Our Team

LISA ARKIN

Executive Director
Email: Email Lisa
Phone: 541-465-8860 x804

Lisa Arkin, the Executive Director of the Beyond Toxics, has provided innovative policy leadership and grassroots organizing for Beyond Toxics since 2006. Under her guidance, Beyond Toxics embraced the principles of diversity and equity, and adopted an anti-racist ethos to become Oregon’s first environmental justice organization. Arkin is dedicated to placing human rights, racial and social justice at the forefront of all environmental protection and climate resiliency policies. Under her leadership, Beyond Toxics organized the first Oregon Environmental Justice Bus Tour, the first set of regional environmental justice forums and stewarded the adoption of Oregon’s Environmental Justice Framework (SCR 17) in the 2021 legislative session. With her direction, Beyond Toxics has grown to a staff of eleven and has two offices: our Willamette Valley headquarters and the Southern Oregon office. She serves as an appointed member of a number of commissions and workgroups on issues such as land use, environmental justice, pesticide reform and air quality. Lisa is a recipient of the Eugene City Club Turtle Award for unique civic leadership and the Roz Slovic Social Justice Award. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the amazing history of African-American timber workers. Arkin is the granddaughter of Russian-Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who fled pogroms and persecution to pursue their dream of becoming farmers. She dedicates herself to the values of Tikkun Olam, taking action to repair the world.

Read Lisa's End of Year Message to the Beyond Toxics community of supporters...

See Lisa’s most recent blog, “It’s National Public Health Week. Let’s tackle toxic chemicals!” | MORE blogs by Lisa

KRYSTAL ABRAMS

Communications Manager
Email: Email Krystal
Phone: 541-465-8860 x803

Krystal Abrams is an Environmental Science graduate from the University of Oregon with expertise in habitat restoration, environmental education, and outreach. Krystal has collaborated with organizations like the Walama Restoration Project, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council and McKenzie Watershed Council, leveraging strong communication skills to drive environmental justice and conservation initiatives.

See Krystal’s most recent blog, "Advancing Environmental Justice in 2023"

ARJORIE ARBERRY-BARIBEAULT

West Eugene Community Organizer
Email: Email Arjorie
Phone: (541) 465-8860 x808

Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault was born in Turkey where her father was stationed in the Air Force. She moved to West Eugene in 1993 to raise a family. After having children, Arjorie studied at The College of Cosmetology in Klamath Falls and became a licensed cosmetologist. Arjorie became interested in pollution in her neighborhood after her 13-year old daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2018. After researching the air, water, and soils in the West Eugene area, she discovered the work of Beyond Toxics. Arjorie says, “Joining the environmental justice team at Beyond Toxics gives me the ability to help be a voice for West Eugene’s community. My passion is to speak up for those individuals who have not been heard. My goal with Beyond Toxics is to help and serve as an example for the West Eugene Community, because I am one of those families harmed by the poor air quality in Eugene.”

JENNIFER EISELE

Ecosystems and Communities Project Manager
Email: Email Jennifer
Phone: 541-465-8860 x812

Jennifer Eisele brings invaluable experience to our organization based on her previous work on pesticide regulations in the Tribal Environmental Protection Program of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Nevada.

Read Jennifer's latest blog, "New Law Lets Homeowners Opt-Out of Pesticides" written with Barb Rumer, Community Advocate

OLIVIA FARNHAM

Environmental Justice Youth Educator
Email: Email Olivia
Phone: 541-543-2454

Olivia Farnham, originally from Chicago, earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Sociology at the University of Oregon. As a UO student, Olivia led an independent research project to provide data for her thesis on the experience of low-wage essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her studies, she fostered a passion for engaging with and learning from frontline communities who are disproportionately impacted by structural inequality. After graduation, Olivia utilized this passion, as well as her many years of experience working with youth, in her role as a public high school teacher in Springfield, OR. She is excited to apply her community outreach and organizational skills to the crucial work of creating a world in which everyone has access to an environment free from harmful pollution and hazardous climate conditions.

JOHN JORDAN-CASCADE

Website Manager
Email: Email John

John Jordan-Cascade served as the Communications Manager for Beyond Toxics from April 2009 to June 2021 and transitioned to Web Manager soon after. He has an extensive background as a web and graphics designer and video producer. Prior to his work for Beyond Toxics, John worked on numerous political campaigns, and has worked as an activist for the environment and a supporter of a wide variety of peace, social justice and human rights campaigns.

Read John's blogs: Bees by the Numbers and The economics of exporting coal through Oregon

MASON LEAVITT

Data Analytics Specialist
Email: Email Mason
Phone: 541-645-5972

Mason Leavitt uses qualitative, quantitative, and spatial data to make sense of the world around us and the urgent environmental challenges of our time. He grew up in Hood River, Oregon, where he formed an inextricable relationship with the forests, glaciers, mountains, and rivers around him. Mason earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Oregon, where he studied Geography and Spatial Data Science. At Beyond Toxics, Mason Leavitt leverages data analysis to support community engagement, conduct research, and advance environmental policy. He is currently pursuing dual Masters degrees in Environmental Studies and Geography while working for Beyond Toxics.

Read Mason's latest blog, "What’s Trash Got To Do With It? Toxics!"

EMILY MATLOCK

Membership and Communications Coordinator
Email: Email Emily
Phone: (541) 465-8860 x820

Emily Matlock is a native Oregonian who grew up in Sherwood, near Portland. She came to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon where she studied journalism and Spanish and wrote for the campus newspaper, The Daily Emerald. After graduation, she worked for Early Childhood CARES and then as a journalist for a small Portland-area newspaper before transitioning to the Beyond Toxics team.

She is excited to bring her passion for cross-cultural communication to Beyond Toxics and work with a dedicated staff and community. In addition to her role as membership and communications coordinator, she also serves as an intern and volunteer coordinator, and staff photographer. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, teaching fitness classes, dancing, and doing art.

Read Emily's latest blog, "Clearing the Air: Uncovering the Risks of Gas Stove Pollution"

ERIC RICHARDSON

NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Liaison
Email: Email Eric

Eric Richardson has a longstanding relationship with the Eugene-Springfield NAACP and the community at large. He became president of the local NAACP chapter in 2012 and later served as the Executive Director. During that time, Eric worked to establish environmental and climate justice work in partnership with Beyond Toxics and other local organizations. In this new role, Eric is continuing his passion project of preserving the history of the African American community in Lane County.

Eric has also served as president of the City Club of Eugene, was on the board of United Way Lane County, and is currently on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Oregon.

Eric is a father of five who graduated from Churchill High School and raised his kids in Eugene. He took up jazz in high school and currently plays bass in a band. He also works with Nurturely to host a musical cultural story-time for kids on the last Saturday of the month!

RAEVYN THOMPSON

Environmental and Climate Justice Organizer
Email: Email Raevyn
Phone: (541) 543-2448

Raevyn Thompson grew up in rural southern Oregon and studied family and human services with a minor in legal studies at the University of Oregon. She’s looking forward to blending her passion for helping others with her love for the outdoors in this new role. Raevyn is looking forward to learning more about the many project areas at Beyond Toxics and within our coalition spaces. Raevyn is especially interested in our youth advocacy programs like Rise as Leaders, working on policy or legal issues.

When she’s not working, Raevyn loves to be outside hiking, kayaking, and camping. She also enjoys spending time with her cat and being creative, building lego sets, or diamond painting. She likes to make people laugh and believes that laughter is truly the best medicine.

Our team works to help Oregon move beyond the damaging environmental practices of the past and support ecological resilience and balance. We advocate for the right of underserved communities to be included in decision making processes that affect them.

A Message from the Executive Director

Reflecting on my personal journey to join and ultimately lead Beyond Toxics, two experiences with toxic chemical exposure in New Orleans propel led me to dedicate 25 years to advancing envi ran mental justice. I witnessed corporate indifference and institutional injustice towards the most vulnerable people, often children and young women.

Beyond Toxics emerged in January 2001, a time when the words "environmental justice" was met with skepticism. We worked tirelessly to highlight how pollution disproportionately impacts marginalized communities th rough out Oregon.

Looking back over the decades, you've been our partner to win lasting environmental health protections framed upon environmental justice principles.

Our signature approach is to rely on the experiences of Oregon's most impacted and underrepresented communities to shape statewide policy. With this strategic approach-combining community voices with our expertise-we've successfully shut down superpolluters and increased regulatory protections for downwind communities!

Our pesticide reduction advocacy led to critical protections for farmworkers and schoolchildren from toxic chemicals.

Beyond Toxics will never back down from defending communities and the environment

We pledge to fully respond to the startling results of our national elections and inevitable attacks on America's foundation of regulatory protections that safeguard our health and our planet's ecosystems.

We must do everything in our power to advance local nonprofit leadership for environmental and social justice protections. Please join us to celebrate Beyond Toxics' 25th Anniversary of victories! Your donation ensures we can continue to step up and get it done!

I am filled with gratitude for you and your many years of support for Beyond Toxics. We now stand at the forefront of effective action on Oregon's most pressing environmental and human health problems.

~ Lisa Arkin, December 2024

2025 Interns

TANJA WOITASCZYK

Volunteer Coordinator

Tanja Woitasczyk has lived and worked in England, Germany, New York, Colorado, and now finds herself in Eugene as a Transformational Coach. Through research prompted by her own health struggles, she learned how environmental factors affect water, air and food systems which can impact people’s health. Her interest in environmental solutions brought her to Eugene in 2021 where she lived in an Ecovillage for a year and a half. Tanja is excited about bringing her coaching expertise to Beyond Toxics to help match volunteers with roles that align with their strengths and passions.