about me
I’m Anna Oommen! I started Patterns & Praxis Consulting because I kept seeing the same gaps. Gaps between values and practice, vision and execution, strategy and care. After years of leading programs, trainings, and campaigns across sectors, I wanted to create a space where all of those pieces could come together.
This work is rooted in everything I’ve learned as a queer woman of color, a longtime organizer, and a systems thinker. I’ve built coalitions, trained public servants, supported cultural change inside rigid institutions, and helped movements grow stronger from the inside out. Through it all, I’ve stayed focused on what actually works and what it takes to get there.
Patterns & Praxis is my way of helping people and organizations move with more alignment, more clarity, and more collective power. Whether it’s a workshop, a strategy session, or a conversation that helps shift perspective, this practice is about building toward the future we keep saying we want.
i’ve been at this a long time!
check out a few of my
iconic moments:
1994
Right around the time I realized this country needed some major changes.
2005
Leading a student walkout to
protest the Iraq War.
2005
Winning high school policy debate tournaments with my critique of capitalism.
2006
Becoming radicalized by intersectional feminism at the Women’s Debate Institute.
2006
Another student walkout to
protest the Iraq War.
2008
Protesting the
Iraq War - but this time through
the power of song!
2009
Voted “Most Political” in high school while insisting I wasn’t into politics. 🙃
2009
Protesting the mayor giving
Glenn Beck a key to the city.
2009
Giving an impassioned speech shortly before being ejected from a city council meeting for bullying the mayor.
2010
Staffing a booth at the fair for the Skagit County Young Dems - and having a great time!
2012
Rallying for workers’ rights in Olympia.
2014
Hand painting campaign signs for
a local candidate.
2014
Organizing for the midterm elections in Oregon.
2014
Staffing a speaking event for the (then) Vice President Biden.
2015
Flinging expired bacon at Dick Cheney because community catharsis is a revolutionary act.
2015
Gathering public input to stop the construction of a crude oil train terminal.
2016
Organizing to make sure corporations
pay their fair share of taxes.
2016
Directing democratic organizing efforts throughout central and eastern WA.
2016
Directing a multi-city campaign rally tour through eastern WA with the (then) Governor Inslee.
2017
Organizing volunteers
to elect progressive champions like Senator Manka Dhingra.
2017
Attending the
5 year Sandy Hook Remembrance Walk with the (then) Attorney General, Bob Ferguson.
2018
Exhaling on the steps of the capital during a truly grueling legislative session.
2018
Gathering student activists at the capitol to demand gun violence prevention legislation.
2018
Wrangling speakers & supporting student organizers at the Seattle March for Our Lives.
2019
Lobbying in Olympia for reproductive health care, rights, access, & education.
2019
Lobbying in DC with patients, advocates, & organizers for reproductive rights.
2020
Canvassing on Halloween to get out the vote for statewide mandatory, comprehensive sex education.
2021
Staffing the Bans Off Our Bodies rally in Seattle.
2022
Being so annoying about salaries being listed on all job postings that it inspired state legislation.
2022
Directing data, programs, & research for the Win|Win Network.
2023
Celebrating the Suciasaurus rex (not pictured) becoming the state dinosaur after years of lobbying.
2023
Partnering with the WA State Office of Equity to design & deliver equity curriculum to staffers across the enterprise.
2024
Winning a bronze medal in the PAX West Pokémon GO tournament, a victory I credit to all the doors I knocked in 2016.
2024
Earning my DEI Certificate from
the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.
2025
Emceeing the campaign kickoff of
a local parks candidate.
2025
Finally starting my own
consulting shop.
Legislative Victories
A list of all the bills that I personally lobbied to pass, directed grassroots lobbying efforts to pass, managed a team of organizers to get passed, or impacted in some other way that involved sweat & tears.
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Machine Gun Loophole (ESSB 5992) – 2018 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Bans bump stocks (devices that make guns fire like machine guns) and sets penalties for having or using them. Also creates a buy-back program for people to turn them in.
Prime Sponsor: Van De Wege
Domestic Violence Harassment (SB 6298) – 2018 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Stops people convicted of harassment against family or household members from owning guns.
Prime Sponsor: Dhingra
Concealed Pistol License Eligibility (EHB 2519) – 2018 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Police can hold on to a surrendered concealed pistol license until they confirm the person is still eligible. Adds more types of protection orders that make someone ineligible for a CPL.
Prime Sponsor: Lovick
Voluntary Waivers (SSB 5553) – 2018 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Lets people voluntarily give up their right to own firearms and later take it back. Includes penalties for false identity on these forms.
Prime Sponsor: Pedersen
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Reproductive Health Access for All (2SSB 5602) – 2019 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Requires health plans to cover reproductive health care regardless of a person’s gender identity. Coverage must include condoms, sexual assault care, and more.
Prime Sponsors: Randall, Wilson, C.
Confidentiality in Health Care Communications (SSB 5889) – 2019 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Allows dependents to choose where their health info is sent, so sensitive medical details aren’t shared with the main policyholder without consent.
Prime Sponsor: Dhingra
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Preserve Title X Program in State Budget (Supplemental Operating Appropriations) – 2020 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Restores $8.4 million to continue family planning services in WA after federal Title X funding was cut.
HIV/AIDS Modernization (ESHB 1551) – 2020 Legislative Session, WA
Modernizes HIV and STD laws to reflect current science, reduce stigma, and allow teens access to PrEP and STI prevention at a younger age.
Prime Sponsors: Cody, Randall
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Improving Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Family Planning Providers in State Budget (Supplemental Operating Appropriations/ESSB 5092) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Increases Medicaid payments for family planning services to bring in more federal funding.
Key Champions: Macri, Wicks, Darneille, Randall
Protecting Pregnant Patients Act (SB 5140) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Stops hospitals from blocking doctors from giving urgent care for pregnancy complications like miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.
Prime Sponsor: Kuderer
Improving Maternal Health Outcomes (SSB 5068)– 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Expands Medicaid coverage for new mothers to a full year after giving birth.
Prime Sponsor: Randall
Implicit Bias Training for Healthcare Professionals (ESSB 5229) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Requires healthcare workers to complete equity and bias training every four years.
Prime Sponsor: Randall
Equity Training for Teachers (ESSB 5044) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Adds anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion to public school staff training.
Prime Sponsor: Das
Capital Gains Tax (ESSB 5096) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Adds a new tax on high-value asset sales to fund public services and make the tax system fairer.
Prime Sponsor: Robinson
Working Families Tax Credit (ESHB 1297)– 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Creates a tax refund for low- and middle-income families, similar to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Prime Sponsors: Thai, Nguyen
Climate Commitment Act (E2SSB 5126) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Creates a system that charges big polluters and reinvests the money into clean energy and climate justice projects.
Prime Sponsor: Carlyle
Wildfire Prevention (2SHB 1168) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Invests $500 million over 8 years in wildfire prevention and response efforts.
Prime Sponsor: Springer
Use of Force Standards (E2SHB 1310) – 2021 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Limits when police can use force and requires them to try de-escalation first. Force is allowed only to make an arrest, stop an escape, or prevent injury.
Prime Sponsor: Johnson, J.
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Salary Range Disclosure (ESSB 5761) – 2022 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Requires employers to disclose a compensation range within job postings.
Prime Sponsor: Randall
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Official State Dinosaur (HB 1020) – 2023 Legislative Session, WA
Summary: Declares the Suciasaurus rex, the first and, as of July 23, 2023, only dinosaur discovered in Washington state, to be designated as the official state dinosaur.
Prime Sponsor: Morgan
Ballot Victories
It would be nearly impossible to list every candidate or ballot issue that I have advocated for throughout the years. So instead, here is a much shorter list of a few electoral victories to which I have contributed.
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Oregon Democratic Coordinated Campaign – Washington County, Oregon
Highlights: Coordinated Campaigns organize for democratic candidates all the way down the ballot. Working in a very uncertain swing county, our organizing delivered a tight victory for the democratic gubernatorial candidate and made Oregon one of the only states in the country to not lose any national democratic seats in the 2014 midterm elections.
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Corporate Tax Ballot Measure – Oregon
Highlights: I consistently led the team in volunteer recruitment and signature collection metrics, qualifying this corporate taxation measure for the November ballot.
It did not pass in November, but I can only assume that was because I left the team and possibly also because Comcast threw an ungodly sum of money at running ads to defeat it.
Washington Democratic Coordinated Campaign – Eastern Washington
Highlights: Coordinated Campaigns organize for democratic candidates all the way down the ballot. It should come as no surprise that democratic wins in Eastern WA are an uphill battle. There weren’t big wins on the ballot, but the organizing team I directed experienced a significant improvement in all their metrics within two weeks of my arrival and finished the election season exceeding their goals. That is something I am very proud of them and myself for accomplishing.
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The Election of Senator Manka Dhingra – Redmond, Washington
Highlights: The special election of Manka Dhingra would flip the 45th Legislative District, giving democrats control of the state senate while also making her the first person of the Sikh faith ever elected to any state legislature. While I did not work with her official campaign, I did organize a boatload of volunteers to help turn out voters for her election. I also worked to elect other local progressive champions in 2017, but this was the most exciting race by far.
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Gun Violence Prevention Ballot Initiative – Washington
Highlights: Hired, trained, and managed campaign organizing staff through shortest signature drive in WA history, setting a state record. Oversaw the recruitment and management of more than 1,300 volunteers statewide who collected nearly 65,000 signatures in 3.5 weeks. Voters passed the initiative in the November election.
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Comprehensive Sex Ed Ballot Initiative – Washington
Highlights: Despite passing the legislature as a bill, this legislation was forced to be reaffirmed by voters via ballot initiative during the covid-19 pandemic. It was not easy to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot or talk to voters during this pandemic election. We won anyway in November, making it the first comprehensive sex ed ballot initiative to pass in the country.
Precinct Committee Officer Election – Seattle, Washington
Highlights: I was elected to a PCO position for the 37th Legislative District! It was an uncontested race.
Other
Victories
You don’t need to be on the ballot or at the legislature to score a win!
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Stand Up to Oil Coalition – Skagit County, Washington
Highlights: I organized volunteers and residents to provide scoping comments during public hearings. We succeeded in defeating the proposal to construct a new oil train terminal.
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Winning Bronze at PAX West – Seattle, Washington
Highlights: I won a bronze medal in the PAX West Pokémon GO tournament! A victory is a victory, y’all.
After all that, You still want to look at my resume?
Fine. May the LinkedIn Gods smile upon your quest for knowledge.
