Kendall Clawson at the Q Center's ribbon cutting
It’s been a week since Governor-elect John Kitzhaber announced the appointment of his closest aids. I would like to join with the rest of the queer community in congratulating Q Center‘s Kendall Clawson‘s hiring as Director of Executive Appointments.
This is a joyous, if slightly bittersweet, occasion, but will ultimately benefit the entire LGBT community. The Q Center might be losing its first permanent Executive Director, and a great one at that, but she will be in a position of power in the Gov’s office, a queer voice in our state politics.
Cory Murphy of Pride Northwest noted, “Kendall deserves this, but all of the LGBTQ community will benefit because Kendall will be on the forefront of making sure every board and commission will represent the views of women, people of color, differently-abled, low- and middle-income folks as well as the LGBTQ community. Kitz has really fulfilled a pledge here to our community.”
Clawson will not be easy to replace, but the Q Board of Directors has already begun a national search. They have also created a volunteer search committee made up of current and former board members.
The decision to leave was a difficult one for Clawson. “I toiled over it; I’m not gonna kid you,” said Clawson, who was offered the position following several meetings over the holidays. “It’s literally like having to hand over my child. But I trust the people I work with, and I trust the community to do everything they can to embrace it and make sure [Q Center] continues to grow.”
At the moment she’s pulling some double duty, continuing to aid the Q Center even though she has already started her new job recruiting for the boards and commissions that help the executive branch manage the state’s resources.
congrats Kendall!
[…] the Queer Community Center’s Executive Director Kendall Clawson decided to take a job with Gov Kitzhaber it was one of those bittersweet moments. On one hand it was excited to have an incredible ally in […]