Tanya Brownrigg

Tanya Brownrigg Headshot

California, United States

Executive Director/Founder, Victims Empowerment Support Team

Tanya, a native of Oakland, California, overcame generational domestic violence to become a powerful advocate for vulnerable populations. As a teenage mother, she broke the cycle of abuse by fleeing an abusive relationship in 2002, determined to protect her daughter. Tanya pursued higher education, earning a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Sacramento State University. With over 17 years of leadership experience, she has dedicated her career to serving vulnerable communities. In 2021, Tanya founded the Victims Empowerment Support Team (VEST) to address gaps in services for domestic violence survivors in Solano County. She also collaborated with the Sonoma County Family Justice Center to implement a Domestic Violence High Risk Team. Through VEST, she continues to empower survivors and work towards a future where no one has to suffer the way she did.

Rise Up Cohort: California, 2024