Name: Jill Blanchard

Goes by: Jill

Number of years with Sisters Of The Road: 5

Number of years on Sisters’ Board of Directors:
2009-10 will be my third year of service, in my first tenure, on the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors’ Committees:

• 2005-Present – Community Development Council
• 2008-Present – Executive Committee, President Elect
• 2008-Present – Board representative to the Communications Team

Other Sisters Committees:

• 2004-Present – SisterSpeak (formerly Speaker’s Bureau)
• 2004-Present – Hoedown Planning Committee
• 2008-Present – Space Planning Committees

What’s your story? / What do you do when you’re not volunteering with Sisters Of The Road?
I moved to Portland from New York City about 5 ½ years ago.

I found Sisters of the Road early in 2004 when Monica invited me to have lunch in the Cafe. She talked with me about Sisters’ philosophies of nonviolence and gentle personalism and the concept of “dining with dignity.” Monica also explained Sisters’ mission to ultimately “find the root cause of his/her homelessness and poverty and end it forever.” I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. The following week I attended my volunteer training and started work in the Cafe. It wasn’t long before I got involved with the planning of the Hoedown and a number of other fun Sisters’ events.

My “day job” consisted of working for a small, local lighting manufacturer called Schoolhouse Electric Co. until February of this year. I’m currently trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and appreciating all the extra time to focus on my work for Sisters Of The Road.

Fun Facts About You:
Once upon a time, I played college Rugby when I wasn’t DJ-ing parties or in the radio station studio (I didn’t get much studying done). Now, I have 4 dogs and live with my wonderful partner, Todd. I play adult kickball and try to attend at least one monster truck rally each year.

Your 3 Descriptive Words for Sisters:
Inspiration, hope and hard-work.