Personal Equity Statement
My commitment to equity is deeply rooted in personal experience and professional growth over more than two decades in Portland. As a white-bodied, neurodivergent individual who has experienced housing insecurity, I’ve navigated complex societal structures that have illuminated the pervasive nature of systemic inequities. These experiences have shaped my understanding of intersectionality and fueled my passion for creating more inclusive and just environments.
My equity work focuses strongly on socioeconomic factors, including racism and ableism. As a neurodivergent individual supporting others with invisible disabilities, I’ve witnessed firsthand the stigmas and biases and lack of opportunities they face. I’ve invested significant personal resources into anti-racism training and decolonial approaches to social change. My volunteer work with grassroots community aid programs centers diverse voices and provides ongoing opportunities for growth, grounding my professional work in real-world community needs.
My commitment to equity extends beyond professional obligations into tangible community action. During the 2020 fire season, I led a grassroots initiative providing disaster relief—including funding and resources—to PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste), an immigrant farmworker nonprofit. This effort addressed immediate needs while highlighting the disproportionate impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities. By supporting a marginalized group often overlooked in disaster relief, we demonstrated the importance of equity-focused approaches in crisis response.
As a white, able-bodied cishet woman, I am acutely aware of my proximity to power and privilege. I believe that true transformational justice involves making sacrifices, whether that means stepping back to elevate marginalized voices or leveraging my resources and influence to dismantle systemic barriers. This understanding drives my ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion in every aspect of my work and personal life.
The distinct quality I bring to equity work is my ability to blend lived experience, strategic systems thinking, and a trauma-informed approach. I leverage my social intelligence to communicate effectively across all organizational levels, ensuring equity initiatives are both impactful and sustainable.
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