Rebekah D. Mason Barrera

About Rebekah D. Mason Barrera

Welcome. I\'m Rebekah D. Mason Barrera. I\'m claiming my LinkedIn space to center some of my advocacy, storytelling and writing. I’m an advocate, a Mexican American storyteller and creative, a performer, and a lovingly partnered later-in-life queer woman. I want to be my authentic self even if it’s in the spaces I create for myself and others.My activity here does not represent my employer’s positions. This space supports my personal drive for connecting with community, contacts and networks. My personal and professional passions for driving good trouble, as John Lewis urged us to, and for working toward equitable outcomes for everyone, especially communities historically marginalized and minoritized, as reflected on this platform are reflections of my values, experiences and goals of a more just and equitable world. I am engaging here in my personal capacity. My activity does not represent my employer’s positions. I’ve been a legal aid lawyer, a veterans advocate, a policy advisor, government affairs director, a case worker caring for unaccompanied undocumented children, a solo performer, and a witness to lives shaped by broken and unjust systems that move beyond survival, toward thriving. I live and write from the body—fat, disabled, and in eating disorder recovery. My work lives at the intersections of identity, advocacy, and imagination. I believe joy is a form of resistance. I believe storytelling is a liberatory practice. And I believe our voices—and stories, especially those too often silenced—belong in the center. Admitted to the Texas Bar (Inactive) Admitted to the District of Columbia Bar (Inactive)(Previously) Admitted to practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)My activity here does not represent my employer’s positions.

Experience

1. Government Affairs Director

   AARP

   Sep 2022 — Present

   Direct extremely active portfolio primarily focused on improving outcomes for seniors/people with disabling conditions/family caregivers who need LTSS. Support 53-state offices in LTSS state/local advocacy. Prepare testimony, comment letters, internal backgrounders, fact sheets, policy memos identifying emerging trends. Support 53 state offices navigating systemic issues impacting nursing home resident/assisted living resident care, quality outcomes including visitation, vaccine, booster, systemic reform, staffing, direct care worker/quality care efforts in legislative and regulatory efforts, supported affirmative & defensive wins in reimbursement, regulatory enforcement and oversight. Identify emerging trends for resource development including fact sheets, model language and research. Support 53 state offices in improving outcomes for current & future LTTS care recipients. Coordinate internally/externally to advance health equity and improve health/quality of life outcomes for seniors/family caregivers in navigating nursing home/ assisted living reforms, including including progressive legislation and/or defensive protections in healthcare and long-term care; caregiving, vaccine/booster access, COVID relief and nursing homes/assisted living reform. Annually support states offices in achieving countless nursing home and assisted living wins including transparency, staffing, direct care, worker pay/training, systemic reform affirmative/defensive wins. Supported 7 state offices in securing immunity wins. Supported 3 states in expanding access to LTC ombudsman funding. Supported AARP NC in achieving legislative compromises to protect a resident\'s visitation rights. Supported AARP LA in championing enacted emergency preparedness law to protect a nursing home resident\'s disaster preparedness rights. Direct external consultant supporting LTSS work. Direct state work on green house/small nursing homes. Support efforts in monitoring implementation of Biden proposals.

Education

• Cooley Law School

  Juris Doctor

  2006 — 2009

• University of Houston

  Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Theatre

  1999 — 2004

Skills

• Government
• Nonprofits
• Policy Analysis
• Community Outreach
• Legislative Relations
• Legal Research
• Legal Assistance
• Legal Issues
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Grassroots Organizing
• Non-Profits
• Policy
• Westlaw
• Research
• Fundraising
• Public Policy