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As a mother and someone that has worked my entire career in childhood adversity, you can’t help but acknowledge the discrepancies in opportunities for children and parents. I am passionate about creating a community where every child is afforded the same opportunity despite the circumstances they were born into. I believe through our creative efforts with every organization involved with OKOB, we can change outcomes that makes Spokane a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Millini is passionate about the wellbeing of youth in the community and is currently working as the District Diversion Liaison with Spokane Public Schools. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. Prior to her role with Spokane Public Schools, she worked for 10 years at LCS Northwest as a Sexual Assault and Crime Victim Advocate and Program Supervisor, working closely with youth and their families impacted by traumatic crime victimization. She is aware of the intersectionality of trauma, victimization and its impacts on education and has been connected with Our Kids Our Business since 2017.
Sam is a dedicated early learning educator serving the Spokane community since 2009. She has a BA in Human Development and Family Studies, a Master’s in Education with a focus on early childhood education, and has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University with her research being based in Spokane Public Schools early learning programs. Sam currently serves as a faculty member in the School of Education at Eastern Washington University and as the secretary of Our Kids Our Business. She believes in achieving equity through advocacy, mutual aid, and accessible education.
Jamie McIntyre, LICSW, currently serves as the Community Risk Reduction Manager for the City of Spokane Fire Department (SFD). Through her role with the fire department Jamie has supported Our Kids Our Business mission since 2016. “I believe we all have role to play in creating a community where all children are valued, protected and nurtured as they grow.
Dena Chappell, LCMHC-A, is a therapist working at Grassroots Therapy Group, specializing in working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and past child abuse. She has been an active member of Our kids Our business since its inception in 2007 and believes strongly in the coalition’s mission to end child abuse in Spokane by collaborating amongst agencies and providing awareness, education and resources throughout the community. Dena’s vision for Spokane is to “become a model community which is celebrated for its ongoing commitment to prevention and ensuring all children are safe and nurtured.”
Jennifer Hansen has been an active member of the Our kids: Our business coalition for the past seven years. She believes every child should be wanted and loved beyond measure. It is impossible for her to walk past a baby without interacting. Jennifer believes that, as a community, we need to acknowledge how difficult parenting is. We need to normalize asking for support. Children thrive when they are surrounded by safe, nurturing people, parents do too. Child abuse and neglect is a solvable problem. Working together we can support parents and keep kids safe.
For almost 20 years, Jennifer has been collaborating with individuals and agencies to improve the health of the community through her work with the Spokane Regional Health District. When not working, you can often spot Jen hiking with her family, gardening or cooking healthy-ish food.
