I relocated to this area to serve in a senior leadership role within a local healthcare system, bringing with me more than 24 years of experience as a nurse and dual certification as a mental health and women’s health nurse practitioner. Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to improving the wellness of individuals and communities—particularly at the intersections of mental health, belonging, and sustainable ways of living and working. Upon arriving, I quickly recognized an opportunity beyond my formal role. Across industries, the shift to remote and hybrid work—accelerated by COVID—has left many professionals feeling isolated, disconnected, and longing for meaningful community. From both lived experience and public health data, we know that Black and Brown communities were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic—not only through higher rates of illness and loss, but also through increased isolation, burnout, and the erosion of informal community networks that have historically served as critical sources of resilience, connection, and support. I saw this not only as a workplace trend, but as a collective wellness issue—one that required intentional, community-centered solutions. The Study & Society was born from that recognition. It is a space designed to support focus, presence, and connection—offering a place for people to work intentionally by day and gather meaningfully by night. At its core, it reflects my belief that wellness is both individual and collective, and that creating spaces rooted in belonging, reflection, and shared experience is essential to how communities heal, reconnect, and thrive together.
At this stage, what I need most from the community is connection—specifically, relationships rooted in shared values, mutual support, and a commitment to collective wellbeing. As The Study & Society continues to take shape, I am seeking to be in community with people who believe in the importance of intentional spaces—spaces where professionals can focus, gather, and reconnect in ways that support mental health, belonging, and sustainability. I am especially interested in connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, creatives, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and organizers who are committed to building inclusive ecosystems and who understand that wellness is not only an individual pursuit, but a communal one. Support, for me, looks like conversation, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas—learning from others who have built community-centered initiatives and offering my own experience in return. Ultimately, what I am seeking is a sense of shared purpose: people who want to build, contribute, and care together, and who recognize that strong communities are formed through presence, trust, and intentional connection over time.
I am interested in building civic connections with individuals and organizations who are committed to strengthening community wellbeing, equity, and belonging across Portland and the broader region. This includes relationships with nonprofit leaders, public health advocates, arts and culture organizations, small business owners, and civic partners who understand the important role that shared spaces play in fostering connection, resilience, and community care. I am particularly drawn to collaborations that center mental health, creative expression, workforce wellbeing, and inclusive community-building—especially efforts that support Black and Brown communities and other historically underrepresented groups. As both a healthcare leader and an entrepreneur, I value partnerships that bridge systems and sectors, bringing together public health, business, arts, and civic leadership to create people-centered solutions. Through these civic connections, I hope to learn from others who are doing meaningful work in the community, share my own experience in healthcare and wellness, and co-create initiatives that promote connection, healing, and sustainable ways of living and working. Ultimately, I am seeking relationships that are rooted in trust, shared values, and a collective commitment to building a more connected and inclusive community.
