OUR HISTORY
Founded in 2011, The Red Door Project is an award-winning nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to using storytelling to bridge divides. Our work explores the complexities of social issues fostering dialogue that leads to meaningful change.
In 2016, we brought Hands Up: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments to Portland. This collection of autobiographical monologues, written in response to police shootings of unarmed Black men, was expected to run for just six performances. Instead, community and funder support turned it into a multi-year project, with nearly 70 performances across the Pacific Northwest.
To expand the conversation, we developed Cop Out: Beyond Black, White & Blue, based on interviews with police officers from diverse backgrounds. These monologues depict officers navigating the realities of their profession, their identities, and the communities they serve.
Building on this foundation, The Evolve Experience is now our core program. It presents filmed first-person narratives from police officers, judges, and community members, offering multiple perspectives on the justice system. Written, directed, and performed by professional artists, these stories provide a platform for deep reflection and meaningful discourse.
WHAT IS THE RED DOOR?
The “Red Door” symbolizes transformation, inspired by playwright August Wilson’s work. In his play Gem of the Ocean, stepping through the red door represents a path to self-discovery and healing. Our work invites audiences on a similar journey—challenging assumptions, expanding perspectives, and fostering connection.
WHY STORYTELLING?
Stories have the power to disarm, to build bridges, and to create space for change. By engaging with personal narratives, we move beyond ideological divides and toward collective understanding—an essential step in evolving.
PRESS & ENDORSEMENTS
The Evolve Experience is endorsed by the California District Attorney's Association.
OUR TEAM
KEVIN JONES
Kevin is the Red Door Project’s Chief Creative Director and Co-Founder. He is an award-winning actor and director who has performed on the American stage for more than 40 years. Kevin is also a communication, organizational and diversity consultant with over 25 years’ experience working with private and non-profit organizations.
Kevin’s approach utilizes complex systems thinking and organizational change theory. The system does what it is organized to do, not what we want it to do — not what we expect it to do — what it is organized to do.
LESLI MONES
Lesli Mones is the Red Door Project’s Curriculum Director and Co-Founder. She is an executive coach and advisor who is known for her straightforward yet compassionate style. With a background in psychology, and more than thirty years of experience working with individuals and teams, Lesli has developed an uncanny ability for both getting to the heart of issues, and helping to illuminate the path forward.
Lesli’s coaching is grounded in the beliefs that change is inevitable, growth is intentional and intelligent risks are essential to fulfill one’s potential.
ALYSA ROSE
Alysa Rose is the Red Door Project’s Chief Executive Officer. She is a seasoned business and community leader with over 30 years of experience leading and growing both for profit and nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about stewarding strategy and aligning culture for long-term growth and impact. Prior to joining RDP, Alysa spearheaded a significant purpose-driven turnaround at Relay Resources, which positioned her and her team to gracefully navigate the challenges of the pandemic. Alysa also served as CEO of Rejuvenation Inc, guiding the Portland-based company through retail expansion and a successful acquisition by Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Alysa is passionate about reading and writing and believes in the power of narrative art to change lives.
PAIGE RODRIGUEZ
Paige is the Red Door Project’s Programs Manager. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Technical Production & Design. Her stage management career spans over ten years in various Southern California theaters including Saddleback Civic Light Opera’s McKinnley Theatre, The Historic Lankershim Arts Center, Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre, and the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. Prior to moving to Portland, she was the Director of Production & Design at California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley.
Paige has spent most of her career working as an administrator in the nonprofit theatre world including positions as Coeurage Theatre Company’s Production Manager and as Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre’s lead Booking and Events Coordinator.
SIENNA BROWN PICCINI
Sienna Piccini is the Red Door Project’s Administrative Manager. She graduated from Pacific University Oregon in 2021 with a BA in Integrated Media, cultivating her passions for storytelling and art history through a project management lens. Sienna has been working in public service for nearly 10 years as an administrative specialist, offering support to teams who look to strengthen the voice and cause of their communities and, therein, empower them.