Our team
Future Prairie is governed by a working board that provides organizational oversight, strategic direction, fundraising support, program planning, and community accountability. Because we currently operate without paid staff, our board members participate in both governance and day-to-day implementation. Together, they guide our priorities, budgets, partnerships, programs, and grant-funded activities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Liam Whitworth
Founder
Liam is an artist, writer, curator, and cultural organizer who founded Future Prairie in 2018. His multidisciplinary practice encompasses poetry, experimental film, performance, social practice, and community-based arts programming. He brings experience in nonprofit leadership, grant development, communications, marketing, event production, and the creation of paid opportunities for working-class LGBTQIA+ artists. Liam’s work is rooted in economic justice, creative experimentation, and building a more connected cultural future for Oregon.
Emmanuel “Onry” Henreid
Executive Director
Onry is a recording artist, producer, arts leader, and tenor with Portland Opera. He brings executive leadership experience in Black arts organizations, along with expertise in live event production, technical direction, marketing, audience development, and relationship-building. His work is grounded in deep connections to Black artist networks and North Portland’s historic Albina neighborhood.
Learn more at onrymusic.com.
Brittany Marcotte
Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer
Brittany is a pianist, jiu-jitsu instructor, Marine Corps veteran, and community scientist. She has created and maintained several viral Facebook groups for people across the Pacific Northwest to learn more about art and science and access free information about resilient climate solutions for our region. As a queer woman, she helps strengthen Future Prairie’s relationships with local subcultures and queer communities. She supports organizational operations, logistics, planning, and program implementation, drawing on her experience in project coordination, teaching, mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving. Her leadership helps keep Future Prairie’s programs organized, accessible, and responsive to the artists and communities we serve.
Shakir Najieb
Board Member
Shakir is a community organizer, arts advocate, and independent consultant who works with nonprofit organizations and creative coalitions. He has more than fifteen years of experience organizing community events in the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in the Albina neighborhood of Portland and is passionate about reconnecting Black artists in Albina with coalition-building, governance, funds, and community-centered cultural work.
Parker Hines
Board Member
Jax Ko
Board Member
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Future Prairie’s work is sustained by a caring and devoted network of artists, organizers, and cultural workers who volunteer their time and expertise. Past leads and collaborators have included Martin Melnick, Ashlin Aronin, Brett Brown, Beck Beverage, Akela Jaffi Auer, Jess Ackerman, Skylyn Booth, Justine Vanderpool, Hannah Piper Burns, Matthew Halbert-Howen, Libby Landauer, Saeeda Wright, Chloe Larson, and many others.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Liam Whitworth
Founder
Liam is an artist, writer, curator, and cultural organizer who founded Future Prairie in 2018. His multidisciplinary practice encompasses poetry, experimental film, performance, social practice, and community-based arts programming. He brings experience in nonprofit leadership, grant development, communications, marketing, event production, and the creation of paid opportunities for working-class LGBTQIA+ artists. Liam’s work is rooted in economic justice, creative experimentation, and building a more connected cultural future for Oregon.
Emmanuel “Onry” Henreid
Executive Director
Onry is a recording artist, producer, arts leader, and tenor with Portland Opera. He brings executive leadership experience in Black arts organizations, along with expertise in live event production, technical direction, marketing, audience development, and relationship-building. His work is grounded in deep connections to Black artist networks and North Portland’s historic Albina neighborhood.
Learn more at onrymusic.com.
Brittany Marcotte
Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer
Brittany is a pianist, jiu-jitsu instructor, Marine Corps veteran, and community scientist. She has created and maintained several viral Facebook groups for people across the Pacific Northwest to learn more about art and science and access free information about resilient climate solutions for our region. As a queer woman, she helps strengthen Future Prairie’s relationships with local subcultures and queer communities. She supports organizational operations, logistics, planning, and program implementation, drawing on her experience in project coordination, teaching, mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving. Her leadership helps keep Future Prairie’s programs organized, accessible, and responsive to the artists and communities we serve.
Shakir Najieb
Board Member
Shakir is a community organizer, arts advocate, and independent consultant who works with nonprofit organizations and creative coalitions. He has more than fifteen years of experience organizing community events in the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in the Albina neighborhood of Portland and is passionate about reconnecting Black artists in Albina with coalition-building, governance, funds, and community-centered cultural work.
Parker Hines
Board Member
Jax Ko
Board Member
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Future Prairie’s work is sustained by a caring and devoted network of artists, organizers, and cultural workers who volunteer their time and expertise. Past leads and collaborators have included Martin Melnick, Ashlin Aronin, Brett Brown, Beck Beverage, Akela Jaffi Auer, Jess Ackerman, Skylyn Booth, Justine Vanderpool, Hannah Piper Burns, Matthew Halbert-Howen, Libby Landauer, Saeeda Wright, Chloe Larson, and many others.
