Mary Rose Navarro and Jason Carr Join the ALF Oregon Board
The ALF Oregon Board of Directors are thrilled to welcome Mary Rose Navarro (Class 43) of Portland and Jason Carr (Class39) of Prineville to the board!
About Mary Rose:
Mary Rose is driven by the possibilities that emerge when people with diverse perspectives come together with the intention of making their neighborhoods, cities and the world a better place. Since moving to Oregon in 1990, she has participated in social and environmental change at the neighborhood, city and regional levels. Through her year long experience as a PLACES Fellow at the Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities she deepened her awareness about societal and institutional structures that have created widespread disparities and how those disparities play out in urban and rural areas.
Mary Rose sought hands-on experience working at the neighborhood level at Friends of Trees. There she learned the joy of watching a group of individuals transform into a community, bonded by a morning of hard work planting trees. She spent 23 years working first at Portland Parks and Recreation and then at Metro Parks and Nature in public policy, planning and park development projects. She deepened her appreciation for how community members can take the lead in shaping thriving neighborhoods by influencing policy changes and directing investments in nature can lead to multiple benefits.
Mary Rose also worked with Meyer Memorial Trust as a program officer from 2019 - 2023, where she sharpened her networking and collaborative skills in order to support creative community building and risk taking in service of healthier relationships with each other and the planet.
Underlying all that Mary Rose does is her mindfulness practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is happily married with two children and lives in Portland. She spends her free time with family, tending her backyard habitat, reading, and backpacking. She is currently finishing up her tenure as Interim Executive Director of the Confluence Project.
About Jason Carr:
Jason Carr is a seasoned communications professional, consultant, and leader with over 25 years of diverse experience. His career has spanned the public and private sectors, where he has been instrumental in helping organizations tell their stories, manage crises, and effectively engage with their communities. His successful leadership of initiatives, from economic development projects to public health campaigns, has consistently fostered transparency, trust, and meaningful engagement.
Jason’s career began in media, where he worked in television broadcasting, honing his skills in storytelling, audience engagement, and public speaking. Over time, his career shifted toward economic and community development, where he helped drive growth and innovation in Central Oregon, managing large-scale projects and building relationships with key stakeholders. He later served as a communications director for a public school district, where he developed robust communication strategies to improve educational outcomes, strengthen community ties, and promote transparency.
In addition to his professional work, Jason has a deep passion for youth development and leadership. As a long-time basketball coach, he has dedicated over 15 years to mentoring young athletes, teaching them the values of resilience, teamwork, and mental toughness on and off the court. His leadership style emphasizes integrity, personal growth, and creating purpose-driven mindsets among those he coaches and mentors.
Jason’s commitment to community service is a testament to his values and dedication to making a positive impact. Beyond his professional and coaching endeavors, he has been actively involved in various nonprofits and local organizations, contributing to initiatives promoting equity, education, and health.
Jason and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 26 years and live in Prineville, Oregon. They have two children: their daughter, Kaylee, is an Oregon State University graduate living in Denver, and their son, Cameron, is currently attending the University of Oregon.
Mary Rose and Jason join a talented and committed group of Senior Fellows currently serving on the board: Bobbi Stedman (Class 40), Sama Shagaga (Class 42), Cynthia Carmina Gomez (Class 40), Greg Holmes (Class 38), Brandi Tuck (Class 38), Jessie Eagan (Class 37), Berk Nelson (Class 34), Aurora Jackson (Class 33), Patrick Quinton (Class 30), and Vicki Nakashima (Class 8).