Our Team
Darrell Wade
With 20 plus years of social work and community advocacy, and enduring the deaths of several black males close to him from hypertension-induced cardiac conditions, these elements became catalysts for the development that is now Black Men’s Wellness.
Darrell seeks to leverage community knowledge, relationships, and locality, to create a resource network of relationships for community empowered education experiences to change health outcomes for Black men. He brings compassion, wit, wisdom, and fury to the complex journey of community healing, where we have the tools to create health on our own terms.
Founder & Executive DirectorBoard of Directors
Perry Gardner
Perry Gardner is a community minded leader committed to the healing, wellness, and collective flourishing of Black men. With a deep belief that wellness is both personal and communal, he creates spaces where men can show up fully—honest, supported, and whole. His work is rooted in connection, compassion, and purpose, bringing together dialogue, reflection, and action to strengthen individuals, families, and communities. Through Black Men’s Wellness, Perry is dedicated to helping men reconnect with themselves, one another, and a shared vision for healthier futures.
Perry enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, a good laugh, playing the bass guitar and spending time with friends and family. He and his wife, Zalika, have three children: Isaiah, Alijah and Mekhi.
Board President
Katie Burton
Katie Burton currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations at Portland State University, where she oversees key administrative and operational functions for the athletics department. Before transitioning into her current executive role, Katie spent eight seasons as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach for the Vikings, retiring as the second-winningest coach in program history.
Throughout her coaching tenure, she was recognized for her leadership in program turnarounds, including successful stints at Sacramento State and the University of San Francisco. A former standout student-athlete and first-team All-Big Sky selection, Katie holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, team leadership, and organizational development to her community work.
Board Treasurer
Board SecretaryMarina Baker
Marina Baker is an experienced marketer and event producer who has a knack for bringing order out of chaos. She has 15+ years of professional experience in the footwear industry having worked at Nike and Danner Boots in various retail, HR, marketing and events roles. She has also worked for local creative agencies, honing her skills in relationship building, account management, project management and team strategy to support a range of clients doing positive work in their communities.
As a native Oregonian with parents who immigrated from Cambodia in the 80’s, Marina leans into her unique life experience as a third culture kid growing up in the suburbs of Portland — delicately balancing her Southeast Asian heritage while navigating life as a millennial in the United States. Her service as Secretary of Black Men’s Wellness is her way of giving back to the culture that raised her.
Facilitators
Christopher Scott
After gaining valuable experience in the field, Christopher entered Portland State University where he earned his Masters Degree in Social Work. His area of expertise is working with juveniles, from early childhood to adolescents in schools, outpatient treatment programs, residential treatment programs and juvenile corrections. Christopher is most known for his Hip Hop social worker podcast talking to other social workers ands haring his “Why not me?” philosophy with listeners.
Mental Health Facilitator
Mike “Libretto” Jackson
Michael "Libretto" Jackson is the father of two and founder of Bretto Chisel Fitness. Throughout life's hardships, Libretto has discovered the key to mastering his body weight, managing his blood pressure, and maintaining the right mindset as he works toward personal health and wellness. Bretto Chisel Fitness was founded with the mission to motivate others to reach their personal goals both mentally and physically. As a facilitator for Black Men's Wellness, Libretto plans to focus specifically on health and wellness for African American males, teaching them the same principles and mindset he has learned and applied to his own health and wellbeing.
Fitness Facilitator
Nutrition FacilitatorDuoshun Pledgure
Duoshun Pledgure is chef/owner of Bearded Chef PDX, a food business that specializes in small event catering and made to order meals. Taught by his mother and grandmother, Duoshun learned to cook as an adolescent, preparing meals for his younger siblings while his mother worked. Necessity quickly revealed a gifting and passion which translated into the dream of owning his own food business and making an impact in his community.
As a facilitator for The Black Men's Wellness Initiative, the "Bearded Chef" desires to raise awareness on the importance of nutritional health in the African American community through providing food demos, cooking classes, workshops, and culturally specific community events that will show African American men they can still enjoy the foods they love in healthier ways.