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Talesha Payne

Talesha Payne

Senior Consultant

Talesha Payne

Senior Consultant

Talesha Payne is a dynamic executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in housing, healthcare, and social services. As a visionary strategist, Talesha has been at the forefront of designing and implementing innovative, trauma-informed programs that address systemic inequities and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, including transitional-age youth, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness.


Talesha’s extensive expertise spans strategic planning, operational management, and stakeholder collaboration. Her leadership roles have included overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, securing substantial grant funding, and building high-impact partnerships with government agencies, managed care providers, and community organizations.


Currently pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Southern California, Talesha holds advanced degrees in Business Administration and Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her academic and professional achievements reflect a deep commitment to fostering equity, promoting innovation, and delivering measurable impact in the communities she serves.


At the core of her work, Talesha is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to housing, healthcare, and social support services, empowering individuals and families to thrive.


Previous Experience 

Vice President of Community Impact at Jamboree Housing Corporation

Vice President of Housing Programs at St. Anne's Family Services

Director of the Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) at McKinley


Expertise and Skills

Integration of CalAIM services into permanent supportive housing and post-hospitalization programs, evidence-based program design addressing housing instability, behavioral health, and social determinants of health, implementation of innovative housing solutions for vulnerable populations, development and execution of cultural awareness and equity strategies in staffing and programs, policy influence and funding advocacy to address systemic barriers and enhance service delivery, budget management, grant writing, financial modeling for healthcare and housing programs.


Contact me: 

talesha@changewellproject.com

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