Alexxis woods | she/her
Board chair

Bio coming soon.

Adem cardona | he/him/they/them
interim Board vice chair

Adem is a 2 Spirit Taino living in Portland, Oregon. They are retired and disabled, a grandfather, and enjoy creating large pieces of art from various mediums including leather, oil on canvas, and silk. An alumnus of Portland State University, they previously worked in social services for both children and adults at the State of Oregon, and at a number of non-profits in the Pacific Northwest. adem is excited about joining the Equi Institute Board and believes in the programs and the life-saving services of which the clinic provides.

Amy Penkin | she/her
Interim board secretary

Amy joined OHSU in January 2015 as the Program Coordinator for the newly launched Transgender Health Program.  She has been a clinical social worker for 20 years and throughout her career has provided direct care, advocacy, and education in community mental health and healthcare environments.   Since 2005 she has been responsible for program/policy development, grant writing, clinical supervision for social workers seeking licensure, and program management.  

Amy has a history of providing and overseeing care for the LGBTQQI2S community and is dedicated to promoting health equity for these and other underserved populations experiencing health disparities.  In addition to working in the Portland Metro Area since 2009, her history includes teaching and working as a social worker, advocate, consultant, and private practice therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She has traveled extensively for social work and human rights projects in Central and South America and throughout Asia.  Amy earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the Univ. of California, Berkeley and has subsequently served as Adjunct Faculty and Field Instructor for Schools of Social work at UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, Smith College, and Portland State University.

Sacred Vessel serves primarily medicaid and low-income patients so while it is still a private business at this time, every meager cent that Dr. Carter makes goes directly back into the clinic to make sure the doors stay open.

If you would like to donate money/goods/services for Sacred Vessel Natural Medicine that will help us keep our doors open and continue to provide low-cost health care for the LBGTQI2S community, please click the "Make a Donation" button. 

The Equi Institute is currently pursuing non-profit status in order to accept tax-deductible donations but has not yet been approved.  Donations are not tax-deductible at this time but will be starting 2018.

If you would like to donate money/goods/services to The Equi Institute that will help develop and support our social justice, civic engagement, and advocacy programs for the LGBTQI2S community, please click the "Make a Donation" button.