Black Parent Initiative

Black Parent Initiative Training & Support Groups for Black Parents.

✨ TOMORROW is the night! ✨We are beyond excited to celebrate Radical Black Joy with all of you at the Black Parent Initi...
05/28/2026

✨ TOMORROW is the night! ✨

We are beyond excited to celebrate Radical Black Joy with all of you at the Black Parent Initiative’s Radical Black Joy Gala tomorrow evening! 🖤💛
This event is more than a gala, it’s a celebration of community, culture, resilience, storytelling, and the collective power of Black families and voices. We cannot wait to gather, connect, laugh, dance, and honor the incredible work being done throughout our community.
Thank you to everyone who has supported, sponsored, volunteered, and purchased tickets to make this night possible. Your presence means so much to us.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with joy, inspiration, and celebration. ✨
See you tomorrow! 🥂

Meet Xeroncia Zervis 🌱 Xeroncia is an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Every Child Belongs pro...
05/25/2026

Meet Xeroncia Zervis 🌱

Xeroncia is an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Every Child Belongs program—bringing intention, care, and deep connection to the families and providers she serves ✨

With a Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies from Grand Canyon University, she brings a strong foundation in early childhood development, mental health consultation, and family engagement 💜

In her role at BPI, Xeroncia focuses on:
✨ Providing reflective consultation to early learning providers
✨ Supporting Preschool for All family navigation
✨ Connecting families to culturally responsive resources across the community

Her approach is relational, intentional, and rooted in respect, making sure every family feels seen, valued, and supported 🌿
Xeroncia’s passion for this work is both professional and personal. As a sister to a brother with autism, she understands the importance of systems that are inclusive, supportive, and responsive to every child’s unique needs.

She is deeply committed to advancing equity and creating spaces where all children and families can thrive because every child deserves care that honors who they are and where they come from 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Xeroncia enjoys learning new ways to support children of all abilities and is passionate about advocating for inclusive spaces 💜

We’ve loved introducing you to our incredible team here at BPI, now come celebrate 20 years with us at our annual Radical Black Joy Gala on May 29th🖤✨

Meet Yai Lavine 🌱 A proud Portland native and Portland State alum, Yai has dedicated her career to giving back to her co...
05/24/2026

Meet Yai Lavine 🌱

A proud Portland native and Portland State alum, Yai has dedicated her career to giving back to her community and showing up for those who need support the most ✨
With experience across Multnomah County Health Department, Clark County Juvenile Courts, and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Yai has spent years working alongside youth and families, many from marginalized and high-risk communities, helping them navigate challenges and access resources 💜

Most recently, she served as a Program Manager for adult re-entry services at a local nonprofit, where she supported over 500 individuals returning from incarceration—helping them gain industry-recognized credentials, find employment, and connect to essential services like mental health support and treatment.

In her role at BPI as an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant and Family Navigator for the Preschool for All FCO program, Yai is excited to continue that impact by:
✨ Building meaningful relationships with families, educators, and children
✨ Supporting culturally specific communities and children with disabilities
✨ Creating spaces where every voice is heard and valued

Yai is passionate about closing gaps that should have never existed and creating pathways for equity, healing, and opportunity within our communities 🌿
Her work is rooted in advocacy, connection, and uplifting those who have too often gone unseen—helping families feel supported, empowered, and heard 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Yai loves staying connected to her community and finding new ways to uplift and support those around her 💜

Meet Meko Duckett 🌱 Meko is a part of Together We Can, where she shows up for families with purpose, passion, and a deep...
05/23/2026

Meet Meko Duckett 🌱

Meko is a part of Together We Can, where she shows up for families with purpose, passion, and a deep commitment to community ✨
Her work is rooted in lived experience—understanding what it means to navigate life without consistent support and how powerful it is to have someone in your corner 💛

Through her role, Meko focuses on:
✨ Supporting families with tools, guidance, and encouragement
✨ Building strong, trusting relationships
✨ Helping parents and children grow and thrive together

Meko believes in the power of showing up,especially for families who have been historically overlooked. At BPI, she gets to be that support system, pouring into families in ways that create lasting impact 🌿
For her, this work is more than a job, it’s purpose. It’s about giving back what she once needed and helping others build stronger, healthier futures 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Meko is currently pursuing her Associate’s degree in Psychology 🎓
Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the amazing people behind BPI 💜

Meet Bianca Diamond 🌱 Bianca serves as an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator and Family Navigator with t...
05/22/2026

Meet Bianca Diamond 🌱

Bianca serves as an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator and Family Navigator with the Every Child Belongs program—bringing care, compassion, and connection to every family she works with ✨

With a strong background in family support, early childhood development, and community-based care, Bianca is deeply committed to building meaningful relationships and showing up for families in ways that truly matter

In her role, she focuses on:
✨ Supporting families and preschool providers through mental health-informed care
✨ Connecting communities to resources that meet their unique needs
✨ Creating relationship-based support systems that uplift and empower

Bianca is passionate about promoting healthy child development while ensuring families and providers have access to culturally responsive, community-rooted services 🌿
Her journey includes working as a case manager supporting families impacted by addiction, serving as a student advocate, and volunteering as a youth leader—experiences that continue to shape her empathetic, compassionate approach to this work.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is dedicated to creating spaces where families feel seen, valued, and empowered 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Bianca enjoys giving back to her community and finds joy in mentoring and supporting youth 💜
Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the amazing people behind our Together We Can program

Meet Aliyah Brown 🌱 Aliyah is walking in her purpose every day as a Parent Educator with Together We Can, supporting, u...
05/21/2026

Meet Aliyah Brown 🌱

Aliyah is walking in her purpose every day as a Parent Educator with Together We Can, supporting, uplifting, and empowering families in our community ✨

As a mother herself, Aliyah brings both professional knowledge and lived experience into her work. She understands the challenges, the love, and the strength it takes to show up for your family 💜

Her work is rooted in:
✨ Building real, meaningful connections with families
✨ Creating safe spaces for growth, healing, and support
✨ Empowering parents to feel confident in their journey

Aliyah is passionate about reminding families of something we all need to hear:
💬 “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
She believes self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. When parents take care of themselves, they’re able to show up fully for their children and create healthier, more nurturing homes🌿

For Aliyah, this work is more than a job, it’s heart work. It’s healing work. And she’s honored to walk alongside each family every step of the way 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Aliyah loves finding small moments of peace in her day—whether it’s quiet time, music, or doing something that helps her recharge 💜
Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the amazing people behind BPI !

Meet Jada Pierce, MA MFT 🌱A proud Portland native, Jada has spent the last 8 years walking alongside children and famili...
05/20/2026

Meet Jada Pierce, MA MFT 🌱

A proud Portland native, Jada has spent the last 8 years walking alongside children and families as they grow, learn, and find their path to wellness ✨
From after-school programs to working as a nanny and school therapist, Jada has always been rooted in supporting young people and the communities that raise them. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi and a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy from Biola University 🎓
Today, Jada leads with heart and purpose, managing our Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program and Together We Can Home Visiting program, while also supporting the Family Connector Organization (FCO) through Preschool for All.

Her work centers on what matters most:
✨ Building trusting relationships
✨ Making families feel seen, heard, and supported
✨ Connecting communities to resources that truly fit their needs
Jada is deeply passionate about uplifting Black children, families, and educators creating spaces where our community can thrive, grow, and flourish 🌱

She believes every family deserves care that is culturally responsive, community-rooted, and filled with joy 💫

🎉 Fun Fact: Jada loves spending time near the ocean—no surprise after living in Hawaiʻi!
Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the amazing people behind BPI 💜

Introducing Together We Can — BPI’s Home Visiting Program 💜At the Black Parent Initiative, we believe strong families bu...
05/19/2026

Introducing Together We Can — BPI’s Home Visiting Program 💜

At the Black Parent Initiative, we believe strong families build strong futures and Together We Can is all about making that happen.

This year-long journey supports families with little ones (2 months to 5 years) through a powerful mix of home visiting, group connection, and community engagement. We’re talking real support, real growth, and real impact.

From day one, families are met with care, culture, and connection. Through relationship-based home visits and group experiences, we help parents:
✨ Strengthen cultural identity and reconnect with their roots
✨ Build confidence in parenting and child development
✨ Create safe, healthy, and thriving home environments
✨ Work toward economic stability and self-sufficiency

Our certified Parents As Teachers (PAT) home visitors partner with families every step of the way;helping set goals, celebrate wins, and navigate challenges.

We’re also focused on:
✔️ Early childhood development & school readiness
✔️ Identifying developmental and health needs early
✔️ Preventing child abuse & neglect through support and education

This isn’t just a program, it’s a community. A space where families are seen, supported, and empowered to grow together.

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the programs, people, and impact behind BPI 💜

Meet Bobby Bridges Jr. 🌼Bobby is a lifelong youth advocate dedicated to ensuring Black youth are seen, heard, and repres...
05/18/2026

Meet Bobby Bridges Jr. 🌼

Bobby is a lifelong youth advocate dedicated to ensuring Black youth are seen, heard, and represented in every space where decisions are made.🧡

From working in teen behavioral facilities and Child Welfare to his role with the Youth Development Council, Bobby has consistently uplifted the voices of youth of color—making sure their needs and solutions are part of the conversation.
Known for his innovative mindset, Bobby believes in creating solutions where systems fall short. From launching the first father’s group within DHS Child Welfare to addressing disproportionate discipline in schools, he leads with courage, vision, and a commitment to change.

At The Black Parent Initiative, Bobby brings his MSW from Portland State University and his passion for community to support young people and families, working toward a future where our communities thrive unapologetically. ✊🏾

🎉 Fun fact: Bobby’s ultimate goal is to help build a real-life “Wakanda” a thriving, empowered community rooted in strength and innovation 🌍✨

Stay tuned as we get ready to introduce our next program Together We Can.🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Address

215 NW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97209

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032848000

Website

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