Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy

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In her role as Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy, Shannon leads the Community Engagement, Advocacy, and Research and Policy department at Espousal Strategies. She also works directly with clients, providing insightful strategy, facilitation, and support to build coalitions and help ensure their work is responding to the needs of the communities they serve.

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Shannon boasts over two decades of social work experience, spanning direct service to high-level systems work in Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Office. As a skilled project manager and facilitator, she’s achieved remarkable consensus in various initiatives, from bridging gaps between groups like the Portland Business Alliance and advocates at Dignity Village in the A Home for Everyone Safety off the Streets Workplan to facilitating the 2022 Rose Quarter compromise involving state, local jurisdictions, and the Black community.

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During her tenure at the Governor’s Office, Shannon spearheaded the Racial Justice Council and its six committees, which played a pivotal role in passing bills and millions of dollars in the 2021 legislative session, focusing on the needs of BIPOC communities as articulated by those communities. As the interim director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services efforts to develop infrastructure, staffing, policies, procedures, and processes to support Multnomah County’s homelessness initiatives.