Arts Advocate - Jayanthi Raman

TRADITIONAL TO THE CONTEMPORARY

Raman has served on the Board of the Beaverton Arts Commission appointed by the Mayor of Beaverton as diversity and cultural liaison. She has served as cultural coalition leader for the Washington County panel when it was originally formed, by the Oregon Cultural Trust. She was appointed by the Governor of Oregon, dealing with policy and decision making for the use and distribution of Government grant funding in the Washington County.

She has also served as a Grant Panelist for the Regional Arts Culture Council panel for project and fellowship grants and for the Oregon Arts Commission reviewing peer artists in Oregon and recommending for Fellowship awards. She has has also served as grant panelist reviewing peer traditional artists of varied genres and recommend for funding for the Illinois Arts Council.

She received ‘Arts Leadership’ award from Beaverton Arts Commission and City of Beaverton honored by the Mayor for her tireless work in promoting Indian performing arts. Raman serves as consultant supporting the Arts Consulting Group in planning and designing for a new Arts and Culture Center in Beaverton.

Raman is an eloquent speaker and invited to host multiple events. She has been Mistress of Ceremonies for concerts, educational and outreach events, she has served as workshop panelist for the Washington County Arts, Culture and Heritage Coalition as well as for the Beaverton Arts Commission. Her lectures include wide variety of topics including about Indian dance, history, mythology, women’s rights, Hinduism etc.

She was speaker at the Council of Champions Breakfast for the Center for Arts and Culture planning meeting, on behalf of the City of Beaverton, Beaverton Arts Commission on how a facility supports the expression of cultural traditions, education and providing a skilled and educated workforce with access to the arts. This was presided by the Mayor of Beaverton and attended by corporate community. She also was invited as panel speaker by the Westside Cultural Alliance and the Washington County Arts, Culture, and Heritage Coalition for workshop on finding the getting the right grant. Her other lectures include talk about Cultural resources and diversity in Washington County for the Leadership Beaverton Culture & Recreation Workshop.

Raman planned and brought together for the first time in Oregon a distinguished panel of local Indian entrepreneurs, physicians, engineers, academicians, corporate, cultural and community leaders to talk about the contributions of the Indian immigrant community in Oregon. She led the panel discussion and acted as mediator for the three events held at Portland State University, Intel, and Oregon Historical Society in March-May 2016.

The events were supported by: Portland State University Institute of Asian Studies, Intel India Forum, Oregon Historical Society and the World Affairs Council of Oregon. The panel discussions also featured special guests: Mayor of Beaverton, the Mayor of Hillsboro, the Director of University of Oregon Folklife Program and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Oregon State University OSU. Raman was acclaimed for her efforts in celebrating and showcasing the contributions of Indian immigrants in Oregon.

As co-founder of the non-profit organization, Rasika, Raman is active in planning and promoting cultural and outreach events of Indian performing arts in Oregon for the past 18 years. She was recognized by the BMK Trust in Chennai, India for her voluntary services and arts leadership in promoting Indian classical performing arts in the US.

Raman actively donated her time and effort for fund raising concerts helping India including for AID- Association for India’s Development and other charitable causes like Good Samaritan ministries. She is an Advisory Member of the Oregon Community Foundation recommending funding for various non-profit organizations in Oregon. She is connected with the philanthropic foundation and established personal family fund to help and support after school activities for children with Autism. She was featured in OCF magazine, as a model family to reach to more Intel and Indian families to pursue philanthropy.

Raman is currently serving as a volunteer Commissioner, City of Portland; serving as City of Portland’s first Commissioner on immigrant integration policy. She is serving on the Education and Advocacy panel, appointed by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.