When we say something took a "left turn", we're saying there was an unexpected twist.  Our mission is to create an unexpected change from the way things seem to be going and positively turn things around for our most marginalized communities. To do that, it takes a village. Left Turn Village is helping to contribute to a changing narrative and world view for folks who are different from the majority, creating a more equitable society.

 

When compared to their peers, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), the LGBTQ+ community (especially Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPoC)), women, People with Disabilities (PWD) and other marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from a host of mental, physical, and social health issues. The culture of racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other systems of oppression within our communities (e.g. sexism, classism, ableism, etc) is both fueled and compounded by fear and unfamiliarity. It frequently manifests in prejudice, discrimination, bullying, and "othering" with dire consequences for populations that are already extremely vulnerable. 

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The team at Left Turn Village, led by Dr. Tyree Oredein (she/her), has more than 15 years of experience working with and advocating for marginalized communities in various settings. LTV can help you create empathic, understanding, inclusive, and culturally competent spaces for our most disenfranchised communities.

 

Since 2005, Tyree Oredein, DrPH (she/her/hers) has dedicated her work to serving People of Color, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities in health, social service settings, schools, corporate spaces, and society at large. She has developed and delivered a wide array of workshops and trainings to health & social service providers, educators, administrators, law enforcement, corporate personnel, parents, youth, and community members.

 

Prior to starting Left Turn Village in 2020, she held positions with Hudson Pride Center and later Garden State Equality. Other posts include Select Media, Marion Bolden Student Center, the American Conference on Diversity, and Special State Officer on the Healthy New Jersey 2030 Advisory Council under the auspices of the NJ Department of Health. 

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Dr. Oredein is an Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University in the Department of Public Health.  She also sits on the Boards of Directors for Say Ah!, an organization dedicated to increasing health literacy, What Makes You Feel Beautiful, an organization created to empower women and non-binary people, and the Wellesley Racial Justice Initiative (WRJI), an organization created by an independent group of Wellesley College alums engaging in anti-racism work. Dr. Oredein also co-leads the development and implementation of WRJI's programming. Dr. Oredein earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Wellesley College, her Masters in Public Health (MPH) from Hunter College, and her Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) from Rutgers University.