Member Spotlight: Derica
At Unite Oregon, we are proud to see our program participants make a difference in our city and in the world. We are a member-based organization that works to build leaders like Derica to create lasting change and advocate for our communities. Derica and her mother are graduates from our BOLD (The Beaverton Organizing and Leadership Development Program) and have been impacting our communities in ways that our program dreams of for our participants- Derica, Janell, and their mother Bing been actively engaged and advocating for the Block 14 Project— a memorial in the historical Chinese section of Lone Fir Cemetery to honor Chinese immigrants in a city where erasure and displacement has ruled the narrative for our Chinese immigrant communities.
We interviewed Derica on her reflections on advocacy, the BOLD program, and what it means to be an immigrant working in advocacy.
What brought you into advocacy and community service?
My sister Jenell was born with a lot of physical and mental disabilities, like eye disease, autism, and language processing delay. Life was really hard for her, but with help from so many people in the community, she has grown and become more confident. Because of that, our family always felt like we should give back. We also want Jenell to practice her social skills since that’s super important for her.
We started with Camp Meadowood Springs, which is a summer camp for kids with communication difficulties. Jenell went there four times as a camper. We then started volunteering there every memorial weekend. From there, we started helping other groups, like cooking once a month for a homeless shelter and working with C.A.C.A. to get an official apology from Multnomah County for erasing Chinese history and the people buried at Block 14 in Lone Fir Cemetery. We spend hundreds of hours each year volunteering, and it’s become a big part of our lives.
What did you take away from your experience at the BOLD program?
My mom did BOLD in 2021, and I finished in 2025. I was actually the youngest person to ever do it. BOLD was amazing because it taught me real skills on how to stand up for causes I care about. It also connected me with other people who also want to make a difference, so it helped me feel like I wasn’t doing it all by myself. The biggest thing I learned from the BOLD program is that change happens faster when you have a community supporting you, and it made me more confident to take on leadership opportunities to share my voice.
What do you believe are barriers that Chinese Americans and/or immigrants may face when it comes to advocacy?
I think there are a few big barriers that Chinese Americans and immigrants face when it comes to advocacy. The first is language. A lot of immigrants come here as adults, so if they learn English, it’s not their first language. This allows them to get by during daily activities, but when it comes to speaking up in public or at official meetings, it becomes much harder. Another thing about language is that their accents sometimes make people not take them seriously, which can be extremely discouraging.
Second is culture. In some countries, people don’t really have rights or ways to speak up, so when they come here, advocacy and sharing their voice feels like a brand-new idea.
Third is just not knowing how to do it. Many immigrants don’t know where to go or how to start advocating for their rights. Programs like BOLD are super helpful because they give tools, training, and confidence to people who want to step up but don’t know how.
What would you tell people who may be hesitant or afraid to get involved with advocacy work?
My best advice would be don’t underestimate yourself. Even if you feel small and alone, your voice can make a difference. If you care about something and keep speaking up, change will happen, even if it takes time.
For example, my sister Jenell noticed that Beaverton didn’t have a committee or enough resources for people with disabilities. So she, me, and some of our friends went to city council meetings and spoke up about it. We were just a group of middle and high schoolers (I was the youngest, only in 5th grade), but other people at the meetings supported us. And eventually, the city created the ADA Technical Advisory Committee to improve its disability plans. Parents were shocked that kids could actually make that impactful happen. So I’d tell anyone who’s nervous, just start. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to care enough to try.
Can you tell us about the Block 14 Project?
Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Chinese workers helped build Portland’s railroads and other big projects. The work was really dangerous, and many people died. But because of racism, Chinese people weren’t allowed to be buried with white people. Instead, they had to use a section of Lone Fir Cemetery called Block 14. Records show almost 3,000 Chinese people were buried there.
In the 1940s, the county told the Chinese community to move the remains, but not everyone was removed. The ones that were removed were done so using a bulldozer. Later, a county building was built right on top of Block 14. When the building was demolished in the early 2000s, the county wanted to sell the land to developers, but an archaeological study showed there were still bodies buried there. That’s when the land was added back to the cemetery, and a memorial garden was planned. It stalled for decades because of lack of funding, but in 2019, voters passed a bond that finally made funding possible.
When Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation reached out for community support, my sister Jenell was the first to write a letter to the Metro Council and sent it to a social group as an example, and soon dozens of other students joined. Because of that, $4 million was set aside for the garden. Our family has been helping with the project ever since.
Last year, I wanted more people to know this history. I decided to use National History Day, since the theme was “rights and responsibilities.” A friend and I made a documentary (available on YouTube here) about Block 14. We made it all the way to nationals, and even won Best Senior Entry from our state across all categories. It was super challenging, but it felt amazing knowing that more people learned about this piece of history and the stories won’t be forgotten.
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Derica Theobald is a sophomore at Lincoln High School. She dedicates over a hundred hours annually to helping underserved communities, with long-term commitments to Camp Meadowood Springs—a summer camp for children with communication challenges—and Transition Projects, where she helps cook and serve monthly for people transitioning out of homelessness. Derica also produced a documentary on Block 14 at Lone Fir Cemetery to honor Chinese laborers and others whose histories were erased.
Derica speaks three languages and is learning a fourth, alongside balancing speech and debate, cheerleading, and being part of a StellarXplorers team that advanced to the national finals.
As the youngest-ever participant in Unite Oregon and the City of Beaverton’s BOLD leadership program, 2025 Portland Amazing Kid recipient, and a six-time recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Derica, along with her leadership and determination, strives not only to create positive change but to empower others to do the same.
The BOLD cohort is a Unite Oregon program that delves into city policies and decision-making processes. Through this program, participants will develop essential leadership, community organizing, and advocacy skills, fostering a network of influential alumni dedicated to supporting community goals. Unite Oregon partnered with the City of Beaverton from fiscal years 2011–12 through 2024–25, with Derica’s cohort marking the final year of this long-standing collaboration. The partnership began with the BOLD program and later expanded in FY 2020–21 to include the Beaverton Multicultural Community Engagement (BMCCE) project. Starting in FY 2024–25, the two initiatives were combined, with BMCCE incorporating the leadership development elements of BOLD to create a more integrated model of community engagement and capacity building. In May 2025, we were informed that due to the city’s budget gap crisis, the BMCCE project would not be funded in the 2025–26 budget, concluding more than a decade of partnership that empowered over 250 immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC leaders, advanced inclusive city planning, and strengthened community connection across Beaverton.
The BOLD cohort, a Unite Oregon program, delves into city policies and decision-making processes, helping participants develop essential leadership, community organizing, and advocacy skills while fostering a network of alumni dedicated to advancing community goals. Unite Oregon partnered with the City of Beaverton from fiscal years 2011–12 through 2024–25, with Derica’s cohort marking the final year of this long-standing collaboration. The partnership began with the BOLD program and expanded in FY 2020–21 to include the Beaverton Multicultural Community Engagement (BMCCE) project. Starting in FY 2024–25, the two initiatives were combined, with BMCCE incorporating the leadership development components of BOLD to create a more integrated model of community engagement and capacity building. In May 2025, Unite Oregon was informed that, due to the city’s budget gap crisis, the BMCCE project would not be funded in the 2025–26 budget, concluding more than a decade of partnership that empowered over 250 immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC leaders, advanced inclusive city planning, and strengthened community connection across Beaverton.
