Staff

Raquel Bournhonesque, MPH: Co-Director 

Raquel received an MPH from Portland State University, where her research and academic work focused on analyzing media coverage of public health issues, and was a founding Board member of Upstream. She worked on food and land-use policy issues at the Community Food Security Coalition in California for five years then went on to work at the Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention office of the Oregon Public Health Division. She is currently focused on Upstream's tobacco initiatives, strategies to reduce soda consumption, and a community water fluoridation initiative.

Claudia Arana Colen, MPA: Health Equity Coordinator

Claudia has a strong background in civic engagement and leading innovative community – building initiatives in racially and linguistically diverse neighborhoods. She has over eight years experience working with immigrant and communities of color and over six years experience with strategic planning, policy development and analysis. Her public sector experience includes community development work within the Seattle Mayor Nickel's office, constituent services within U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's office, and other positions related to food policy, housing, education and literacy. Claudia holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor's degree in English from Duke University. She is fluent in Spanish.

Tony Diep, MPH: Program Assistant 

Tony is a University of Oregon alumni with a double major in psychology and human physiology. He recently completed his Masters of Public Health degree at Portland State University, where his main focus has been using health communications and social media as tools for advocacy and health change. Tony is half Chinese and half Vietnamese and speaks the latter fluently.
 
 
 

Kasandra Griffin: Policy Manager, Food and School Health

Kasandra spent over a decade promoting active living in the Portland area, in roles at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon Environmental Council, and the Portland Parks and Recreation Bureau. She recently left Oregon, briefly, to earn a Public Policy degree at U.C. Berkeley, where the highlight of her academic experience was carpooling to (and going on) a slaughterhouse tour with Michael Pollan. She is excited to join Upstream to work on food policy and school health initiatives.

Heidi Guenin, MURP: Transporation Policy Coordinator

Heidi earned her Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Oregon Health & Science University, where she is focusing on health disparities. She has been advocating for health equity in Portland for the last two years, drawing on her recent education and on her background in writing, economics, and Geographic Information Systems. At Upstream, Heidi is the go-to staffer for all things transportation-related. Upstream promotes active transportation policy that confronts the intersection of climate change and obesity. 

Darin Lund, MPH: Research Analyst

Darin recently completed his MPH with a Graduate Certificate in Transportation at Portland State University. The focus of his academic and research career has been on the intersection of transportation and public health issues. Darin has worked the past two years as a Research Assistant at PSU focusing on the health aspects of diverse transportation issues such as rural transit, green streets, and bicycle boulevards. His mission at Upstream is centered on defining and integrating aspects of health and equity into the regional transportation system. Darin is a passionate advocate of healthy eating and active living. When not at Upstream, he can often be found walking or bicycling around the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Mel Rader, MS MS: Co-Director

Mel earned two Master's degrees: one in nutrition policy, the other in environmental engineering. He is a former Fulbright Fellow and has several years experience in the non-profit sector working on media relations, fundraising, and grassroots advocacy. At Upstream, Mel coordinated grassroots advocacy for the 2005 campaign to get junk food out of school and spearheaded the successful menu labeling initiative in Multnomah County. He is currently focused on farm to school and school garden policy, menu labeling , and health and climate change work.