Team Highlight: Jess

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We've added some awesome new folks to the Thrive team in the last couple of months, and we're excited to share them with our community! This month we asked Jess a few questions about what makes her, her :)

Tell us about yourself, Jess!

I have so many interests! Something that matters to me is that we all have more in

common than we realize, and that all our well-being depends on one another’s. I

love playing outside, dancing with friends, and trying to grow food.

How long have you lived in Central Oregon and what brought you here?

I came to Central Oregon for rock climbing and stayed for the community. I first

“discovered” Smith Rock in 2016 on a long road trip, and instantly fell in love. I

wound up moving into my Subaru and working seasonally at a climbing shop in

Terrebonne for a few years, going south in the winter and returning in the Spring

like a goose. I now rent a place in town and live a much less mobile life, and while

I miss saving money (rent is crazy!) I’ve loved letting my roots grow a little deeper

than they’d been before.

What brought you to Thrive?

I came to Thrive because I am from the community Thrive walks alongside. I come

from a family that experienced incredible hardships in my teen years, culminating

in some unhoused seasons, and I know how challenging it is to be in survival

mode within social systems that do not serve the working class. I have been on

the other side of Thrive drop-in tables seeking guidance, and I wanted to be able

to offer the same non-judgmental support I have received in my life. I deeply

believe in mutual aid and the symbiotic relationships we *must* form with the

folks in our immediate surroundings in order to live our most fulfilling lives. I also

really like my bike commute to work.

What do you like about the Thrive team so far?

I love how supportive this team is while I ask a million repetitive questions. It

feels good to work with people who are intentionally caring for our community,

and I love that everyone has a great sense of humor.

An Andrea Gibson quote that Jess tries to live by is:

“Everybody knows what you’re against. Show them what you’re for.”

Thank you for sharing a little about yourself, Jess! We're so happy to have you on our team 💪