Our Story
Rooted in Community. Committed to Liberation.
Seeds of Liberation CDC was born from lived experience — founded by people who have navigated the very systems we now work to transform. We believe that healing, housing, and opportunity are not privileges. They are rights.
Our Mission
Seeds of Liberation Community Development Corporation (CDC) is an Indigenous-rooted, community-centered nonprofit dedicated to strengthening individuals, restoring family connections, and creating meaningful pathways toward stability, opportunity, and self-determination.
Our mission is to address the lasting impacts of systemic inequities, incarceration, family separation, and economic hardship through culturally grounded, relationship-centered programs that support workforce development, family preservation, parenting, agricultural education, and community restoration.
We recognize that healing and meaningful change do not happen in isolation. They happen when individuals have opportunities to reconnect with their families, strengthen their relationships, develop skills, access resources, and experience a genuine sense of belonging.
At Seeds of Liberation, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to grow beyond their circumstances, that families deserve opportunities for restoration, and that communities are strongest when people are supported rather than defined by their past.
We plant seeds of opportunity, nurture pathways toward restoration, and work toward communities where individuals and families can thrive for generations to come.
Who We Serve
Seeds of Liberation CDC is rooted in Indigenous values of community, connection, collective responsibility, and respect for the dignity of all people.
While our foundation is informed by Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and cultural understandings of healing and restoration, our commitment to community extends to individuals and families of all backgrounds.
Our work is intended to support:
Individuals impacted by incarceration: People navigating the transition from incarceration to community, including those seeking employment, family reconnection, personal development, and opportunities for long-term stability.
Parents and families: Parents working to strengthen relationships with their children, develop parenting skills, navigate family separation, and restore healthy family systems.
Individuals facing employment barriers: People seeking workforce readiness, employment opportunities, vocational skills, and pathways toward economic independence.
Current and former foster youth: Young people and adults impacted by foster care who may benefit from mentorship, community connection, life skills, and supportive opportunities.
Individuals and families experiencing economic or housing instability: Community members seeking greater stability and opportunities to build sustainable futures.
People interested in agricultural and land-based opportunities: Individuals seeking to develop practical skills through farming, food cultivation, land stewardship, and community-based agricultural initiatives.
We recognize that each person's experiences, strengths, and needs are unique. Our approach is not to define people by the systems they have encountered or the challenges they have experienced, but to recognize their humanity, honor their strengths, and support their ability to determine their own futures.
You do not have to share our experiences, cultural background, or history to belong in our community.
What We Stand For
At Seeds of Liberation CDC, our values guide how we engage with individuals, families, community partners, and the systems that shape people's lives.
Dignity and Human Worth
We believe every person has inherent value, regardless of their history, circumstances, or involvement with social systems. No individual should be reduced to a diagnosis, conviction, case file, or past experience.
Family Preservation and Restoration
We believe families deserve meaningful opportunities to strengthen relationships, heal from separation, and rebuild healthy connections. We recognize that family restoration requires accountability, safety, support, and a commitment to the well-being of children and parents alike.
Cultural Connection and Belonging
Rooted in Indigenous understandings of interconnectedness and collective responsibility, we recognize culture, identity, and belonging as important foundations for individual and community wellness. We respect the diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences of those we serve.
Self-Determination and Empowerment
We believe individuals and families should have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their lives. Our role is to walk alongside people, provide opportunities and resources, and support their ability to determine their own paths forward.
Accountability Without Dehumanization
We believe accountability and compassion can exist together. People can acknowledge harm, take responsibility, and make meaningful changes without being permanently defined by their past.
Opportunity and Economic Stability
We recognize that lasting stability requires access to meaningful employment, practical skills, supportive relationships, and opportunities for economic independence.
Community Responsibility and Collective Healing
We believe healing extends beyond the individual. When families are strengthened, opportunities are expanded, and communities invest in one another, the benefits can extend across generations.
Restoration Over Exclusion
We believe communities are strengthened when individuals are given meaningful opportunities to reconnect, contribute, and belong. Rather than perpetuating cycles of exclusion, we seek to cultivate pathways toward restoration, growth, and lasting community connection.
Meet Our Leadership
Board President | Community Agriculture & Development Advocate
John Ochoa
John Ochoa serves as President of the Seeds of Liberation CDC Board of Directors, bringing practical experience in community agriculture, mentorship, and connecting individuals and families with supportive resources.
His background includes community garden development, farming, animal care, and hands-on agricultural activities that encourage self-sufficiency, skill development, and connection to the land.
John also brings experience in mentorship and resource navigation, recognising the importance of helping individuals access opportunities, build supportive relationships, and overcome barriers to stability. His knowledge of agricultural practices and community-based development contributes to Seeds of Liberation CDC's vision of creating land-based learning opportunities, strengthening local food systems, and supporting long-term community sustainability.
As Board President, John helps guide the organisation's mission and strategic direction, emphasising collaboration, practical skill-building, and the importance of creating opportunities that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.
Board Treasurer | Educator | Family Preservation Advocate
Yohemi Ochoa
Yohemi Ochoa serves as Treasurer of the Seeds of Liberation CDC Board of Directors, bringing her experience as an educator and her strong commitment to culturally responsive family preservation.
As a teacher, Yohemi understands the importance of education, supportive relationships, and creating environments where children and families feel respected, valued, and understood.
She is a dedicated advocate for strengthening family systems through approaches that recognise the importance of cultural identity, family relationships, and the unique experiences of each household. Her perspective reflects the belief that supporting children also requires recognising the strengths, needs, and cultural foundations of their families.
As Board Treasurer, Yohemi contributes to the organisation's governance while advocating for programs and practices that promote family connection, educational opportunity, cultural responsiveness, and community well-being. Through her leadership, Yohemi supports Seeds of Liberation CDC's commitment to preserving family relationships, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Community Advocate | Peer Support Professional | Facilitator
Beto Contreras
Beto Contreras brings a powerful combination of lived experience, professional training, and a deep commitment to helping individuals and families rebuild their lives.
Having personally experienced the impacts of incarceration and the challenges of returning to community, Beto understands that rebuilding a life requires more than simply completing a sentence. It requires meaningful opportunities, supportive relationships, family connections, and a community that believes people are capable of growth and change.
As a Certified Recovery Mentor and experienced group facilitator, Beto has dedicated his work to supporting individuals navigating recovery, personal transformation, and the challenges associated with incarceration and systemic barriers. His approach centres on accountability, compassion, cultural connection, and the belief that people should never be defined solely by the most difficult chapters of their lives.
Through Seeds of Liberation CDC, Beto is committed to creating opportunities for individuals to reconnect with their families, strengthen their identities, develop meaningful skills, and establish lasting stability. For Beto, liberation means having the opportunity to build a future that is not determined by one's past.
Social Work Professional | Addiction Counselor | Policy Advocate | Community Leader
Oulu Marie Noonan
Oulu Marie Noonan brings together professional education, direct service experience, policy advocacy, and lived expertise to advance meaningful change for individuals, families, and communities impacted by systemic inequities.
As a former foster youth and young parent, Oulu understands firsthand the challenges that individuals and families can experience while navigating systems intended to provide protection, stability, and support. Rather than allowing those experiences to define the limits of her future, she pursued higher education and a professional career dedicated to improving the very systems she once experienced.
Oulu holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Portland State University and an associate degree in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling and Social Services. Her professional credentials include Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC I), Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM), and Qualified Mental Health Associate–Registrant (QMHA-R). Her professional background includes child protective services, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, and direct work with children, youth, and families experiencing complex challenges.
Beyond direct service, Oulu has participated in Oregon legislative advocacy focused on improving outcomes for current and former foster youth, bringing lived expertise into conversations about public policy, accountability, and systemic reform. Through Seeds of Liberation CDC, Oulu seeks to help build community-based pathways that strengthen families, expand opportunities, and recognise the knowledge and resilience of people whose voices have historically been excluded from decisions affecting their lives. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change requires more than services alone — it requires dignity, cultural belonging, self-determination, and opportunities for individuals and families to shape their own futures.
Board Member | Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) | Artist & Skilled Trades Contributor
Eric Presley
Eric Presley brings a combination of peer support experience, artistic creativity, and practical building skills to the Seeds of Liberation CDC Board of Directors.
As an active Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM), Eric contributes knowledge of recovery-centred support and the importance of meaningful community connections.
An avid artist, Eric has experience in printmaking and clothing design, including print-pressing techniques used to create customised apparel. His creative skills reflect the value of artistic expression as a pathway toward personal development, skill-building, and economic opportunity. Eric also brings hands-on experience in building and construction-related work, offering practical knowledge that aligns with the organisation's developing workforce, agricultural, and community development initiatives.
Through his board membership, Eric supports Seeds of Liberation CDC's commitment to creating opportunities for individuals to discover their strengths, develop practical skills, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Board Member | Certified Recovery Mentor II (CRM II)
Michael Hovey
Michael Hovey brings years of experience supporting individuals navigating substance use, recovery, and the challenges associated with rebuilding stability in their lives.
As a Certified Recovery Mentor II (CRM II), Michael combines professional peer support experience with firsthand knowledge of the barriers individuals may encounter when navigating the justice system and returning to their communities.
His work is grounded in the understanding that meaningful recovery and personal transformation require more than access to services. They require compassion, accountability, supportive relationships, and opportunities for individuals to establish a renewed sense of purpose.
As a member of the Seeds of Liberation CDC Board of Directors, Michael contributes valuable insight into recovery-oriented support, community restoration, and the importance of creating pathways that recognise the dignity, strengths, and potential of every individual.
Walk With Us
Whether you want to volunteer, donate, or simply learn more — we welcome you into this community.