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There has never been a clear path laid out for me to follow. I’ve had to create my own employment opportunities, especially in the arts where they are so limited to begin with. This is partially because I am a transgender woman, and have faced my share of discrimination and aggressions because of my identity. In this way I know personally how hard it is to be apart of a marginalized identity. This is why I’ve devoted my life to creating opportunities where there were none, especially in the arts that play a unique roll in creating visibly, empathy, and understanding-key components for a healthy, diverse, and thriving community. 1 How has your employment and/or volunteer experience prepared you to do the work of a Human Rights Commissioner? Please be specific. Being apart of a marginalized community effects you in ways that you can never truly understand if you’re in a position of greater power. This is privilege. To understand what you’ve experienced as the social consequences of political decision making based in racism and discrimination, is what makes taking political action so powerful. Having people who’ve experienced oppression is key to create advisory policy that represents people more holistically. What effects transgender individuals comes from the same root problem that is effecting all marginalized peoples: the fear of difference. Whether this manifests as racism, ableism, or misogyny, this fear once weaponized turns to hatred and becomes opression. One of the most important tools in the fight for validation and legitimacy is humanization. When we can empathize, we can start to understand that another opression effects them, causes pain, something everyone has experienced. This is why I've pursed art, as I see it filling a unique roll in bridging the experiences of marginalized peoples, communicated in a visual language the emotional and psychological. And this is also why I feel like I would be a strong and essential Human Rights Commissioner. 2 How has your personal experience prepared you to do the work of a Human Rights Commissioner? Please be specific. Personal Interest: I began my social gender transition in Eugene for a reason, this city’s embrace of outspoken individuals supporting peoples diverse identities and lifestyles. I feel that here, uniquely, we have a greater proportion of out and visible LGBTQIA+ community members precisely because we pride ourselves on upholding respect for difference. Because of my experience as a transgender woman, and being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have a unique and especially important prospective. I hope to use this to advocate and create visibility for transgender and gender non-conforming people, as this is what creates empathy and understanding. These aspects are a key component in creating a healthy, viable, and thriving community. Boards and commissions are the voice of our community, connecting people to our city government, an essential part of the whole. Having a group of citizens that is a diverse range of experiences, cultures and backgrounds is incredibly important. I feel that my unique experience in the arts and LGBTQIA+ communities would provide a crucial perspective on a board or commission. My interpersonal skills, community organizing experience, and creative problem solving abilities make me an excellent candidate. Jam Allison HRC - Round 1 Applications July 8, 2019, Meeting – Item 4