My name is Talauna Reed, originally from Tacoma, Washington and have lived in Olympia, Washington since 2011. I am the proud mother of 20 year old twins, who have both left the nest and are now away for college at WSU and Weber State. I am a veteran organizer in the South Sound who is passionate and committed to advocating for racial justice, social justice, police accountability, and housing justice.
I have a BA in Organizational Management. I am a Certified Peer Counselor. I became committed to my work as an organizer and activist after the tragic murder of my aunt and mentor Yvonne McDonald in 2018. I am a core organizer for Olympia Showing Up for Racial Justice and am the matriarch of Justice for Yvonne McDonald. I am currently serving on the Olympia School Board and am the first African American to do so.
I am excited to join the Tenants Union and to lock arms with other amazing organizers and communities to protect our right to be housed. I am a renter, I have been homeless, been discriminated against, unlawfully evicted and unable to afford to pay rent. The harm and trauma caused by greed and predatory landlords must end.
Everyone deserves safe and affordable housing and your rights should not be violated as tenants. I believe in Housing First and my goal is to prioritize the voices of our most vulnerable community members and those impacted by systemic oppression and work with ALL tenants towards empowerment to win this fight for safe and affordable housing for ALL!
