CANCELLED: Culturally Specific Re-entry Program Using the H.E.A.T. Curriculum

Go Back

Bruce Douglas is a native of Grambling, Louisiana and is a 1983 graduate of Grambling State University. There he majored in Criminal Justice, followed by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Development at Troy State University, Montgomery (Alabama) in 1987. Subsequently, upon working in various governmental capacities, Bruce began his career with Multnomah County (Oregon) in 1995 for the Sheriff’s Office as an Alcohol & Drug Evaluation Specialist, and Corrections Counselor. He then transferred to the Department of Community Justice (DCJ), Adult Division, in 2002 working in various departments up until beginning his current assignment in 2015 as the Corrections Counselor for the African American Program. Bruce and his wife of 39 years have lived abroad, enjoy traveling, attending spiritually uplifting events and going on walks. They have two adult children.

Carl Green is a Sworn Community Justice Manager for the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice in Portland Oregon, where he manages the African American Program, Gang Unit, Latino Program and Electronic Monitoring Program. Preceding his current assignment, Carl managed the East County Generic unit, Change Center, and Sex Crimes Unit. Carl is a graduate of the Multnomah County Leadership Academy and the American Probation and Parole Association Leadership Institute. He received his Bachelors of Art from Washington State University prior to entering the field as a Probation/Parole Officer. Carl spent 18 years in the Gang Unit where he served as a Lead Officer and was well known for leading successful field missions to enhance public safety and community relations. Prior to becoming a manager, Carl was appointed as the Lead Training Officer in a special unit focused on implementing trauma informed care, brain development and cultural responsiveness in evidence based practices called the SMART GRANT. This unit has been recognized by Harvard University and the Federal Judiciary for their work. Carl is currently a member of the County Diversity, Equity, Steering Committee (DESC), Managers of Color, and the Workforce Equity Strategic Plan Advisory Group. In his spare time, Carl enjoys traveling with his wife and two daughters.

Originally from Oakland California, the seventh of eight brothers and sisters, Nate and his beautiful wife of 42 years have spent the last 41 raising their four adult children in Portland, Oregon. Nate’s greatest accomplishment in life has been living to see his children become good people and productive adults that still like being around him. Nate has been employed with Multnomah County for 30 years. In 1994, he started as an Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Specialist with the In-Jail Intervention Program (IJIP). Two years later, he transitioned to the Sheriff’s Department as a Corrections Deputy. In 2000, he transferred to and remains with the Department of Community Justice as a Parole/Probation Officer for the African American Program (AAP)—a culturally specific parole transition program. Nate finds working for the African American Program a rewarding, once-in-a-life-time opportunity because it allows him to connect genuinely with a group of people, who look like him, that have historically had negative interactions with the criminal justice system. He enjoys having honest conversations with the African American men and women returning home from prison alongside their families that have, in essence, done time with them about what it will take to successful reenter the community. AAP is unique for several reasons, firstly because it starts six to eight months prior to release. Secondly, because it engages the offender and their family in cultural enrichment education to provide them with the life skills needed to make better decisions once released—the new curriculum is called Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy (H.E.A.T.) and Habilitation Empowerment Recovery (H.E.R.). In 2016 Men’s H.E.A.T. was offered at Columbia River Correctional Facility and in 2018, Women’s H.E.R. curriculum at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Once paroled, they attend our weekly community support group. Within the scope of this role as a Parole Officer, Nate is also a certified Survival Skills and Firearms Instructor with a focus on community and officer safety. Recently promoted to Sworn Criminal Justice Manager. In his free time, Nate enjoys fishing the lakes, rivers, and oceans of the Pacific Northwest and spending time with family and friends.

Tomasina Tavai-Porotesano is a Lead Parole Probation Officer for Cultural Responsive Units for the Department of Community Justice of Multnomah County. She has worked for Parole and Probation for over 20 years and currently supervises justice involved African American women. She has dedicated her Parole and Probation career helping clients recognize their potential and making positive changes. Tomasina is passionate about her work, as she genuinely believes people can transform with the appropriate guidance, support and resources. Tomasina graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northwest Missouri in 1994 and received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Portland State University in 1999.