I’m 29, I’m in federal service, and I’m here because Jesus ordered my steps. This is a full-circle moment for my family—my mom lived here in the 80s, and now I’m back in a senior executive role I couldn't have even afforded the tuition for years ago. I know this state wasn't designed for me, and I can feel the 'thin air' of leadership and the gatekeeping in Oregon politics. But I’m not looking for a seat at someone's table—I’m here on an assignment. I’m looking for a village of sisters who aren't afraid to say His name, who will be Sponsors instead of Gatekeepers, and who will say 'Hey, that’s enough' when the environment tries to weather my spirit. I miss that Missouri sense of 'I got you,' and I’m here to find it in Portland."
I'’m navigating federal leadership and stepping into Oregon politics, and I’ll be honest: the climate here feels designed to weather us. I’m coming from Missouri, where I had a village that said, ‘I got you.’ In Oregon, I’m finding a lot of gatekeeping and a specific kind of 'polite' exclusion that is mentally exhausting. What I need right now is a Sponsor, not a Gatekeeper. I’m looking for the women who are willing to reach back and say, ‘I see what they’re trying to do to you, and I’m not going to let them get you down.’ I want a community that helps me navigate the 'racism of niceness' here so I can stay true to my faith and my ambition without burning out. I'm 29 and I do feel like I'm entering a different chapter.
I’m looking for opportunities to serve on city or state advisory boards where I can use my federal leadership experience to influence policy, specifically around housing, civil rights, and civic engagement. I want to connect with the political vanguard in Oregon—people who understand the local landscape and can help me navigate the transition from federal service into local civic leadership.I want to build deep roots with culturally specific advocacy groups. I’m looking for the 'Pioneer' spirits who have been doing the work in Oregon for years and can help me anchor my leadership in the local Black community.
