My name is Ranee Rock. I am a Native American mother of 3 adult sons; a tribal member of the White Earth Nation living in the Twin Cities MN.I am one of a 15 member BIPOC lived experience group, founding members of the SHiP Collaborative.SHiP co-designed a MN Blueprint that will prevent and end homelessness statewide and is leading Minnesota on that journey. I am Chair of the SMAC Director's Council, a council working close to the Continuum of Care,   reviewing and changing policies and procedures as needed, in addition to a few other agencies. I am learning that when our voices are together, this is when they are most powerful. The need and desire for people with Lived Experience continues to grow, especially when funding sources are sought. I have also come to learn that when you do this work, you also find your inner advocate and acquire a taste for politics even when you attempt to avoid it. Building power through people with lived experience requires mutual trust and vulnerability gained through relationship building which opens doors to seeing yet another untapped perspective. I am honored to be here with all of you. I hope to see you at the workshop.