Jay Vehige is a community organizer and justice advocate who grew up in foster homes and has turned his lived experience into a lifelong commitment to systems change. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Kansas Justice Coalition and holds leadership roles on the Emporia Homeless Advisory Board and as Vice Chair of Emporia Community Action, where he works to address housing insecurity, poverty, and inequity across Kansas. Over the past decade, Jay has organized with movements including the Poor People’s Campaign, Standing Rock No DAPL, Flint Hills Stewards, and Occupy Oklahoma City, consistently showing up at the intersection of economic, environmental, and social justice. Professionally, he has worked in outreach, healthcare, and technical support, most recently as a Senior Outreach Specialist/IT Support Associate with Centauri Health Solutions, partnering with health plans to improve member outcomes through data-driven, people-centered strategies