Beth Burns, Program Director
Beth Burns grew up in Chicago and earned her degree in English Literature and her teaching license from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN. After extensive travel throughout Central America, she settled in Portland and worked at Sister Of The Road Cafe. Her experience at Sisters provided a foundation for understanding the value of relationship-based programs to homelessness and other social issues.

Beth shifted her focus to homeless youth and served as the Education Coordinator at the Salvation Army Greenhouse Alternative Learning Center, where she taught 20 homeless youth per day, added several new programs, successfully raised cash and in-kind resources, and maintained complete fiscal records for the school. In 2001, Beth joined Pippa Arend and Joy Cartier to create p:ear, for which she serves as Executive Director.

Joy Cartier, Assistant Director
Prior to Joy Cartier's seven years experience with the Greenhouse Alternative Learning Center, where she instructed homeless youth through a GED program, Joy spent several years as a community organizer and volunteer both in Portland and San Francisco. She organized a group of people who produced a monthly hot meal for 80-100 homeless youth for several years, as well as founded the award-winning "Produce for People," which used the community garden system to provide fresh produce for an Adult and Family Shelter. Joy also volunteered at the San Mateo AIDS program, where she gained experience as a spokesperson through donor tours and TV commercials.

In Portland, Joy has volunteered with Fish Emergency Services and The Salvation Army. In addition to volunteering, Joy honed her business skills by founding and successfully running two small businesses. In 2001, Joy joined Beth Burns and Pippa Arend to create p:ear, for which she serves as Assistant Director.

Pippa Arend, Program Director
Pippa Arend has a B.A. in Art History and Design from Marlboro College in Vermont. She apprenticed with a Portland metal sculptor, for whom she eventually became foreman, and she attended Pacific Northwest College of Art to study a variety of 2D and 3D art forms. She opened a metal studio from which she designed, fabricated and installed custom metal furniture and functional art.

Later, Pippa began working at the Greenhouse Alternative Learning Center, where she served as a teacher's assistant, specifically by instructing homeless youth in the arts. In 2001, Pippa joined Beth Burns and Joy Cartier to create p:ear, for which she serves as Program Director.

Sarah Dougher, Program and Development
Sarah has a Ph. D in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas, Austin, and has lived in Portland, mostly, since 1985. She is an adjunct professor at Portland State, and is involved in a number of community-based music projects, including the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, and the Flash Choir. Sarah started volunteering at p:ear in 2005, working with kids on music and literature projects. She came on as a full-time staff person in June of 2007, splitting her time between working with kids, and doing fundraising and outreach for p:ear.