Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taisacan Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Taisacan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken came during one of the most difficult periods of my life. At the time, I was experiencing homelessness as a youth with my mother and my younger brother, who was a toddler at the time. We were trying to navigate a system that often forces families into impossible choices, and I found myself facing one of those choices head-on.

I was 19 years old and had recently started a new job as a Hotel Operator with The Venetian, a position I earned through the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth’s Young Achievers Program. I was trying to balance work, survival, and the beginning of what would become my advocacy journey. The day I had to make this life-altering decision, I was running a fever and physically exhausted. Emotionally, I was carrying the weight of knowing that whatever choice I made would affect not only me, but also the two people I had been experiencing this with for the past year.

Many of the housing and shelter options available to families wouldn’t accept all three of us because I was no longer a minor. The reality was that staying together could mean an endless cycle of weekly after weekly that would inevitably result in us being unsheltered and remaining unhoused longer.

The risk was choosing to separate from my family.

At 18, without stable housing, financial security, or certainty about the future, I made the decision to bet on myself. I took a leap of faith and trusted that I could survive independently while my mother and brother pursued resources that were otherwise unavailable to them. I was diving into the ocean in the middle of the night alone. It wasn’t a choice I wanted to make but it was the choice that gave us the best chance at a better outcome.

I remember questioning whether I was making the right decision and if my choice made me a terrible daughter. There were no guarantees that things would work out. I worried about where I would stay, how I would continue working, and whether I could maintain any sense of stability on my own. This was my introduction to adulthood and I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that my brother deserved to have a safe place to sleep, consistency, and a chance at a childhood that wasn’t defined by homelessness.

In the end, the risk paid off.

The separation created opportunities for housing and support that weren’t available when we were together. Ultimately, we didn’t reunify in housing. Over time, the already tumultuous relationship between me and my mother deteriorated to the point where we no longer have one. It was painful and I was wracked with guilt but it moved us toward greater stability and fundamentally changed my life.

That experience exposed me to the barriers and unintended consequences that many young people and families face when seeking help. Rather than walking away from those circumstances, I transformed them as fuel for change. What began as a personal struggle evolved into a commitment to advocacy and systems change.

Over the years, I’ve served as the Champion of the Southern Nevada Youth Action Board, Young Adults in Charge. I became a Youth Community Liaison, an Advocacy Fellow, a Diplomat, a member of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness, a Senior Program Officer, and now a Lived Experience Specialist with the Nevada Homeless Alliance. I sought out and was presented with opportunities to develop policy agendas, contributing to legislation that expanded healthcare access for unaccompanied minors and improved access to vital documents for young people experiencing homelessness. I’ve facilitated national trainings, represented youth voices on Capitol Hill, and worked to strengthen homelessness policy and programs across Nevada and the country.

When I think about risk, I think about that 18 year old version of myself, feverish, starting a new job, surviving without certainty about what came next, and making an impossible choice because it offered a path toward something better.

That experience taught me that risk is less about fearlessness and more about trusting yourself. It’s taking action in the face of uncertainty and fear. Betting on myself in that moment not only changed my trajectory, it shaped the work I do today and the leader I’m continuously becoming.

Taisacan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a dedicated housing justice advocate with over eight years of experience working at the intersection of youth advocacy, policy reform, and program development. My work has been informed by my professional expertise and lived experience of homelessness as a youth, supporting my ability to lead with empathy, authenticity, and a continued commitment to creating meaningful change.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on advancing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Using an intersectional lens, I’ve contributed to local, state, and national initiatives designed to remove barriers, expand access to lifesaving services, and support equitable systems change that allows people not just to survive, but to thrive.

I’m passionate about creating pathways for people with lived experience to lead, influence decision-making, and shape the systems that affect their lives. My advocacy is rooted in healing, justice, and the understanding that sustainable change happens when communities are empowered and their voices are centered.

I provide consulting, training, strategic planning support, policy advocacy, public speaking, and leadership development focused on housing justice. Regardless of who I’m working with, my goal is to build a world where housing is treated as a human right.

One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is elevating the voices and leadership of people with lived experience within decision-making spaces. Seeing policies shift, programs improve, and opportunities grow because those voices were heard is incredibly meaningful for me and a reminder that I’m not alone in this work.

Beyond my professional work, creativity is a core part of who I am. I nurture that side of myself through singing, poetry, and songwriting. I believe music is a powerful tool for connection, healing, and social change. By blending advocacy with artistry, I bring heart and vision into every space I enter.

Above all, I want people to know that my work is driven by a genuine commitment to community and transformative justice. Whether it’s through advocacy, leadership, training, or creative expression, I’m dedicated to building a better world.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and technical knowledge, I believe the most important qualities for success in this field are empathy, authenticity, resilience, and a willingness to listen. Housing justice is ultimately about people, so building genuine relationships and understanding the lived experiences of those most impacted by systemic challenges is essential.

Humility and persistence are also essential for success. Systems change is often a long-term process that requires patience and the ability to navigate setbacks while staying focused on the larger vision. But no matter how much expertise someone has, the people closest to the issues often have the deepest insights. Being able to center the voices of people with lived experience creates stronger solutions.

I believe having a clear sense of purpose is what sustains people in this work. When efforts are grounded in a commitment to equity, it becomes easier to stay motivated even when progress feels slow.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest things I’m unlearning is the belief that I always have to carry everything on my own. Like many people who have navigated adversity, I learned early on to be independent and self-reliant. These qualities helped me persevere but they also made it difficult for me to ask for support and set boundaries.

As I grew in my advocacy work, I realized that accepting help is an essential part of sustainability and collective impact. I experienced periods of burnout that forced me to rethink how I approach my well-being. I often prioritized the needs of others over my own and I believed that constantly pushing forward was the only way to make an impact. I’m learning that burnout doesn’t serve the movement. Sustainable advocacy requires rest, asking for support, and recognizing that caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your community.

That shift in perspective is allowing me to show up more fully in my personal and professional life. It taught me the importance of building strong relationships and maintaining work-life balance. Lasting change happens when we move from carrying burdens alone to creating solutions together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nevadahomelessalliance.org/
• Other: Email: taisacan@nevadahomelessalliance.org

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