and support for docks, beach enhancement, swimming safety, outreach, and education.
For more information about the Human Access Project, Please visit their website:
https://humanaccessproject.com/
Founder of the Human Access Project & Local Business Owner- Popina Swimwear
Willie has been a tireless advocate and champion of creating eco-minded, public access spaces to the Willamette River. The Portland’s Human Access Project (HAP) was founded in November of 2010 with a three point mission: 1. Build it – create a human habitat and more accessibility points to the Willamette River in Portland.
2. Use it – inspire people to connect with the Willamette River and embrace it.
3. Love it – facilitate conservation, education, and stewardship of the Willamette River and Watershed
Willie has championed several successful local projects through HAP, including but not limited to:
The creation of Poets beach in 2014. HAP helped forge a path to a semi-hidden Willamette River beach under the Marquam Bridge nicknamed Poet’s Beach. It is now Portland’s first official beach, and is the launch point for The Big Float. Stones along the path are engraved with children’s poems from the Honoring Our Rivers anthology, and native Chinook words from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. In 2019 Willie and HAP celebrated the creation and grand opening of the Audrey McCall Beach, an urban beach located along the east bank of the Willamette River, near the Hawthorne Bridge.
Willie has also lead HAP over the years to “UnRocked the Bowl” to create a beach area at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and is doing ongoing work to solve the toxic algae bloom problem at Ross Island lagoon. Willie also continues to ensure HAP is able to remove concrete, debris, and trash from the banks of the Willamette River by organizing several beach clean-up projects each year. Future efforts include advocacy and support for docks, beach enhancement, swimming safety, outreach, and education.
For more information about the Human Access Project, Please visit their website:
https://humanaccessproject.com/
Magic Wheel Chair 2018
Founded by Ryan Weimer
Magic Wheel Chair is a nonprofit organization that builds larger than life costumes for children in wheelchairs. What is even more mermazing, as that they offer this service at zero cost to families! The mission of Magic Wheel Chair is to bring communities together to create unforgettable moments for children around the world by transforming their wheelchairs into magic.
For more information about this organization please visit:
https://www.magicwheelchair.org/
Founded by Ryan Weimer
Magic Wheel Chair is a nonprofit organization that builds larger than life costumes for children in wheelchairs. What is even more mermazing, as that they offer this service at zero cost to families! The mission of Magic Wheel Chair is to bring communities together to create unforgettable moments for children around the world by transforming their wheelchairs into magic.
For more information about this organization please visit:
https://www.magicwheelchair.org/
Emily Jung Miller 2019
Inspirational Artist & Eco-Steward
Based near Portland, Oregon Emily Miller is a local award winning artist who uses natural and reclaimed materials such abandoned fishing nets (known as 'ghost nets') left in the ocean, into a wide range of work including watercolor and encaustic painting, mixed media sculpture, functional porcelain ware, and interactive installation art. She has spent spent her life on the coast, and all of her artwork has its roots in her love of the sea. Emily's work explores natural beauty and cycles of change centered around coastal environments, where our human connection to nature becomes clear. Emily sees the coast as a transition zone between our known human world and the deep unknown "otherness" of the open sea. By approaching this otherness in the context of playful curiosity, collaboration, and connection, her work creates an environment for positive transformation that enriches our relationships with ourselves, each other, and our world.
Emily's traveling installations include Ghost Net Landscape, a collaborative community installation transforming reclaimed fishing gear into art, and 1000 Moons, an art installation and grief process in handmade paper. Since 2005, she has practiced a regular schedule of plein air (outdoor) landscape painting in addition to her studio work. Emily has been a practicing artist for over twenty-five years, and a full-time professional artist since 2016. Her award-winning work is included in public and private collections around the United States.
To learn more about Emily Miller, please visit her website:
https://www.ejmillerfineart.com/
Inspirational Artist & Eco-Steward
Based near Portland, Oregon Emily Miller is a local award winning artist who uses natural and reclaimed materials such abandoned fishing nets (known as 'ghost nets') left in the ocean, into a wide range of work including watercolor and encaustic painting, mixed media sculpture, functional porcelain ware, and interactive installation art. She has spent spent her life on the coast, and all of her artwork has its roots in her love of the sea. Emily's work explores natural beauty and cycles of change centered around coastal environments, where our human connection to nature becomes clear. Emily sees the coast as a transition zone between our known human world and the deep unknown "otherness" of the open sea. By approaching this otherness in the context of playful curiosity, collaboration, and connection, her work creates an environment for positive transformation that enriches our relationships with ourselves, each other, and our world.
Emily's traveling installations include Ghost Net Landscape, a collaborative community installation transforming reclaimed fishing gear into art, and 1000 Moons, an art installation and grief process in handmade paper. Since 2005, she has practiced a regular schedule of plein air (outdoor) landscape painting in addition to her studio work. Emily has been a practicing artist for over twenty-five years, and a full-time professional artist since 2016. Her award-winning work is included in public and private collections around the United States.
To learn more about Emily Miller, please visit her website:
https://www.ejmillerfineart.com/
Kim Roberts 2021
Chair and Founder of the International Mermaid Museum
Based in Aberdeen Washington, the International Mermaid Museum is dedicated to teaching ocean ecology from seashore to sea floor immersed in mermaid mythology. The museum, a first of its kind in the United States, explores mermaid lore thus providing a thread of connectivity and commonality between and through both community and culture. The museum states, “Mermaids in storytelling encourage people to see the undersea environment, not just through the lens of marine life, but through the view of humans in the underwater world, thus helping them better understand the importance of clean oceans, the sea as a living environment, and the reality of ocean exploration as one of the last great adventures on earth.”
Kim says her inspiration to develop the museum came after a cancer diagnosis, when she discovered a desire to leave behind a legacy that could leave lasting positive impact for her community. Kim Roberts also co-owns TRG Investments, Vineyards By-the-Sea, Ocean's Daughter Distillery, Westport Winery, and Westport Winery Seaside Retreat, with her husband and daughter. She has been a freelance writer authoring three mysteries set on Maui where she and her husband Blain formerly owned Lahaina Divers, the largest scuba charter business in the state. She has also written for numerous magazines and newspapers. She is a graduate of Washington State University with two degrees in architecture. She was also an Alpha Rho Chi medalist at the Washington State University School of Architecture.
Of special note, Kim Roberts was one of the first female boat captains ever on the West Coast and held a 100-tons any ocean license for 25 years! She was also a certified PADI divemaster and underwater investigator. She has been a member of the Washington Wine Commission, the Grays Harbor Planning Commission, the State of Hawaii Ocean Spills At Sea panel, a Maui Community College Marine Options Program advisor, The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii Maui representative, the Maui Commercial Boater and Ocean Affiliated Transportation Association president, a Washington State Governor’s Fishery Advisory Board appointee, a Washington State Charter boat Association board member, and a Westport Charter boat Association Board member. Kim Roberts was just recently been appointed to serve as a member of the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB)
To learn more about the International Mermaid Museum, please visit:
www.mermaidmuseum.org/
Chair and Founder of the International Mermaid Museum
Based in Aberdeen Washington, the International Mermaid Museum is dedicated to teaching ocean ecology from seashore to sea floor immersed in mermaid mythology. The museum, a first of its kind in the United States, explores mermaid lore thus providing a thread of connectivity and commonality between and through both community and culture. The museum states, “Mermaids in storytelling encourage people to see the undersea environment, not just through the lens of marine life, but through the view of humans in the underwater world, thus helping them better understand the importance of clean oceans, the sea as a living environment, and the reality of ocean exploration as one of the last great adventures on earth.”
Kim says her inspiration to develop the museum came after a cancer diagnosis, when she discovered a desire to leave behind a legacy that could leave lasting positive impact for her community. Kim Roberts also co-owns TRG Investments, Vineyards By-the-Sea, Ocean's Daughter Distillery, Westport Winery, and Westport Winery Seaside Retreat, with her husband and daughter. She has been a freelance writer authoring three mysteries set on Maui where she and her husband Blain formerly owned Lahaina Divers, the largest scuba charter business in the state. She has also written for numerous magazines and newspapers. She is a graduate of Washington State University with two degrees in architecture. She was also an Alpha Rho Chi medalist at the Washington State University School of Architecture.
Of special note, Kim Roberts was one of the first female boat captains ever on the West Coast and held a 100-tons any ocean license for 25 years! She was also a certified PADI divemaster and underwater investigator. She has been a member of the Washington Wine Commission, the Grays Harbor Planning Commission, the State of Hawaii Ocean Spills At Sea panel, a Maui Community College Marine Options Program advisor, The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii Maui representative, the Maui Commercial Boater and Ocean Affiliated Transportation Association president, a Washington State Governor’s Fishery Advisory Board appointee, a Washington State Charter boat Association board member, and a Westport Charter boat Association Board member. Kim Roberts was just recently been appointed to serve as a member of the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB)
To learn more about the International Mermaid Museum, please visit:
www.mermaidmuseum.org/
Jonny Nuriel (right), Katie Cox (middle), & Isaiah Esquire 2022
IZOHONNY- Social Change Through Performance Art
Isaiah and Johnny, best known as the amazing glam duo, Izohonny- are passionate about creating social change by inspiring others to embrace their own sensuality, softness and vulnerability. Their gender fluid and androgynous performances seek to break down gender and identity barriers and to reimagine sensual performance art. Johnny states, that their performances are an opportunity for others to take a moment, slow down, and exhale the stressors of life; to step into a moment of peace and creativity. Johnny is also driven by a desire to help people become emboldened to feel powerful in their own lives, and to provide a living example of a healthy, loving, and intimate partnership between two men. Isaiah feels that his performance art stems from a deep personal calling, a sense of obligation to create, hold, protect, and love others. To help make the invisible seen, and to be mirrors to the world by inspiring joy, authenticity, and the liberation of self, particularly as it pertains to celebrating black empowerment and queer identity. Through their combined efforts and talents, IZOHNNY invites others to join in their movement and witness the magic as they show you limitless self-expression through fearless art.
Website: www.izohnny.gay
Insta: @izohnny
Johnny Nuriel - Life Empowerment Coaching: www.johnnynuriel.com
Katie Cox- Social Change Through Direct Action
Katie Cox (she/they) is a white, queer, fat, femme-leaning, gender fluid, neurodivergent, temporarily able-bodied, organizer and activist in Portland, Oregon. They bring a radical framework, abundant compassion, and a deeply tenacious spirit to their advocacy for the LGBTQAI2S+ community.
Katie was hired by Dr. Angela Carter (they/them) as a billing manager for their trans and queer-focused primary care practice in 2015. Katie then co-founded The Equi Institute, a queer and trans health access organization, alongside Dr. Carter in 2016. Thanks to the visionary work of Katie and Dr. Carter, The Equi Institute received a Nonprofit of the Year award from Blackout Leather Productions in 2017. After Dr. Carter left the organization in 2019, Katie graduated from the Willamette Valley Development Officers Executive Leadership Program and was appointed as the Executive Director of The Equi Institute.
When the world was rocked by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie engaged Equi with the Creating Conscious Communities with People Outside (C3PO) Coalition, a newly forming group of organizations and individuals determined to support the most marginalized members of the houseless community. Katie worked with the coalition to develop three outdoor shelters based on the Dignity Village model. The Queer Affinity, BIPOC affinity, and Old Town villages provided tiny homes, access to food, hygiene, showers and laundry for over 150 unhoused folks.
Clearly seeing a need for more comprehensive health support in the midst of a global pandemic, Katie piloted a culturally-specific community health worker program in the villages from October 2020-October 2021. Equi’s team of community health workers have since established several outreach locations to serve unhoused and insecurely housed LGBTQAI2S+, BIPOC, disabled, and elder folks providing connections to peer support, COVID-19 education and vaccine access, medical and mental health care, services navigation, harm reduction, and wound care. Additionally, Equi's community vaccine event coordinators planned and executed 16 vaccine events from June 2021-May 2022, vaccinating over 175 community members. Equi's program participants benefit deeply from the culture of support, kindness, and intersectionality that Katie has cultivated in the program.
In 2021, Katie and her colleague Debra Porta forged a partnership between The Equi Institute and Debra's organization Pride Northwest to begin work on a statewide, community-driven, data justice project called "LGBTQAI2S+ in Oregon". The project aims to collect the very first set of comprehensive data on the lived experiences of LGBTQAI2S+ Oregonians.
Katie's dynamic leadership is rooted in anti-racism, disability justice, intersectionality, harm reduction, and community care. As a legacy to the work of Dr. Marie Equi, Katie aims to support integrated healthcare, social justice, advocacy, and programming for community members living at the sharpest intersections of oppression. Katie's quiet resilience and fierce advocacy in the face of so much adversity for the unhoused queer and transgender community has saved lives and put countless individuals on a path to self-sufficiency.
Katie received a Queer Heroes NW award from the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest in 2021. They are also a founding member of the LGBTQAI2S+ Housing Collaborative, an organizer with the PDX Trans Housing Coalition, a member of the Oregon Health Authority's Health Equity Committee, a board member on the Joint Office of Homeless Services Continuum of Care Board, and a member of the Patient Centered Primary Care Home Standards Advisory Committee. She is always looking for an opportunity to lift up and address the disparities they see within the LGBTQAI2S+ community.
In their free time, Katie enjoys spending time camping, watching Netflix, or trying new food with her partner Mary and their two dogs, Penny and Junior.
For more info about the Equi Institute please see website link and the video below:
www.equi-institute.org/
