Mary Jane joins Empowered Aging as an Ombudsman Support Specialist, bringing a deep commitment to disability justice, creative problem-solving, and support for the underdog. With over 20 years in graphic design, she’s always been drawn to color, typography, and the power of unconventional ideas—skills that now support her advocacy work in long-term care.

Her partnership with Empowered Aging began in 2017 (then Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa & Solano Counties), when she designed and installed wall graphics, signage, core values, and a life-size sensory wall at Pleasant Hill headquarters, designed to help engage residents living with dementia. After a brief role as Intake Specialist from 2018–2019, she returned as an Oakland volunteer in 2024, inspired by her Grandmothers, who each created their own versions of independence. She officially rejoined the team in 2025.

An unapologetic fan of Green Day, honesty, and weird ideas, Mary Jane believes that “design thinking and disability advocacy has helped me appreciate, understand, and enjoy finding solutions in unique ways.”