Mariama Suwaneh, M.A. Email & Phone Number

Kirkland, Wa, Us

Want a more connected, joyful workplace and team? You are in the right place!At Alegría, we believe that prioritizing joy and connection leads to better teamwork, increased belonging, and improved outcomes for communities and organizations.We help leaders and teams develop sustainable systems and cultures that increase joy, connection, and belonging for everyone.

The Edenhood Collective is a platform for melanated women to develop life-affirming community rooted in the promises of God. Founded in 2020, The Edenhood Collective hosts a wide range of events to build community through faith with women of color.

Tacoma, Washington, United States

It's an incredible honor to be in the role of public servant and be part of what makes the City of Tacoma so wonderfully vibrant.In this role, I led the refinement of the Office, oversaw a team of 15 staff members, and supported both departmental and organizational equity strategy development. I improved camaraderie and communication throughout the department by implementing weekly huddles, team meeting cadences, leadership and team retreats and newsletters. I introduced strategic planning, goal setting, and project management tools to increase productivity and program alignment, and partnered with budget and finance leaders to reconcile and align the department's $5.9 million dollar budget with its programs and strategic plans.I also developed equity and belonging training pathways and workshops for both senior leaders and individual contributers, consulted with organizational leaders regarding their department's operational equity strategies, provided equity-based policy feedback, oversaw the implementation of 6-figure federal grants and external contracts and managed 3 community commissions.

Seattle, Washington, United States

Affinity and employee resource groups are the heart and soul of organizations, helping employees feel a sense of connection to each other and the workplace.In this role, I managed the "community" pillar of DWT's DEI strategy. I elevated the existing firm-wide affinity and employee resource group program by establishing charter frameworks to provide mission and process clarity for firm leadership, as well as clearer expectations and greater impact for participants. I provided location-specific strategic guidance and project management support to 8 office DEI committees whose responsibility it was to develop strong staff-attorney relationships, psychological safety within the office, and impactful relationships with partner organizations who hold similar values to DWT. I also revitalized the Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship Program, widening the recruitment pipeline, restructuring student engagement, and developing external partnerships with Washington universities.In total, I supported 21 different community-pillar programs and committees.

Redmond, Washington, United States

For as long as I can remember in my childhood, my mother and I utilized Hopelink services. Becoming Hopelink's Inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion was an important and humbling full-circle moment for me.In this role, I designed Hopelink's first comprehensive equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy and collaborated on their local, state, and national advocacy agenda. I partnered with executive leaders on Hopelink's internal and external responses to societal events. I evaluated existing HR practices to develop culturally-informed retention strategies leading to greater retention and engagement from historically underrepresented populations. Additionally, I had the pleasure to organize "Take the Pledge," Hopelink’s first racial justice community initiative, leading to over 100 people committing to support building an anti-racist community alongside Hopelink through a series of engagement events.

Greater Seattle Area

• Design and facilitate Equity Team - an interactive monthly learning experience for Advancement employees to practice the skills necessary to have challenging conversations regarding equity and belonging. 95% of participants agree that they practice new skills and/or are challenged by new perspectives at Equity Team.• Provide organizational development consulting, strategizing individualized facilitation plans for every partner. 100% of unit partners are satisfied with the consulting process and outcomes.• Design Bill and Mimi Gates Advancement Internship to align with business priorities and provide an immersive, 13-week learning experience.• Produce a 4-part series of Adaptive Leadership Lunch-and-Learn toolkits to guide managers through building strong team cultures.• Manage logistics for L & D portfolio, i.e, secure rooms, coordinate speakers, provide day-of program support.

Greater Seattle Area

Greater Seattle Area

• Designed and executed philanthropic engagement strategies for alumni and friends from underrepresented populations. Engaged 15% of donor population, 95% of whom were non-donors,• Developed external philanthropic partnerships with organizations serving underrepresented populations. • Supported in strategy building and stewardship of major gift prospects.

• Inaugural Cohort of Case North American Residents - Top 4% of all 400+ applicants.• Engage in hands-on, strategic learning opportunities to develop developing skills in prospect management, annual giving, stewardship, campaigns, major gifts, and partnerships.

Bellevue, Wa

• Recruited 200 students bi-yearly for the Puget Sound region.• Developed and implement systems for strategic engagement with 50+ community organizations.• Founded and led W.A.V.E.S (Women Achieving their Vision, Excellence and Success) luncheons, geared to provide an extra layer of support for female-identified students and empower them to overcome gender gap barriers in the workplace.• Facilitated half hour to hour long learning experiences for 30+ students to expand upon weekly professional development themes, i.e; diversity, motivation, career-readiness.

University Of Washington, Seattle, Washington

• Served as a liaison and advocate for black student issues and thirteen registered student organizations.• Managed the coordination, planning, promotion, and implementation of all programs and activities of the commission, including special events, workshops, lectures, discussion groups, etc.• Oversaw Evolve: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, a month-long celebration with 12+ educational, cultural, and empowering activities to commemorate Black History Month.

University Of Washington, Seattle, Washington

• Functioned as the Dawg Daze Volunteer Coordinator for the 2016 Dawg Daze, recruiting and organizing 240+ volunteers to assist at over 200 different events for the largest welcome week on the West Coast.• Provided general administration support to all FYP initiatives and campus-wide events, such as Orientation for the 8000+ incoming students, Dawg Daze, Outdoor Adventure programs, Husky Adventure programs, FIGs, etc.• Responded to inquiries about the UW from prospective and incoming students and their families by phone, email, and in-person communication.

Redmond, Washington

• Collaborated to create a community response demonstration, Rags to Riches, to empower individuals to eliminate racism in across the Eastside. Demonstration has since been housed in over 7 communities and counting.• Represented LE executives in Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition meetings.• Supported inaugural coalition event. Member of planning team, developed multimedia presentation.• Team Captain for 10th anniversary event. Secured, trained, and managed key volunteers.

Seattle, Washington

• Determined major disparities experienced by African American elders in the Greater Seattle area, including health, homelessness/housing, kinship care, and economics.• Developed feasible solutions for Seattle, King County.• Identified places for intervention at the community, government, and institution levels.• Communicated with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and local government officials to present and discuss a proposed plan for implementation.

Master Of Applied Social Science, Political Science And Government

Activities and Societies: UChicago GRAD Diversity Advisory Board

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science

Activities and Societies: President Cauce's Race and Equity Initiative, Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), Study.