Lori is a public policy adviser and decolonial systems thinker, centered on housing justice, racial equity, and Indigenous ways if knowing. Lori has had the privilege to work with the public sector at every level of government, with elected officials, federal entities, Tribal Nations, governments outside of the United States, and NGOs who seek to increase high-level engagement on complex issues and invest in the communities they serve.

Through the lens of being Indigenous Pacific Islander (Kānaka Maoli) and a Filipina (Mandayan Muslim Clan), with lived experience of homelessness, deep poverty and displacement, these successful initiatives were made possible by encouraging collaborative governance, which brings together government change agents and Black, Brown and Indigenous community members and groups, to develop new policies and norms that prioritize racial and social justice. This strategy acknowledges the need for creating relationships and trust to address and correct historical and contemporary harm, while working together to create a new and revolutionary system.

Some of Lori’s most recent efforts include; support of the drafting of the 2025-28 Cal ICH Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness’s racial equity frameworks, supporting the planning and the implementation by Oregon Governor Kotek in her Executive Order declaring a state of emergency on unsheltered homelessness, supporting the State of California’s breadth of state departments, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Tribal Nations and local communities, to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness, while addressing racial disparities and harmful policies in the systems that serve those populations. Lori also currently serves an advisor and technical writer for the Department of Justice, co-authoring guides to local governments and universities on how to respond to events that polarize communities.

Lori has also served as Senior Adviser on Homelessness to Mayor Buddy Dyer of the City of Orlando and launched the Homeless Strategy Office for the City of Austin. In both roles, Lori led the development of a community-wide implementation infrastructure that supports collective alignment, action-oriented decision-making, and mutually reinforcing activities aimed at achieving common goals.

Prior to her appointment with the City of Orlando, Lori spent fourteen years with Habitat for Humanity International in various leadership capacities with expertise in disaster recovery and response, community engagement, emergency shelter solutions, resource development and advocacy. This included four years in Haiti, after the devastating 2010 earthquake where she worked hand in hand with President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in support of the Haitian government and community leaders in rebuilding.