Willie Poinsette, Founder
I was born in segregated Sumter, South Carolina. My mother wanted me to have a better education than I was getting, so she applied and took a domestic job in New Jersey at the end of my sixth-grade year. After I graduated from high school, my mother returned to South Carolina. I stayed in New Jersey, graduated from college and took a job as an elementary teacher and got my master’s degree. I started as an elementary vice-principal and later became a high school vice-principal and an elementary school principal. I got married in 1986 to Bruce R. Poinsette and moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon. We had one child, and I continued as an elementary school principal in Portland until I was asked to take a job at the Central Office as a Chief over a department that supported schools until I retired in 2012.
In 2017, I co-founded Response to Racism in Lake Oswego and have served as the Leader and President of the Board.
Courtney Fuller, President
Courtney has over 25 years of experience in Research and Development across various biotechnology institutions, including Biotronick, Micro Systems Engineering, Oxis International, ICOS Corporation, Baylor College of Medicine, and Oregon State Forensic Chemistry Laboratories. She has worked in immunoassay development, analytical and forensic chemistry, quality assurance clinical trials, product development and research in molecular and microbiology labs.
Courtney and her husband Randy, both from Portland, graduated from Lewis and Clark College and Portland State University, Their 25-year-old son, Lucas, attended Lake Oswego schools and is now in graduate school at Duquesne University and Pittsburg.
Jonathan Hayden
Jonathan is currently the Education Director with the Friends of Tryon Creek. He has over 20 years experience working in public education, mentoring and non-profit organizations. His main passion has been college and career readiness. His current focus is promoting education, advocacy and reciprocity in the green sector, emphasizing diversity, including and environmental justice.
Johnathan is originally from Washington, DC where he graduated from Howard University, Johnathan currently resides in Woodburn, OR and has been happily married to his wonderful partners Remy who is originally from Oakland CA. They have been married for almost 7 years and have 2 dogs, Baki and Bishop, along with an entitled cat named Neema.
Massene Mboup
Bruce Poinsette, Executive Director
Bruce Poinsette is the Executive Director of Respond to Racism in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In addition to his organizing work, Poinsette is a long term writer, educator, and journalism/writing teacher whose work is primarily based in the Portland Metro area. A former reporter for the Skanner News Group, his work has also appeared in the Oregonian, Oregon Humanities and Eater PDX as well as projects such as the Mercatus Collective and the Urban League of Portland’s State of Black Oregon 2015. Poinsette is a class of 2007 alumni of Lake Oswego High School.
Siena Riquelme-Cheung
Siena Riquelme-Cheung is a senior at Lakeridge High School. She is on the leadership team for the Youth Empowerment Coalition, and is the creator of the educational website called Tones of Change. Siena is the youngest board member in Respond to Racism’s history. She plans to continue her social advocacy journey in college by leading, volunteering and dedicating herself to equitable and inclusive causes.
Jerome Sloan
Jeremy Watson, Treasurer
I grew up in a dairy farming family in the small towns of Boistfort and Adna in Southwest Washington. I attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington in order to escape farm life, and graduated with a degree in Religion and a Minor in Speech Communication. During January Term of my Senior Year, I participated in a Study Tour called “Prejudice Across America” that was taught by a Psychology Professor. That study tour was a life-changing event for me in understanding that my country was built upon a foundation of white supremacy.
After college, I was a Youth Ministries Intern at West Side Church in Richland, Washington, followed by 4 years as a Youth Director at the Old Scotch Church in Hillsboro, Oregon. I then attended Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2006. I was ordained as a Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and became the Associate Pastor to Youth and Families at Grace Presbyterian Church in Centennial,Colorado. After 2 1⁄2 years, I moved back to Oregon and married Julie. We had first met through youth camps and conferences when I was at the Old Scotch Church. I then became the Associate Pastor to Children, Youth, and Families at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Southwest Portland. I served there for 7 1⁄2 years.
For too many reasons to list, I decided to make a career change in 2016. I went to work for a family friend who agreed to teach me his business and then sell it to me. Over the next 4 years, I worked for him and became a Licensed Tax Professional, Licensed Tax Consultant, Enrolled Agent, Investment Advisor Representative, and Certified Financial PlannerTM. I bought Davidson & Watson Financial in January of 2020.
Julie and I have 3 kids, who are now in college, high school, and middle school. Most of my time is spent with them. I love to snowboard, backpack, travel, and read, and I’m an avid fan of the Portland Thorns, Timbers, Trailblazers, and Seattle Mariners. I’ve volunteered as a Youth Soccer Coach, Oregon Battle of the Books Coach, and as a member of the School Advisory Committees at River Grove Elementary and Lakeridge Middle School, in addition to Respond to Racism. I enjoy living, working, volunteering, and protesting in my community. I began attending Respond to Racism in Lake Oswego community meetings in early 2020. In the Summer of 2021, I reached out to find out how I could get more involved, and by that Fall I was the Treasurer for Respond to Racism. I look forward to continuing to partner with the wonderful people of this organization in interrupting racism in our community and beyond. And I look forward to growing in my own understanding of what it means to be anti-racist and a helpful ally to the BIPOC members of our community.