Panel: Partnerships as Solidarity Work
Meeting the Moment panel: Partnerships, Connections & Relationships (9/22/2021)
Partnerships, Connections, and Relationships - Local Examples of Solidarity: how can we continue to hold relationships, bring new connections and relationships, and support each other's work? Local examples of solidarity. In this panel, hear from community leaders on how we can continue to hold relationships and build new connections to support each other's work. Panelists include Rebecca Berry from Skyway Coalition, Alejandra Tres from Comunidad Latina de Vashon, and Helen Shor-Wong from White Center Community Development Association. The panel is moderated by Yasmeen Perez.
Panelists:
Rebecca Berry (she/her), Skyway Coalition
Rebecca Berry (she/her) is a Black, White, Alaskan Native, Mexican, and Filipino woman, born and raised mostly in South Seattle. Her lifelong passion for advocacy was born after she entered the foster care system in adolescence. She later served as a court appointed special advocate, supporting youth in similar positions, which cemented her desire to serve in advocacy and to help empower those most impacted, yet furthest from power. Her work experience included private, public and nonprofit sectors and helped guide her way through community college classes to earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration, which enhanced her passion for advocacy. She was recently hired as the Skyway Coalition Manager, which is a dream job for Rebecca! Building on the work and expertise of leaders before her, she is excited to help shape this organization to serve the community she lives in. At the core, the Coalition aims to champion the voices of their primarily black and brown community with regard to anti-displacement efforts, affordable housing, and economic development.
Ryan Quigtar (he/him), Renton Innovation Zone Partnership
Ryan is the Executive Director of the Renton Innovation Zone Partnership, a non-profit convening over 30 organizations to improve academic outcomes for students and families through a racial equity lens. He recently graduated with his Master's degree from the Communication Leadership program at University of Washington. Ryan’s personal mission is to empower communities of color, change systems, and increase generational wealth for Black and Brown people.
Alejandra Tres (she/her), Comunidad Latina de Vashon
Alejandra Tres (she/her) immigrated to the US from Argentina after her own country's democracy crumbled. She has since devoted her life to finding and developing leaders to build power that propels the common good for their community and by extension for our entire region. Alejandra is thrilled to work alongside committed, talented, and tenacious community leaders and organizers. She believes that the best solutions are community-led solutions and that anyone, regardless of the details of their background, can be a changemaker. She is a co-founder of Comunidad Latina de Vashon where she helps craft organizing campaigns based on the brilliance of local leaders -especially youth, who always remind her to make the work fun. She is also thrilled to be a co-founder of the Unincorporated BIPOC Economic Alliance with Skyway and White Center where hundreds of youth, business owners, and community leaders wrote, called, testified, and handwrote their stories to our legislators of a better economic future they know they can achieve. This year Alejandra was given the American Society of Public Administration Call to Service Award for relentlessly recruiting people to join in her in the fun fierce work of remaking the world as it should be.
PANEL MODERATOR Yasmeen Perez (she/her & he/him), King County
Yasmeen Perez is an Equitable Development Program Manager in King County's Department of Community and Human Services. Yasmeen collaborates with BIPOC communities, and communities at high risk for displacement, to advance equitable community-driven development and BIPOC stewardship and ownership of land and housing. Yasmeen has 20 years of experience in community organizing and social justice movement work through roles at Seattle Young People's Project, FIERCE, Right to the City Alliance, Social Justice Fund Northwest, and Puget Sound Sage. Yasmeen believes in investing in community-led solutions to create strong communities that can thrive in place. Outside of work, you can find Yasmeen hanging out with his nephews, kayaking, and canoeing on various lakes, and making fruit leather this time of year.
