LEADERSHIP TEAM
Our leadership team is made up of entirely non-binary femmes and womxn
who identify as BIPoC, Latina, LGBTQ, and/or low-income with 80% being BIPoC,
60% being Black, and 60% being mothers to young children.
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BRENNA HESS
Communications Director
Pronouns: she/her
Sign: Virgo
Favorite Quote:
Though she be but little, she is fierce!
How did you get involved in equity work?
As a privileged white-passing gal I started to get truly involved in equity issues after George Floyd was murdered. I joined all the Black Lives Matter and protest groups I could find in my community. Through one of those threads, I saw Kayla's post stating that they were starting a group called Southern Oregon Coalition for Racial Equity. After being on the first zoom call, I knew that this was the spot for me, and I wanted to get even more involved. I applied to volunteer with the group as Secretary and, probably sensing my Virgo tendencies, I got the job!
What does equity mean to you?
Equity is currently an enigma. It is something that decent people everywhere are striving for daily. There is a big difference between equality and equity. To be honest, it makes my blood boil that folks still don't seem to understand the difference. Equality, to me, means that everyone gets the exact same thing--no exceptions, no considerations, just wholly equal. Equity, on the other hand, means making things even and fair. Just because something is equal does not necessarily mean that it is fair to everyone. To be equitable, though, means that varying circumstances are taken into account resulting in a more level playing field. It is not enough to just declare that we are a country where all citizens are equal...we must be equitable first to make things truly equal for our diverse nation.
Why did you join SOEquity?
I joined SOEquity because I didn't want to continue to just be a pissed off white lady. I wanted to DO something about my anger and sorrow regarding systemic racism in our country. I have always been a progressive, liberal gal, and I have always gotten fired up about politics and injustices in the world. However, I have never really done a thing about it other than bitch, complain, and vote. At this point, I do not think that is even close to enough. I didn't want to just sit by anymore and be a couch warrior who just shouts obscenities at Donald Trump on the news. As many have been saying for a long time, Silence = Violence and I don't want to be silent anymore!
How long have you lived in Southern Oregon? Where else have you lived?
I was born and raised in Applegate, Oregon to my hippy parents at a little community hospital. During college, I moved to Eugene Oregon where I got a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Architecture at the University of Oregon. There, I met my husband and then we moved to, of all places, Saint George, Utah. All I can say is, hell to the no!!! I wanted to leave that place the moment we arrived. I eventually got my wish, and a year later we moved back to Portland, Oregon where I was blissfully happy being back in a Blue state surrounded by Evergreen trees. After a few years in Portland, my husband's career path brought us back down to Southern Oregon, and we now call Medford home. Aside from the overt racism, too many Trump flags, and summer fires...I love this place to pieces and feel so lucky to call it home.
What is your lived experience with racism and oppression?
I am fortunate to have a lot of privilege and very little personal experiences with racism. My grandmother is from Jalisco, Mexico, so I identify as Latinx. I have really only ever dealt with microagressions and nothing overtly opressive. I often get asked "What are you?" by strangers (I'm a badass bitch is what I am!). I have also had an interesting experience while living in St. George where a woman came up to me in a grocery store, thrust some queso fresco in my face, and said "You look like you speak Spanish--what does this mean?"
She then wandered back over to her husband proclaiming that "that Mexican girl said it means fresh cheese." Basically what I have come to notice is that white folks don't think I look white enough and Latinx folks don't think I look or act Latinx enough. Such is life for a 5-foot tall, dark haired, brown eyed, olive skinned girl with a Gaelic name.
What is one of your personal hobbies or passions?
Silently correcting people's grammar and spelling (just kidding...kinda!). When I have free time, which isn't often because I am a busy mama of two, I bury myself in interior design projects and make grandiose plans for redecorating our little 80's fixer-upper home.
Community Outreach Director
Pronouns: she/her
Sign: Aries
Favorite Quote:
I'm big enough to admit I'm often
inspired by myself.
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EMILY MANN
How did you get involved in equity work?
I've always been an advocate for equity--even before having the language for it. In my work, I've always fought for accessibility and equitable opportunity. I was introduced through SOEquity during an event in Rogue River. I was so happy to see folks interested in bringing equity and social justice to even the smallest corners of the Rogue Valley.
What does equity mean to you?
Equity means meeting people where they are at. It means providing services, aid, and opportunities that are accessible to a broad range of people whose differences come from a wide varieties of experiences, privileges, and situations.
What other organizations have you been involved with?
In the Midwest, I volunteered part time at the LGBTQ Center of South Bend. After spending two years as a member of the Rogue Farm Corps on a farm in Rogue River, I began my career in non-profit at ACCESS, Inc.
How long have you lived in Southern Oregon? Where else have you lived?
I was raised in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana. I moved to Rogue River, Oregon in 2017, then relocated to Central Point in 2018.
What is your lived experience with racism and oppression?
I received my undergraduate degree in Physics from Indiana University in 2015. During my time in this program, I was consistently one of the few women in every upper-level course. My experiences with micro and macroaggressions from my male peers lead me to experience severe anxiety about the quality of my work and crippling imposter syndrome. Unfortunately, I also witnessed my queer and BIPOC classmates experiencing a lot of the same aggression. As a queer woman in the Midwest, I was not spared from the antiquated ideals of my hometown and had to work through years of internalized homophobia to be comfortable in my own skin.
What is one of your personal hobbies or passions?
Though I'm no longer farming full time, I'm still passionate about growing fresh, organic produce! I love finding new and interested vegan recipes that use a rainbow of ingredients.
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LEASHELLE TALBERT
Education Inequity Director
Pronouns: she/her
Sign: Taurus
Favorite Quote:
The way you treat people says a lot about who you are. Be careful. Your actions are screaming over your words.
How did you get involved in equity work?
Kayla approached me and asked me if I wanted to join SOEquity Leadership, and I knew I wanted to find a long term way to bring change to our home. I have always had a passion for all things that affect Black lives, both positively and negatively, as they are things that impact me personally. After the murder of George Floyd, my passion was reignited.
What does equity mean to you?
Equity is bringing about changes in policy and community to have people's basic needs met without question. They will have no racial barriers, economic, religious, sexual orientation or identity barriers, or criminal barriers to have their needs met.
What other organizations have you been involved with?
Amplifying Melanated Voices was the name of the group I was initially a part of. We started with a celebration of Blackness with our Juneteenth Events that happened over the entire Juneteenth weekend.
How long have you lived in Southern Oregon? Where else have you lived?
I have lived in Southern Oregon since 2002. I was born in San Diego California and adopted from there at 1 and half years old.
What is your lived experience with racism and oppression?
I was 12 years old when I had my first consciously aware experience with racism. The KKK came to my home and painted the KKK symbol with a burning cross on the ground in motor oil so that there was no way of washing it away. We drove over that anytime we came or went from our home. It was there as a constant reminder that we were not welcome here. As I got older, I noticed plenty of bullying and racism towards me for being Black. I was called a nigger at least once a day growing up. Most thought it was funny, but that's not something any Black child should have to hear directed at them.
What is one of your personal hobbies or passions?
I love helping my community in any way that I can. I love listening to music and taking the time to dance and enjoy it anytime that I can. I like to keep busy. I am currently attending college to become an Elementary Educator. My goal is to change the curriculum for all ages to teach history equitably instead of only spending a week on Black history (which usually just covers slavery) or Mexican history. I think that the earlier we teach our kids the true unedited history, the earlier we can eliminate racism and white supremacist systems.
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Research Director
Pronouns: she/her
Sign: Aquarius
Favorite Quote:
In this country American means white.
Everybody else has to hyphenate.