Sean Brannon is Black Parent Initiative’s current Director of Finance and Operations. He was born in Downey, California and moved to Portland at the age of 4. Growing up in the Northeast Portland community, Sean attended Benson Polytechnic High School with a focus in Architectural Drafting. He later went on to obtain his B.A. in Economics from Lewis & Clark College. Having been a part of the Portland area most of his life, Sean has witnessed the changes in the economy, demographics and the overall community he once knew. This led to his desire to pursue a career with BPI.
Prior to landing at Black Parent Initiative, Sean served as a Senior Licensed Loan Officer. He aided persons looking to purchase homes and he possesses a great wealth of knowledge around what it takes to become a home owner; using that information to provide guidance to our future programming around sustainable and affordable living for families. He is well acquainted with financial management and planning as he has held several leadership positions in the banking industry and has created processes that led to effective and efficient operational practices. All of which has been beneficial to BPI as strategic planning takes place.
Sean has served as a mentor, tutor and teacher at Self Enhancement Inc. and Sun School and prides himself on his abilities to establish and maintain partnerships with other culturally focused organizations along with leveraging his position and networks to better serve the non-profit world. Sean is deeply connected with the Black community and has experienced first-hand what many of our families face. With his inherit insight and knowledge, in 2007 he constructed a thesis to support research on “The Effects of Gentrification and Displacement on Portland’s African American Population.”
Although Sean stays busy with BPI, he finds time to continue his community engagement as the Tournament Director for Courtside Entertainment Inc. Hosting 3 annual AAU basketball tournaments in Portland drawing international team participation. He enjoys music and finds that listening to music provides an outlet to create and actualize his life’s soundtrack. Sean loves traveling and experiencing other cultures worldwide. When he is able, he enjoys outdoor activities, concerts, sporting events, going to the water, and of course time with his family and friends.
”Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.”
– Susan L. Taylor
