Teon Hayes is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Public Benefits Justice team at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). She is passionate about helping communities historically marginalized by public policy overcome systemic barriers. Within her policy expertise, Teon brings a deep commitment to centering racial equity and incorporating lived experience. Teon entered policy to be a voice and an advocate for her community — someone who speaks up and brings light to the many layers behind the issues they face. She believes the conditions in communities are not accidental but rather the result of generations of pain and systemic neglect. Teon will always push for solutions that empower her people not just to survive, but to truly thrive.