Mission
Black & Beyond the Binary Collective builds the leadership, healing, and safety for Black - African transgender, queer, nonbinary, two-spirit, and intersex (TQN2SI+) Oregonians.
Vision
We envision a future that gives power back to our communities, celebrates self-expression, and preserves the dignity, joy, and the future of Black queer and Trans communities living fully liberated lives.
Land and Labor Acknowledgment
We do our work on the stolen land of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Clackamas, Stl’pulmsh (also known as Cowlitz) and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. This land is also home to the eleventh largest urban native population, still thriving despite daily attempts at state sanctioned genocide.
We live in a nation of wealth created by the subjugation of African people brought to Turtle Island through chattel slavery or the Maa’fa (which is Swahili for the great disaster). These peoples included Chamba, Wolof, Abron, Fulani, Mande, Fon, Bakongo, Igbo, Yoruba, Mbundu, and many other tribes from western and central Africa.
We uplift the original Indigenous peoples of this land and forced contributions of generations of Africans to build the wealth of this country. We ground our fight knowing that there is no Black liberation without Indigenous Sovereignty and there is no Indigenous Sovereignty without Black liberation. We fight for land back and reparations and refute settler-colonialism, xenophobia, anti-Black racism, and imperialism. This includes challenging the validity of imperially imposed borders and immigration laws, driving wars meant primarily to secure future generations of continued colonization.
Those who are not indigenous to this land and were not brought here as slaves are guests charged with working to end the genocide of Black & Native communities across Turtle Island.
Staff
Babatunde “Zubbi” Azubuike
Executive Director, Founder
Pronouns: XeyXem/Xir
Zubbi is an African - Tsalagi, queer, two-spirit, disabled, femme. Xey are the Founder and Executive Director of Black & Beyond the Binary Collective and the Umoja Kijana Shujaa Program. Raised in a working-class household guided xir mother, the fight for liberation is nothing new to xem. Xey believe our collective healing, including healing the planet is key to liberation. Xir vision is guided by an abolitionist, pro-Palestine intersectional Black queer feminism.
Erin Waters
Director of Equitable Programs & Services
Pronouns: She/Her
Erin Waters is an advocate for the Queer community with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous Identities. Her work has taken her from small federally qualified health centers to large scale corporate healthcare, universities, colleges, to government and legislative bodies. Including supporting the development of gender expansive and affirming care programs, creating community advisory councils, peer-based mentoring programs, and participating in coalition work dedicated to making the changes necessary for paving the way for the TQNI2S+ community to thrive. Erin has been invited to speak and teach at DEI conferences, community events, and many other opportunities educating doctors, academics, and professionals working to improve the lives of marginalized communities.
Erin was recognized by the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest in 2019 as a Queer Hero in the Portland Community and in 2020 she received the David J. Lawrence Community Service Award from Kaiser Permanente. In 2022 ,she was honored to receive the Kathleen Saadat Community Advocate Award as an educator and advocate for queer rights.
Erin holds degrees in International Affairs and foreign languages from the University of Georgia and Georgia Perimeter College, respectively.
Issa Ubidia-Luckett
Housing Coordinator
Pronouns: they/them
Issa is an Afro-Latinx, disabled, non-binary, queer femme advocate for marginalized communities with a focus on Black and Brown queer communities. After beginning their journey into social work with children in the arts they served in multiple roles aiding youth and young adults towards decolonizing their minds and developing sustainable practices. Their work includes supporting houseless queer individuals from teens to adults, working with nonprofits in the arts and supporting the development of housing programs for young adults transitioning out of the foster care system.
Negasi Brown
Program and Events Coordinator
Pronouns: She/They
Negasi is a Trinidadian Black, gender queer, artist and organizer in Portland. Their experience as a creator informs her approach to liberation and revolution. His politics are rooted in sexual liberation, prison abolition, and radical love. They have been engaged in social work and community organization since high school, working as an advocate for Black queer people's education and sexual health. She now works as a theater creator and activist in the Portland area. They believe art and radical queer creativity is essential to uplifting Black and Brown queer people.
Galaxie Edwards-Page
TQN2SI+ Housing Navigator
Pronouns: All
Board of Directors
Mireaya Medina
Board Chair
Pronouns: She/Her
Mireaya is a Portland native. Her Portland roots go back to her grandmother and mother living in Vanport, then being displaced. Mireaya is a treehugger, a student of sound healing, a nurturer, and Zumba enthusiast who loves serving her community.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Arts degree in Design and loves offering her designs to community orgs, shifting preconceived notions and narratives, while also spending time grounding in nature.
She has been serving community organizations in various capacities for over 15 years including Imagibe Black (fka PAALF-Portland African American Leadership Forum), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp for Girls, Youth Organized & United to Help, Books Not Bars Oregon, SE Uplift, Black PFLAG-Portland Chapter, and is the current board chair for Black & Beyond the Binary Collective.
Malakai Strong
Board Secretary
Pronouns: He/Him or They/Them
Malakai (he/they) is a public speaker, author, and mental health activist who is working toward becoming a licensed therapist to help bridge the gaps between the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities. Malakai holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Nebraska and a graduate certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Social Work at Capella University. He released his book, Super Me in November 2023 and currently resides in Southern California.
Jasmine Dean
Board Co-Secretary
Jasmine (she/her/They/Them) is a first-generation college and high school graduate of her family. She identifies as a Black Afro-Latina. Jasmine has lived in Portland, Oregon, all her life; her family immigrated from Cuba in 1980 and traveled from Miami to Portland in 1981. Jasmine went to Western Oregon University, where she joined the Student Hall Government and helped create community events and educational seminars for the student body. She then transferred to Portland State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice, focusing on police reform and community engagement. Jasmine works in immigration, helping immigrants and refugees gain status and fight deportation. Jasmine has also hosted anti-blackness seminars and trainings on abolition and alternatives to safety within Oregon via policy changes, Jasmine also helped organize the first ever Black Existence March in 2020, along with calling for city councils across Oregon to defund the police and place the funds in alternative safety programs and back into the community. Jasmine has continued to fight for Black liberation and the abolishment of police by testifying at city councils all around Oregon. She is currently gaining her paralegal certification, and she hopes to start offering her skills to Black and immigrant community members to help fight oppressive systems within our society.
OshunKemi Badú
Board Member
Oshunkemi is a Two Spirit; Haitian, disabled, queer, healer, and birth worker. Originally from Indianapolis, IN; where they started their healing journey in their youth. Born to Haitian immigrants, who are now citizens, Badú is a second-generation spiritual birth worker. Kemi is the oldest of 12 and has lots of littles in their life. Kemi is following in the footsteps of their great-grandmother, who helped give birth to their mother and hundreds more. In their early years, they wore many hats: babysitter, barista, lifeguard, librarian, etc. Kemi went to Northern Kentucky University for Nursing but left Freshman year due to COVID-19. After working in the Trauma Unit; they decided to become a reiki master and doula to create ‘Oshuns Oasis’. Kemi is very passionate about accessible and empowering healing work for all black/brown queer folx. Their primary focus has been creating safe spaces for trans/queer birth givers and parents. Kemi uses their prior experience as a mentor/teacher in their postpartum care. They love finding ways to connect parents to their children. Kemi hopes to one day be a nurse midwife for trans/queer and non-nuclear families. Badú empowers their clients to also build relationships with their ancestors and spirit guides. They are medium and energy-sensitive beings. Kemi offers tarot readings, shell divination, and other modalities to relay and clarify messages. Kemi’s passions also include singing, dancing with spirit, creating altars and oils, and occasional walks to the crossroads or the river/beach.
Joy Alise Davis
Board Treasurer
Pronouns: She/Her
Hailing from Cincinnati, Joy Alise Davis (she/her) graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from Parsons School of Design with a Master of Arts in Theories of Urban Practice. She is the founder of the award-winning firm Design + Culture Lab, and is an Assistant Professor at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). Currently, Joy Alise serves as the President and Executive Director of Imagine Black, where she works to help our Black community imagine the alternatives they deserve and build political participation to achieve those alternatives. When she is not winning awards, Joy Alise enjoys spending time with her two loves: Emmy-nominated husband Rob, and her whippet rescue, Trudy-Ann. When Joy Alise gets a seat at the table, she swiftly dismantles the old furniture and makes room for a more inclusive space led by Black and Indigenous folks.