Tawna's Priorities
Addressing Income Inequality
Tawna is all too familiar with the struggles families have when it comes to making ends meet and finding jobs that can provide economic stability. Lifting people up to help them find a better future is central to the work Tawna does at NAYA. She knows that creating shared prosperity requires dedication and a commitment to collaboration. Tawna will work closely with local businesses, unions, non-profit organizations and community groups to create better opportunities for workers stuck in low-wage jobs. She will push for a higher minimum wage and strong protections for workers’ rights.
Creating Long-Term Affordable Housing
Tawna will push our state to make long-term investments in affordable housing that equitable, inclusive, and reach all parts of our community. She has worked to create affordable homeownership opportunities and low-income rental properties that serve victims of domestic violence, elders, and families. She understands how state-level policies can help and hurt communities if they are not created in partnership with the community.
Providing Strong Schools for All Children
A good education is the foundation for a better future, but too many of our students are struggling to succeed in our schools. Tawna will push hard to raise achievement, particularly for students of color, students living in poverty, and students still learning the English language. That includes full funding for schools, smaller class sizes, and more professional development so that teachers can adapt to students’ needs.
Creating An Accountable Department of Human Services
Our most vulnerable community members deserve an inclusive government that is responsive and accountable to meeting the needs of children in foster care, families in crisis, and people living with disabilities. Tawna has first-hand experience working with the Oregon Department of Human Services as a foster parent and caregiver to an elder. She also has the big picture perspective on how to create and implement policies that lift families out of poverty, and build community prosperity. She knows that our state needs a professional organization that is family and community focused and can deliver results for Oregon.
Advocating for Elders
Northeast Portland is an aging community. For 20 years, Tawna has been advocating for elders and has first hand experience creating inclusive programming to keep elders in their home, prevent gentrification, prepare taxes, and build community. In addition to her hands on expertise, Tawna will work with our elder community to create a vision for broader policy reforms that best support the needs of our growing elder populations.
Building a Reflective Democracy
Tawna knows that our community has changed. Over half of the children who live in district 43 are from diverse communities of color, including the immigrant and refugee community. Tawna is committed to bringing all of the voices of her district to the table and inviting the folks with deep expertise in their communities to help create the solutions.
Reforming our Criminal Justice System
Oregon has taken important steps to curtail mandatory minimums and cut recidivism, but there is more work to do. We must continue the work to stop racial profiling and the unnecessary use of force by law enforcement. Everyone in our community must receive fair and equal treatment under the law.
Cleaning Up Money in Politics
Big contributors have too much influence over our political system. Tawna will support limits on campaign contributions and creating a publicly financed elections so that people without access to rich donors can still run for office.
Preserving Our Natural Environment
Climate change is the greatest threat to our future – Oregon must lead the way to a carbon-free future. We also must do more to reduce air pollution and diesel emissions that are compromising the health of children, families, and the elderly living in North and Northeast Portland.
CONTACT
Tawna Sanchez for Oregon
tawna@tawnasanchez.com