- [Adrienne] Since I was a child, what has always been important to me was be a truth teller.

I cannot tell you something that I don't believe deep in my heart and I expect the same from others.

If someone is coming from a place of honesty, I feel we can reach any solution.

My name is Adrienne C. Nelson.

I'm an Oregon Supreme Court justice, and these are my Expressions in Black.

When I came to Oregon, I moved here as a single parent.

I was a public defender.

I got involved in a variety of committees and people started seeing me as a potential judge candidate.

- [Man] Judge Adrienne Nelson, she's made history joining the Oregon Supreme court.

- When I got appointed, I had at my formal swearing in more people than they had ever seen before.

People wanted to see different people on the bench.

People wanted to see someone that they felt a connection to.

- For me as a black woman in the largest whitest city in the United States to have an African American Supreme court justice, it's this overwhelming feeling of, wow, we have women who are doing big moves, big things here in Oregon, the justice system, it's starting to change, it's starting to look more like me.

- [Adrienne] I am always mindful that my sitting on the bench means a lot to some people and changes what people think about others.

- To find out that justice Nelson was the first black Supreme court judge in Oregon meant a lot to me just knowing Oregon's history that doesn't really shine a light on African Americans having done something so prominent.

- [Adrienne] I've always loved art.

And it's very special to me that Jeremy Okai Davis had chosen me to be in his art piece.

- [Jeremy] When I first started, I wanted to honor Justice Nelson first and foremost, I knew I wanted to speak to like black history, somebody in the community that did really important things and include in the Justice as she was graduating from college.

I was playing on the idea of so much promise ahead.

- [Adrienne] His ability to create pieces that engender deep thought in conversations makes me proud that he felt that I was an image he wanted to include.

Hey.

How are you doing?

It's so good to see you.

- It's good to see you as well.

- Yes.

- This is the initial sketch with you and all of the students at Hidden Falls.

- [Adrienne] This is so beautiful.

So Sade and I met and she wanted to know if I could be a part on this incredible black muse project and I couldn't.

But I said, "I can't do this, but I got a idea.

"Do you think you could possibly do a mural at the school?"

- [Libra] Happy Valley will have it's first high school named after a black woman, Adrienne C. Nelson.

- I didn't even realize that anybody would be interested enough in having something named after me, let alone a school.

And then for the whole process of how it unfolded for it to happen, I realized that this was something bigger than me.

- [Libra] The opportunity to having someone alive and their name being on a building, just the power behind that is an opportunity for us to move forward in progress, in change and absolute excellence.

- [Adrienne] We talked about making sure that this mural that's gonna go up on this wall would be representative of all different types of students.

And I'm so excited that a portion of them are here today, where it looks like the school that I had hoped it would be.

Having the opportunity to meet with the students who are going to be attending the Adrienne C. Nelson High School this fall was a gift.

What made you agree to be in the mural?

- I thought it would be cool to be part of this because it can show people that everybody's different.

- This is kind of like a leadership role.

So I wanna be there to guide the incoming classes.

- I feel like it's also the opportunity to show positive energy.

Growing up in a predominantly white area, you kind of feel like you could be judged or.

- [Adrienne] Take your time.

When I saw these young women open their hearts and share their pain, I realized there was much work to be done, but I was also grateful for them willing to be vulnerable in this moment to show where we can reach out and connect with one another to build those bridges that we need to move forward.

I really try to stay present and understand what is being asked of me.

When you do that, beautiful things happen, important things happen, things that are meant to happen, happen.

And by being who I am, I hope it opens the doors for others to be who they are.

I worked really hard to get here and I wouldn't take anything from my journey, but I'm very clear as Michelle Obama said that, "I'm an ordinary person on an extraordinary journey."

Community means something to me.

We have a responsibility to hold each other up.

I hope by sitting in this role, I'm doing my part to make this world a little bit better than I was born into it.

(upbeat music)