20 Under 40: Ashley Espinoza

Sector Strategy Director, Lane Workforce Partnership

Age: 33

Ashley Espinoza strives to create spaces of equity and understanding to support working families and vulnerable communities. Since joining Lane Workforce Partnership as the sector strategy director, Ashley has hit the ground running in furthering the mission of meeting the workforce need of employers and individuals through partnerships and innovation.

She has served the community for over 10 years in many volunteer roles and capacities, and often gets called upon by community partners to assist in helping highlight opportunities for growth and provide solutions to help eliminate barriers. One of her greatest accomplishments is co-founding and leading Latino Professionals Connect, a networking group that offers a space for professionals and business owners to foster authentic relationships, learn from one another and build social capital.

She was appointed by the governor’s office to serve on the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the first person from Lane County in over 10 years, and proudly serves on the leadership council for the Oregon Community Foundation, the board of directors for FOOD For Lane County, and Lane County’s Poverty and Homelessness Board.

I believe that we all have the ability to create positive impacts in our community. Community is “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.”

I am passionate about intentionally creating opportunities for people to have positive and inspiring experiences with one another. Seeing partnerships in all forms working together toward a common goal motivates me to do what I do.