Welcome! I’m Aimee Kotek Wilson, and I’ve been Tina’s partner for more than 20 years – we got married in 2016 after marriage equality was finally legalized. It was a shared passion for helping Oregonians that first brought us together. A dedication to creating community and opportunity for everyone has always been the foundation of our partnership.
Early in my career, I worked in the referral office for a big city soup kitchen, helping people experiencing homelessness navigate the systems designed to support them. I came to understand that people didn’t just need a sandwich – they needed justice, dignity, and the chance to make the best decisions for their lives.
I’ve always believed in bringing people’s voices directly into decision-making. As an organizer, I brought students to meet with lawmakers about expanding access to higher education, worked with labor unions to help Oregon workers share their stories at the Capitol, and supported efforts to strengthen our democracy by helping launch Oregon’s online voter registration system. I also served as a Legislative Director in the Oregon House during a period of co-governance, working across the aisle to build relationships and support an effective legislative process.
When my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, our family’s experience helped me realize I wanted to do the work on the ground to help people navigate the challenges in their lives. I went back to school for my master’s degree in social work. When I graduated and joined the workforce, I saw firsthand how difficult it is for social workers and other community behavioral health workers to do their jobs due to complex licensing and credentialing processes, overwhelming caseloads and paperwork, and low pay and workplace safety issues. And, more importantly, I saw how our healthcare system struggles to meet people’s needs when I was providing case management and mental health counseling to people living with serious and persistent mental illness.
Today, as First Lady, I continue that work by advocating for stronger mental health and addiction services and supporting the workforce that provides this care. I’m proud to have served as Chair of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Talent Council, where we focused on supporting, retaining, and growing the behavioral health workforce so that Oregonians can access the care they need, when they need it.
At the end of the day, I’m still energized by the work of breaking down barriers, improving people’s lives, and ensuring that those impacted by an issue are a direct part of the discussion about how to address them. It’s an honor to do this work.
Sincerely,
First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson