Board of Directors
Current Board Members
, President
Grayson Dempsey has served as the President of Backline since its inception in 2004 and has been working as a counselor, activist, doula and trainer in the reproductive rights movement since 1999. She has received national recognition for her work with abortion and reproductive healthcare issues, and in 2004 was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 Activists for Reproductive Freedom by Choice USA. In recent years, she has served as a consultant to organizations such as the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, Ipas, the Abortion Access Project, Pro Kan Do, Oregon Health & Science University, and the Abortion Conversation Project, and has served on the Board of Open Adoption & Family Services and the Birthingway College of Midwifery.
Andrea Hussey
Andrea Hussey has a long history of working in health care and education. As manager of an all women's health care clinic, Andrea recruited and trained volunteers and worked directly with heath care providers to provide a safe and supportive environment for women to seek the care they needed. She also expanded diversified health care and training opportunities as she managed the Native American Rehabilitation Associations' primary care clinic. Andrea currently works for the Multnomah Education Service Districts' Outdoor School program, training and supervising adults, high school students and sixth graders in environmental education and stewardship. She has been a talk line advocate since February 2007 and joined the Backline Board in July, 2007.
Jani Iverson
Jani Iverson has dedicated more than 15 years to nonprofit service benefiting women and children. She entered the nonprofit community as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood in Seattle, WA, before earning her Master's degree in Organizational Development. Jani brings experience in strategic & operational planning, staff development and fundraising. A native of Washington, she comes to Oregon via a stint in the United States Peace Corps where she provided nonprofit leadership development and consulting to organizations serving women on the island of Western Samoa. Prior to her service abroad, she held the position of Vice President of Planning and Development for Planned Parenthood of Central Washington, providing clinical services, educational programs and public advocacy efforts from 12 centers in central and eastern Washington. She is currently the Interim Executive Director for a shelter serving the needs of women and families who have been impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. She joined the Backline Board in July, 2008.
Shani Pines, JD
Shani Pines brings a legal and counseling background to her work at Backline. She served as the Outreach Director of the UCLA Peer Helpline, and worked as a pro-choice volunteer for the Fund for the Feminist Majority. Shani also spent five years as a staff attorney at a capital legal resource center, where she focused on mental health and social justice issues.
Marli Riede
Marli Riede has a BA in Comparative Religious Studies from Lewis and Clark College and has studied in the Graduate School of Conflict Resolution at Portland State University. Marli currently works as a counselor at Lovejoy Surgicenter, a nationally prominent Abortion Provider and Backline Community Ally. Her work and studies have always and will continue to focus on the powerful force of conversation as a vehicle for peace and resolution. Marli has been a Talk Line Advocate since November 2005. She has served as the organization's Program Director since 2006.
Christopher Roesing
Christopher Roesing has been working in nonprofits for nearly a decade, in PR, marketing, events, administration and development. While working as a performance artist, musician and promoter in Cincinnati, Ohio, he founded Art Damage Inc., a nonprofit for experimental music. After earning a BA in Theatre, a BA in French, a Masters in Arts Administration and an MBA, Roesing threw caution to the wind and moved to Portland, where he works for the dance presenter White Bird as Special Projects Coordinator and resident jack-of-all-trades.
Rebekah Schiefer
Rebekah Schiefer comes to the Backline Board with several years experience in the field of reproductive health education and activism. She started volunteering with Planned Parenthood in 1996 as a peer educator conducting HIV and AIDS prevention with middle and high schoolers. She attended The Evergreen State College, where she focused her studies in political science and constitutional law. In 2005 she moved to Portland, where she started working with the local Planned Parenthood affiliate in the health clinic and then as a health educator. Rebekah also had the opportunity to work in a boys group home and as a case manager for foster youth transitioning to independent living. Currently, Rebekah is pursuing her MSW at Portland State University.
Melissa Valencia-Manerini
Melissa Valencia-Manerini became involved in reproductive health and pregnancy options education after she was touched by an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager. Melissa served as a peer educator, mentor and public speaker for a teen pregnancy prevention and sex education program in Kansas, where she shared her experiences with pregnancy and her choice to plan an Open Adoption. After moving to Oregon, Melissa became involved with Open Adoption & Family Services, speaking as a Birthmother and advocate for Choice for all women. She has been on the Board of Directors of Open Adoption & Family Services since 2004 and is very excited to pursue new opportunities with Backline and further her knowledge in the fields of Reproductive Choice, Health and Justice.
, Secretary
Megan Wentworth has a BS in Business Administration and a strong background in organizational development. Megan spent five years in the financial industry conducting wealth planning, team building, asset gathering and quality control. Currently, Megan helps further philanthropy as a part of Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington. They provide programming and services to support and inspire effective giving in the region. She has served as the Vice President of the Backline Board since 2004.
