Maka Gibson (She/Her) Email & Phone Number

I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter, dog mama, friend, avid adventurer, master gardener and lifelong learner. I am a Kanaka 'Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian), Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese) and Chinese (fifth generation) woman, and I was born and raised in Hawaiʻi. I have navigated the role of being a BIPOC professional in philanthropy for ten years and I work diligently to connect resources to important causes in our community. Philanthropy has been a guiding theme throughout my life. If it wasn't for the philanthropy of Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Bishop and her incredible legacy that created Kamehameha Schools, I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today. I attended Willamette University on a generous scholarship, where I gave back to the local Salem-Keizer community by mentoring historically under resourced youth at Willamette Academy. After college, I worked at The Oregon Community Foundation, where I administered our Education Programs, including awarding scholarships to first-generation, low-income college students across the state. I previously worked at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, working as a change maker by lifting up the work of my community partners.I'm deeply passionate about closing the opportunity gap for people experiencing intergenerational poverty by providing access to high-quality programs and supports, and examining systemic changes through advocacy and policy work. I am a skilled leader and facilitator in anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations, and approach racial and social justice work with humility and from a place of continuous learning and evolving. My colleagues would describe me as a curious, open-minded and resourceful thought-partner.I was previously a proud member of the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition and I served as a facilitator for the SW Washington Racial Equity Learning Community. I build authentic relationships with communities in a rural part of Washington state and help organizations institutionalize their equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies. I am a staunch supporter of a life-work balance by prioritizing rest and finding and holding onto joy. I believe self care is community care and I know deeply that healing is not linear. I consider myself a humble lifelong learner, and I am continuously challenging white supremacist systems and structures and decolonizing my mind by seeking silenced and stolen narratives.