Alisa O'Hanlon Regala
Executive Director
Alisa comes to us from the City of Tacoma, Government Relations, where she worked with the mayor and city council on issues ranging from transit, parks and open space, to the health of the Puget Sound region. Dearest to hear heart, she served for 15 years as the liaison to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, where she facilitated conversations and successful joint projects on clean water, the rebuild of a culturally and historically significant bridge, and the city's first Indigenous People's Day.
Alisa knows nonprofit management through and through, with experience on both board and staff sides of the fence. Highlights include serving on the board of Tacoma Community House, which welcomes immigrants and others to the city, and five years as the program director of a community mobilization organization focused on safety and health.
Alisa's biracial identity as the daughter of a Filipino immigrant father and 8th-generation white Tacoman mother gives her an appreciation for balance and for the delicacy and importance of relationships. A proud mom of two grown daughters, Alisa loves dancing and doing cartwheels. She started out in classical ballet but knows she's "never to old to learn hip hop." As a devoted baker, she proudly displays the 3rd-place ribbon her apple pie won at the Washington State Fair.
Contact Alisa at alisa@theintertwine.org.
Katie Gavares
Equity Program Manager
Katie’s background is in nature-based education, where she has worked at creating culturally responsive curriculum and diversifying the environmental education field in Oregon. Prior to joining The Intertwine Alliance, she worked with Straub Environmental Center and the Willamette Outdoor Program, increasing kids' and families' access to nature and implementing equity lenses in outdoor recreation and environmental education organizations. Katie recently moved from Salem, where she attended Willamette University studying Earth and Environmental Science and Spanish. She is excited to explore Portland and to engage with new communities in the city.
Katie spends as much time as she can outside enjoying sunny days, camping, foraging for food, and playing in the great parks and rivers around the Willamette Valley.
Katie’s role: Katie coordinates our equity cohorts and oversees the implementation of The Intertwine Alliance equity lens into our daily operations.
Contact Katie at katie@theintertwine.org about The Intertwine Alliance's equity strategy or equity cohorts.
Tara Wilkinson
Communications & Partnership Manager
A print journalist by training, Tara has worked in the field of nonprofit communications and development since moving to Portland in 1999. Prior to joining The Intertwine Alliance in 2014, she worked for Open Adoption & Family Services, Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel, and Oregon Food Bank.
Tara spends as much time as possible wandering outside, looking for salamanders, frogs and other little critters -- and sharing with her 12-year-old son the joys of nature. They also like to cook together, read, sing and dance, camp and spend time with friends.
Tara's role: Tara manages all Intertwine Alliance communication channels and strategies, along with the NW Family Daycation mobile app program. She manages Intertwine Alliance partnerships, from onboarding partners to annual dues to sponsorship opportunities.
Contact Tara at tara@theintertwine.org about becoming an Intertwine Alliance partner, partner dues, how to be involved with the coalition, and fundraising topics. Email Tara also with questions or ideas about the website, newsletter, partner listservs, Outside Voice blog, social media, NW Family Daycation app, or with media inquiries.