Pietro Ferrari, former executive director at Catholic Charities and Hacienda CDC, has joined Metro as its Equity Strategy Program Manager.
A seasoned advocate for equity, inclusion and social justice, Ferrari has more than two decades' experience of service to improve the economic and social conditions of low and moderate income people here in Oregon and abroad.
At Metro, Ferrari will lead the agency's ongoing effort to develop and implement Metro’s equity strategy program which includes working internally with Metro’s Council, staff, departments and programs, and with diverse external stakeholders and partners from around the Portland region.
"Pietro is a recognized leader in our region in addressing the barriers that hold people and communities back," said Martha Bennett, Metro Chief Operating Officer. "His work will be essential to helping Metro ensure our services meet the needs of all the diverse residents of the region, now and in the coming decades."
From 2011 until this past June, Ferrari led Catholic Charities of Oregon, which has a $10 million operating budget focused on advancing social services, affordable housing and other activities that support low-income clients of diverse backgrounds.
At Hacienda CDC, Ferrari oversaw rapid growth in the organization's operations and programs during his seven years of service. Under his leadership, Hacienda's budget more than tripled while transforming the agency into a holistic model of community building, effectively linking affordable housing with culturally-specific supporting services in intergenerational education, economic development and civic engagement.
Before joining Hacienda, Ferrari held program leadership roles at Neighborhood Partnerships, Homestead Capital and CASA of Oregon, all of which were focused on advancing the wellbeing of Oregonians and the organizations that serve them. He has dual master’s degrees from the University of Oregon in Urban and Regional Planning and from Marylhurst University in Management, a bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College, and an executive leadership certificate in Community Development Excellence from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
"I’m thrilled to join Metro and contribute to its noble commitment to advancing equity across the agency and throughout all the communities it serves," Ferrari said. He said he looks forward to working in partnership with diverse stakeholders, leaders, businesses and residents to create a vibrant and sustainable region for all.