Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie

Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie has over 20 years of experience working with and advocating for refugees and immigrants. As a 1.5 generation refugee, she brings a unique perspective for understanding the strengths and complexities of this community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Sociology from Eastern Oregon University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has dedicated her community advocacy work on providing education and training on the disparities in equitable and meaningful language access for limited English proficient individuals. As an interpreter, consultant, trainer, and community organizer, she believes that when training is grounded in humility and delivered through an experiential learning model, it can reshape the narratives of historically underserved communities and ultimately transform systems. Ms. Soneoulay-Gillespie was appointed by Governor Brown to serve as a commissioner on the Oregon Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs and as a council member of the Governors Behavioral Health Advisory Council. In her current role as the Social Services Manager for Population Health at Care Oregon, she works to identify opportunities to collaborate with community partners regarding social determinants of health strategies and promote health equity to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Refugee Resettlement at Catholic Charities of Oregon.