Our Team

Special Projects Support

Colleen Chalmers (she/her) joins the Equity Matters team to support special projects. She brings deep connections to the Native American and Alaska Native communities, expertise in housing and homelessness, and public health disparities. She has a breadth of experience from providing direct services with Native American communities to speaking about decolonizing systems of care. She is from several tribes on her mother’s side, including Metis. Colleen is an alum of Humboldt State University, with a degree in journalism and a minor in Native American studies. Since growing up in San Francisco, she's still searching for a good taco like home in the Pacific Northwest.  

Erin Okuno (she/her) is Equity Matter’s writer and editor and the chief blogger at Equity Matter’s sister publication Fakequity.com. Erin’s professional background includes working in education advocacy and community building. Originally from Hawaii, Erin grew up as part of the “minority-majority” and strong Asian Pacific Islander culture, and her love of “local” food and pidgin’ English continues. Erin is a Seattle University alum with a Masters of Public Administration, Bachelors of Public Administration and minors in political science and social work.