ABOUT

Betsy Valnes is a human rights practitioner and community-based leader whose work centers on equality, ethical responsibility, and inclusive, sustainable social change. She serves as a pursuer of personal and community healing and an innovator of visionary justice on behalf of changemakers working from local to international spheres. Betsy is committed to ensuring that people with lived experience have a meaningful voice in shaping solutions.

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For more than two decades, Betsy has partnered with communities across the United States and internationally, focusing on equal rights for marginalized and underrepresented communities through leadership development and cross-cultural systems change. She served as founding Executive Director of the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN), an organization led by and for young people with disabilities, and later worked as an international consultant supporting community-driven, inclusive initiatives across 14 countries. Her collaborations included institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the National Council on Disability, Rehabilitation International, and the Council on Quality and Leadership.

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Betsy truly believes that honoring one another begins with honoring one’s inner self and the recognition of the potential that each person has to share with the broader human family. She’s striven to implement this notion through her work with organizations such as the World Disability Union (WDU), the U.S. International Council on Disability (USICD), and the National Council on Disability and Exchange through Mobility International USA.

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Grounded in interdependence, active listening, and shared responsibility, Betsy works to help communities translate shared values into self-led action. She holds a Master’s degree in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs from American University and a Bachelor’s degree in Religion with an emphasis in cultural ethics from Augustana University. Betsy resides on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, specifically the Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋ (Yankton) Dakota Oyate in southeastern South Dakota.

Dr. Kristen E. Jones brings over two decades of experience in disability rights advocacy, child welfare policy, and systems change to the Power of One board. As a Senior Behavioral Health Policy Strategist for the State of Texas working in foster care, her work focuses on dismantling barriers so that individuals who have experienced trauma or disability can live their lives fully and with self-determination.

 

Kristen's commitment to advocacy is deeply rooted in lived experience and began with her foundational work in the National Youth Leadership Network, which launched her into the world of social justice. She has served in leadership roles on numerous boards including chairperson of the Texas State Independent Living Council, board member of the National Youth Leadership Network, and the Houston Commission on Disabilities. 

 

Her career has been dedicated to policy development, voting rights advocacy, and research centered on self-determination for individuals with disabilities, with particular focus on racially and ethnically diverse communities.

 

Kristen embodies the Power of One's mission of creating space for changemakers to share perspectives, embrace lived experiences, and build a more just and equitable world.

Early Foundations in Social Change

Margaret Theisen’s commitment to social change began in her teenage years. Known among her classmates as the arbiter of differences and a passionate advocate for fair play, she made it her mission to ensure everyone on the basketball team had the opportunity to participate. This early activism set the tone for a lifelong dedication to fostering love, peace, and justice for everyone, everywhere.

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Family and Values

As the tenth of thirteen children, Margaret learned essential values from an early age. Service, flexibility, and the importance of fighting for the right causes became central to her character. She understood the significance of sharing and developed a deep loyalty to her faith, family, friends, and community. These attributes were further shaped through her experiences living in various states and traveling to over a dozen foreign countries, where her values endured through challenges and personal growth.

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Career and Activism

Margaret’s professional life has been largely devoted to disability rights advocacy. Her efforts included work with a high-tech firm and participation in numerous international projects, reflecting both her commitment to justice and her versatile skill set. Her engagement with The Power of One organization is a natural extension of her lifelong activism and dedication to service.

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Personal Interests and Leadership

Beyond her professional and activist pursuits, Margaret treasures the importance of hearth and home. Cooking in the kitchen remains a priority, highlighting her love for nurturing those around her. As a member of the Board Executive Committee, she brings a unique blend of love, leadership, and a longing for a more just society to her role.