Board of Directors / About Lisa

Lisa Naito

Founder, Naito Public Affairs

Lisa was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives from SE Portland in the 1990s when she was a mother of two young children. In Salem, she was a champion for children and education funding. She introduced and passed legislation requiring family child care providers to register, meet basic standards for health and safety and pass criminal background checks.

Lisa believes that affordable and quality childcare is a basic necessity for working parents.  Lisa served on the Children’s Care Team, was Vice-Chair of the Children and Families Committee and served on the Child Care Commission. As a former Deputy District Attorney, protection of children from abuse and neglect was always a top priority. Lisa also knows that providing basic supports for children and their families can effectively prevent abuse and neglect in many cases.  Safe housing, health and mental health care, transportation, educational opportunities and community engagement can all support families with the foundational tools to make sure their children can thrive.

After serving for two years as a Metro Councilor, Lisa then served as a Multnomah County Commissioner. She continued to advocate for early childhood services and supports for families. She was Chair of the Child and Family System of Care Workgroup, which identified the disparate County services for children in the health department, libraries, and justice system and also researched successful programs nationwide. The programs were then integrated, streamlined and outcomes were assessed to prioritize funding for the most effective services. Lisa served on the Portland Children’s Investment Fund Allocation Committee and at the national level, served on the National Association of Counties Early Childhood Development Task Force.

Lisa also was a lobbyist for 10 years for mental health and educational matters and for the preservation of the Willamette Falls Locks.  She is still active politically and in caring for her grandchildren, gardening, traveling and cooking for family and friends.