Queer Heroes NW 2014:

Cliff Jones

Cliff Jones has been active in the LGBTQ community since the early 1980s.

Cliff Jones Beginning work on Pride in 1981, Cliff in the mid-80's co-founded Black Lesbians and Gays United. He was the first staff of color at Cascade AIDS Project in the late 80’s and co-founded Brother to Brother in the early 90’s and served as its first Executive Director. He was also involved in fighting the anti-gay initiatives of the late 80' and the 90's.

In addition to activism in the LGBT community Cliff has worked for a number of projects related to social justice. In the 90's he co-founded Tools for Diversity, a comprehensive curriculum led by a multi-cultural team that addresses discrimination and prejudice and supports building culturally competent organizations.

As an organizational development consultant working primarily with non-profits over the last 20 years, Cliff has served as a consutlant for hundreds of of nonprofits including grassroots groups, social service agencies, housing and community development organizations, foundations and government.

Cliff has served on the boards of McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, Funding Exchange Foundation, Oregon Minority AIDS Coalition, Multnomah Legal Service Workers Union, and Peer Counseling Community. He has been a trainer for the Black Leadership and Community Development Institute and is a recipient of Nordstrom’s Cultural Diversity Community Service Award.

Cliff holds a BS in Community Services and Public Affairs from the University of Oregon with a focus in community education and social psychology.