Speakers and Facilitators

Mrs. Direlle R. Calica J.D. has over 20 years of experience as a legislative, policy, planning, and regulatory advisor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Oregon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Intertribal Organizations, and various Indian Tribes. Mrs. Calica has extensive professional experience in intergovernmental affairs, hydro-system planning, tribal economic development, tribal energy infrastructure policy, and tribal water policy.

She has also served as a White House Intern and Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellow in the U.S. Senate. Her professional background includes a Juris Doctorate with a focus on Business and Natural Resource policy. Mrs. Calica was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Lewis & Clark Law School in the Indian Law Program. Mrs. Calica also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Energy Coalition, the Oregon Native American Chamber, and Council Member for the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. She is also a Bonneville Environmental Foundation (B-E-F) Board of Director, Emeritus. Mrs. Calica is the Managing Partner of Kanim Associates, LLC a Native American, women and Veteran owned company based in Portland, Oregon. Finally, she is a member of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and the WSBA Environmental Law Section.

Session: Tribal Sovereignty

Session: Tribal Sovereignty

Session: How To Advocate With Others

Tai Simpson is “The Storyteller” in the indigenous language of the Nimiipuu nation (Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho). She lives and works in the Boise, Idaho area. Her insight into politics and social justice work are invaluable in schools, business events, and community leadership.

Check out Tai's website!

Session: Exploring & Celebrating Our Identities

State Representative WLnsvey (wins-vay) Campos, of House District 28, was raised in Bandon, Oregon by a single father in a low-income household. As the proud daughter of immigrants, she was confronted as a child with the disparity between those who were afforded opportunities and those who were not regardless of how hard they worked.

This perspective informs her work both as a State Representative, but also in her role as a Case Manager for Family Promise of Beaverton where she currently helps families experiencing houselessness find their new homes. ​

Wlnsvey considers herself lucky to have had a community in her hometown that supported and encouraged her, as well as her father who worked long hours and provided her with a strong backbone for advocacy and social justice, that led to her being able to say, "I am here." Here and ready to be an advocate for all of our communities. Here and proud to be part of Aloha and the larger community of House District 28. Here and ready to fight for comprehensive, system-levels policies to address not only the root causes of our housing challenges, but also for our education system, healthcare, and the climate crisis.

Tawna Sanchez Co-Founded and is the Director of Family Services at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), which uplifts Native communities in the Portland area by providing elder services, domestic violence services, community engagement, community economic development, housing services, education services, as well as health and equity.

Sanchez has received the Midori Hamilton Award from the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and she was the finalist for the 2006 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award. In addition, she is a member of the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Advisory Committee, the Board Chair of Red Lodge Transitional Services, and more.

It's an honor to serve as Representative for House District 47 - outer East Portland. Our district is located on the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas Bands of the Chinook and many other tribes who made their home along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.

Tribes from this ancestral territory are now part of the Grand Ronde, Siletz, and Warm Springs sovereign nations.

Breanna is a dynamic speaker whose energy is contagious. Her genuine excitement for the success of others is undeniable and a welcomed experience. Breanna's focus on strength-based development encourages her audiences to show up at work authentically and fearlessly. A breath of fresh air, Breanna's transparency and wit make her your workplace cheerleader you never knew you had.

In addition to leading The Refining Company, Breanna leads the strategic development and implementation of learning programs for the second largest county in Oregon.

Session: Strengths-Based Leadership

My name is Nya Mbock. I am a Communications major in my third year here at Portland State, and I transferred here during my Sophomore year of schooling and have really loved it so far!

I am currently a UNST Peer Mentor at PSU, as well as a Student Ambassador here at the University. I’m also a part of the Women's Resource Centers team as the Tabling & Presentations Coordinator, and am the Student Body President here at Portland State University!

Program Coordinator- Center for Women’s Leadership

Hannah joined the Center for Women’s Leadership at the end of 2020 and has been working for Portland State since 2017, starting in the Center for Public Service as an Assistant International Program Coordinator. She has had the joy of welcoming scholars from Japan and South Korea to study in Portland and is looking forward to expanding leadership programming throughout Oregon.

Hannah graduated from PSU in August of 2021 with B.S in Biology with future aspirations of working in Oregon’s forests. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading fiction and working on growing a small library. She is also a plant enthusiast and a companion to her new kitten, Phoebus McNugget.