Brisa Lauren

Passion in human form. Expect high energy, captivating mobility, crowd interaction, and live instrumentation.

Born and raised in San Diego, my background is representative of San Diego’s border town diversity having a Black Father and a Latina Mother. I completed an Associate’s Degree in Black Studies from San Diego Community College District, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University. Being exposed to Social Justice in college sparked my passion for progressive issues such as the push for economic equality, voting rights, and racial justice.

I am currently the Civic Engagement Manager Statewide for United Domestic Workers, the Homecare Providers Union, engaging and training union members throughout California on Civic Engagement strategies, such as formal and informal activist tactics, grassroots organizing, and political education on local and statewide campaigns. The majority of my political career has been spent running large-scale voter engagement field programs and registering underrepresented communities to vote. In addition to my work in Civic Engagement, I am a lead coordinator for the creation of the San Diego Black Worker Center, bringing together a Steering Committee consisting of local, multifaceted Black professionals in the public and private sectors for the purpose of creating a Black worker center centered in building power through organizing Black workers and building an equitable economy for Black People.

Separately from my career in the Social Justice field, I was the lead singer of San Diego’s award-winning band The Lyrical Groove where we have used music as a platform for healing and truth-telling. As life experiences force me to grow, so grows my artistry and self-expression. I am now embarking on a music journey as a solo artist. I recently completed my first project titled “In Her Stillness,” a project born out of vulnerability and self-care. Lastly, I am the Mother of a young King named Josiah Rai, who has kept me balanced during uncertain times and has been the sun that rises after every storm. He is hilariously annoying and brings the brightest light into any dark space. He’s the reason I believe in love at first sight.

Outside of my career, for the past 6 years, I have assisted in organizing and leading multiple events centered on creating safe spaces for communities of color. Each event has been rooted in individuals seeing themselves in a positive light, as well as seeing themselves in one another. The events themselves covered a wide range of interest from performing arts to panel and group discussions, as well as networking and mentorship opportunities. The platform we created allowed folks from the most underrepresented and underserved communities to be embraced with love, empathy and above all respect.

The moments in my life one could view as luck I have learned are really God’s grace on me. I’ve been blessed with a lot of opportunities that allowed me to learn from more than just textbook knowledge, but from failed and fulfilled experiences. This doesn’t take away from one having to work hard to be dedicated to their craft, but it definitely set up a strong foundation so that when I moved, I stood on solid ground.

I truly believe all pain creates platforms in your life to help you tap into your potential and reach your purpose. One thing I wholeheartedly believe is GOD IS ALWAYS PURPOSE-FULL!!! No wasted pain, no wasted tears, no wasted experiences. As I am getting older, I am making more of an effort to not focus on why things happened but accepting that they happened and that they had to happen. Although I am flawed and still find myself struggling with patience, I am very intentional about not compromising or losing myself in the midst of uncertainty. Every move I make and every word I speak must be rooted in love and light, and if at any point it’s not, that's an opportunity to reflect on what’s hurting me and further my healing. One thing you can always bet on, the fire inside of me will always burn brighter than the fire around me. Trust, we never lose, just learn.

So here are some parts of me... The Words, The Work, The Music. Take what you need.

Blessings,

Brisa Lauren