Kirstin O’Connor
Member-at Large
Kirstin O’Connor is a journalist and mother of two, currently reporting for KXLY – 4 News Now in Spokane. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of California, San Diego, and has worked in newsrooms across the country, covering stories that inform, empower, and connect communities.
In 2016, while working in Orlando, Kirstin’s newsroom was deeply affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy. It was a moment that profoundly shaped Kirstin’s journalistic mission. Her reporting began to focus on healing, recovery, and the long-term impact of trauma, eventually inspiring her to create a health franchise centered on recovery and patients defying the odds.
Kirstin was introduced to NAMI’s work after losing a family member who struggled with mental illness during the pandemic. Through that loss, she came to understand how essential NAMI is to families and motivated her to become part of that mission.
In 2022, Kirstin returned to the Inland Northwest with her husband, a Spokane native and Washington State University graduate. Kirstin is honored to support NAMI’s mission and bring a storyteller’s perspective to mental health advocacy in her community.