Lauren is Neighborhood Partnerships’ new Evaluation Analyst. Lauren recently graduated from the University of Oregon with majors in Spatial Data Science and Planning, Public Policy, and Management. She is excited to use her dedication to public service to drive the work that she will produce and the connections she will create.
1. For starters, tell us a little about yourself.
I am a lifelong Oregonian. My parents instilled in me at a young age a strong sense of compassion and community. Those values stick with me in the ways I choose to interact with society and the work that I do to help create a world where everyone has the chance to thrive. To discover my roots more deeply, I am asking my parents for more stories to learn from and learning how to make traditional Vietnamese foods.
I enjoy playing games, listening to new music, and going on walks with family and friends. My favorite way to get to know and spend time with people is eating and bonding over food. Recently, I have been learning to love being in nature and appreciating different landscapes in Oregon and across the nation. The places on my travel list could be found on a list of U.S. National Parks and/or highly food-motivated. In my spare time, I like watching TV shows (of all kinds) and trying to pick up new crafty hobbies.
2. What does opportunity mean to you?
My parents are both Vietnamese immigrants who demonstrated to me what hardship and resilience mean through their experiences escaping Vietnam and starting a new life in the United States. This was meant for me to understand and appreciate the opportunity that I was given by my parents’ sacrifices. Opportunity to me means the freedom and the choice to steer the ship of your own life. I also add that opportunity includes the ability to dream and flourish while holding onto pride and ancestral wisdom from my family’s history.
3. What difference can financial security make for individuals in communities?
Financial security is a key component to what can propel individuals from surviving to thriving. It creates space for hope. When individuals have the resources they need to pursue their opportunities and dreams, they can achieve self-agency and the ability to contribute to communities that look after each other.
4. What are you looking forward to most about this position?
I am most looking forward to finding ways to constantly challenge our organization and state to find creative and healing solutions to improve programs and work towards racial and economic justice.
5. What’s your favorite quote?
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” – Maya Angelou