About Us

Andre Middleton (Executive Director) 

Andre Middleton is a native New Yorker that moved to Portland to attend college. He has many ties to the arts and music scene via friendships that stretch back for at least 2 decades. He is the Executive Director of Friends of Noise. Andre is a community activist on issues of inclusion and equity and a community connector within the arts. He produces Friends of Noise Presents: a weekly hour of radio curated by youth DJs Monday’s 2-3 on XRAY.fm. He’s on the Board of Directors for the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, where he hopes to have a profound impact on their efforts to connect and share current and challenging art within a broad cross section of our fair city. André also serves on the Portland Parks and Recreation Budget Advisory Board as well as on Literary Arts Youth Advisory Committee

Jonise Orie (Development/Communication Associate) 

Jonise Orie is from NM but has called Portland home for 15 years. She has been a lifelong lover of music, and spent many years making music as a vocalist. With a background in social work she is proud to be part of an organization that cultivates the forces of music and creativity to advance social justice and equity. She wishes that she had access to a program like Friends of Noise when she was young.

Diana Suarez (Program and Production Associate) 

Diana Suarez is a Chinese-Mexican American artist and organizer who has lived in Portland, OR since 2015. She was born and raised in the vibrant city of El Monte, California, just east of Los Angeles. With over a decade of experience as a DJ, they have developed a deep love and appreciation for all genres of music. From pulsating beats to soulful melodies, Diana understands the power of music to connect people from diverse backgrounds and create unforgettable moments.

Beyond their passion for music, Diana is committed to empowering Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities by providing access to the necessary tools to amplify their voices. As a member of our team, Diana brings a unique blend of cultural influences, technical expertise, and a genuine desire to uplift others. With their extensive experience as a DJ and audio engineer, and their dedication to fostering equitable opportunities, Diana is devoted to creating an inclusive and vibrant environment for all.

Mulu Habtemariam (Interim Chair)

What’s good? I’m Mulu Habtemariam, a cultural producer from Portland, OR.
I was born in Sudan to Eritrean parents, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communication, and spent the past few years leading community art projects in my hometown. After a stint in a strategic role, I formerly worked as a production coordinator at Wieden+Kennedy and spend free time being the ultimate hype man during my music buddies shows.

Rachael Allen (Secretary)  

Rachael Allen is a native Pacific Northwesterner who spent her youth overseas and in Baltimore before settling back in Portland in 2005.  Coming from a legacy of educators and youth advocates, she brings passion for education that empowers people.  As a director of the Village Free School, Rachael explores the balance between freedom, accountability, and authenticity with students of all ages in a self-directed, non-coercive environment that operates democratically.  Her love of music has been a palpable guide and constant companion all her life, providing many opportunities to be involved in music communities personally and professionally: most recently as a board member of the local non-profit Friends of Noise. Rachael is a voracious reader, avid people watcher, and adventure enthusiast

Lucas Strelchun (Treasurer)

Lucas Strelchun is a music producer, DJ, audio engineer, sound designer and audio geek. In 2013, he began releasing EDM remixes, originals and edits under the alias DJ Stretchman. Aside from his main project, Lucas produces lots of Hip-Hop, Pop and Trap beats for various artists.

Raiyasha Paris 

A comedian and professional stick figure artist on her off time, Raiyasha Paris is a long term student new board member on our team here at Friends Of Noise. In regards to music she is a vocalist and pianist who strongly follows in the footsteps of Alicia Keys, Mary J Blige and Erykah Badu. Music is a staple in the Paris family and Raiyasha desires to live up that family tradition and second nature. She states, “the moment I heard the story from my mom that my grandmother sang at Carnegie Hall in New York alongside Marian Anderson (St. Mary’s High School) and saw that how powerful one can be, I knew a gift was in me somewhere, and once found, I knew I had to share it with the world.

Timothy Blanchard

My family has a long history of music appreciation. My grandmother was a radio DJ for KMHD 89.1 throughout the 70’s. My father was a DJ in the late 80’s early 90’s when breakdancing and pop locking were the scene. Today I have the privilege to express myself creatively through music curation in all genres. Exploring new restaurants and vintage shops are a favorite way to spend my time. I also have an interest in the fashion industry and I hope to be more involved in the future.

Vaughn Kimmons 

Vaughn Kimmons, affectionately known as Brown Alice, is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Through music and dance performance she celebrates Blackness as the cosmic source of sacred inspiration and gives voice to the connective power of shared human nuance. She is a vocalist and songwriter in Portland based bands Brown Calculus and Tribe Mars.

Lynn Yarne

I am a 4th/5th generation Chinese and Japanese American working in Portland, OR. Given the prevalence of historical and ongoing race-based displacement and community separation, themes of community, resilience and loss often come up for me in explorations of space and stakeholdership. I wonder about the capacity for art to engage and create stakeholders, to actively involve people in repair and visionary thinking. I have worked in education for over 17 years. In the past 7 years I have worked as a classroom teacher in a public school facilitating a teen digital media think tank and skill building program with an emphasis on cultivating a critical social justice lens. The program aims to equip young people with media skills to create positive change and participate in visual culture. In 2015, we built a screen printing studio that now trains over 120 youth printers a year. Creating opportunities for young people to express their visions and engage and community members is of great importance in my work as an artist.

Connie Wohn

Connie Wohn is known for delivering truly unique activations. With over 16 years of experience of breaking brands into the market & building effective teams, she’s produced innovative and memorable client events through highlighting artists, brands and musicians for success. Connie truly understands what people seek and what they want to experience. She knows how people want to make memories. Connie has a strong focus on communication and team building and clear priorities of efficiency, and creativity. She brings an intimate understanding of not only the local market but culture at large, and puts an emphasis on sustainability and equity. Her intimate understanding of both the local and outside markets gives her a strong supportive community that supports the clients’ experience and the brands’ exposure. She is herself an active member of this special Portland community and has a philanthropic skill set that sets a support foundation for the activations to in turn contribute to the local landscapes and communities. Connie thrives on these experiences and at creating these spaces for all the community to gather and celebrate. With a list of flawless executions in her history, she is a leader in the discussions for events and industry experiences.

Rena Marthaler