Executive Director
Seattle, Wa
Through sound fiscal management, collaboration and team work, grew a small, locally-focused grassroots organization into a multidisciplinary community center with statewide reach and national impact, increasing our budget fivefold in the process. Expanded community-based HIV testing eightfold, tripled hours of LGBTQ resource line availability, and grew the LGBTQ library to become the largest collection of LGBTQ literature in the Pacific Northwest. Expanded a fiscal sponsorship program to support new groups, and helped dozens of groups start their own non-profits, including nationally recognized organizations supporting transgender youth and families. Initiated Gay City's first research funding in 2004, quickly growing our influence through publications and collaborations, resulting in several groundbreaking projects and the first community-based PrEP clinic in the region. Worked with three other community groups to bring a groundbreaking LGBTQ substance abuse and recovery program to Seattle, one of the first LGBTQ programs funded by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Championed the development of Gay City Arts, a multidisciplinary program that centers disabled LGBTQ artists and QTPOC (queer and trans people of color). Received awards from the City and other groups for our groundbreaking work, and gained key insight through this innovative program on how to better center equity and racial justice across all of our work.Lead the organization during a three-year strategic overhaul to rethink our leadership structure and accountability to the communities furthest from health equity. Launched a new mission statement and re-articulated values, implemented a leadership team structure with majority BIPOC directors and frontline staff guiding decision making, and initiated a strategic plan in partnership with my Board to ensure that fostering racial and health equity was driving our work.
