Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was formed in November 1996 from the vision of a small group of citizens representing three generations of Americans from Asian and Pacific Islanders heritage. APCC represents 47 countries and cultures, offering programs and services honoring their distinct artistry, business protocols, history, and social practices. APCC serves as an interactive cultural crossroads between local and international communities with a mission to bridge communities and generations through art, culture, education, and business.
Bethel Christian Church was established in 1954, and it maintains numerous ministries designed to enrich the Greater Seattle community, including the Summer Free Meals Program and Prison Ministry. Bethel Christian Church remains engaged in issues directly affecting the Seattle Central Area, and it continues to advocate for the homeless, hungry, and spiritually needy.
Catholic Community Services
Michael Reichert, Josephine Tamayo Murray, José Ortiz, & Kenny Pittman
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCSWW) is the prophetic voice for justice, recognizing the sacredness and dignity of every human person. Rooted in the Gospel message of hope, it continues to be leaders, advocates, providers and partners serving poor and vulnerable people. CCSWW has tradition to serve and support poor and vulnerable people through the provision of quality, integrated services and housing. CCSWW’s focus is on those individuals, children, families, and communities struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism.
Catholic Housing Services’ (CHS) focus is to spread hope to poor and vulnerable men, women and children, by providing housing and shelter to families and individuals, helping children find security, assisting elders remaining in their homes, and providing essential services to people most in need. CHS’ Farmworker Housing Initiative aims to provide: 1) housing to give stability; 2) social services to give confidence and hope; and 3) community development to build bridges of respect. CHS’ “Creating Future Initiative” is designed to bring awareness for and support to the workforce that supports Western Washington’s valuable agricultural industry.
Chief Seattle Club, founded in 1970, represent the communities it serves, and our staff is 74% American Indian/Alaskan Native. Seven days a week, 364 days a year, 100~ members come to the Club for basic needs such as hot meals, showers, and laundry services. The Club works to gain their trust and act as a gateway to additional on-site services including health care, mental health, legal aid, and housing assistance. American Indians/Alaskan Natives are disproportionately affected by poverty, and the Club is deeply committed to increasing our community’s capacity. The Club serves over 1,100 homeless/low-income urban Indians each year.
Community to Community’s beliefs are based on the notion that society should arrange its relationships so that everyone has equitable access to the fundamental democratic processes affecting their everyday lives. Community to Community (C2C) is led by women of color that have lived the reality that U.S. history reveals; that people of color, women, and poor and low income communities have been excluded from the promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” so eloquently expressed in our great country’s Declaration of Independence. We also know that many have been denied access to the justice guaranteed in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. At C2C we strive to develop projects that come from and are led by the folks from communities that need to affect change for improving the lives of their families and future generations. We work to identify common goals and actions among people from marginalized communities and those that believe in sustainability with social justice as a way of life. We strive for solutions with dynamic participatory processes with equity that will guide our communities beyond the shifting of power and towards system transformations.
The Ethiopian Community in Seattle’s (ECS) mission is to facilitate a seamless integration of all persons of Ethiopian origin with the American system, preserve and share the rich Ethiopian cultural heritage, and help contribute in the social, cultural and economic development of the Puget Sound area. ECS is a community-based social service provider as well as a membership organization. Its current active membership exceeds 1,300, whose dues and volunteer involvement support a portion of the services provided at ECS. This unique organizational combination of membership and social services provides an opportunity to directly involve the community, including those who participate in our programs and services, in the mission of the agency and to help shape its future.
El Centro de la Raza (The Center for People of All Races) is a voice and a hub for the Latino community as it advocates on behalf of our people and work to achieve social justice. Through our 49 comprehensive programs and services, we empower the Latino community as fully participating members of society by providing strong programs for children, youth, families and elders. We served 16,452 people in 2016 in the areas of children and youth, education and asset-building, emergency and human services, and housing and economic development.
First AME is the oldest African American church in the state of Washington, and it operates several non-profit organizations under its umbrella. Since 1886, First AME has been actively engaged in addressing the needs of the community. In addition to the spiritual needs of individuals, First AME provides housing for low- and moderate-income families, emergency feeding, assistance with emergency rent and utility payments, shelter for homeless women, facilities for youth programs including arts and sports, and tutoring for school-aged children.
First A.M.E. Housing Association is committed to building strong communities for seniors and families who deserve access to beautiful, safe, and affordable housing. As part of our commitment, the First A.M.E. Housing Association provides affordable housing to low-income individuals, families, and senior citizens in Seattle’s historic Central District. Our properties are designed to provide our residents with a community atmosphere and an affordable, clean, welcoming environment.
FilAm Resources for Educational Advancement for Culture & Technology
Ellen Abellera
Fil AM Resources for Educational Advancement for Culture and Technology (Fil AM REACT) is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to develop and maintain a resource and referral service to the underserved ethnic community through networking, creating alliances, doing advocacy work to improve the quality of life of its clients and the community particularly.
Joaquin Uy is a community activist with a combined 16 years in community engagement, communications and fundraising/development. He is currently the Ethnic Media and Communications Specialist for the City of Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs, and serves on the board of grassroots foundation Social Justice Fund Northwest. Previously, he was the News and Public Affairs Director at Community Radio KBCS 91.3 FM, and a board member of the Filipino Community Center of Seattle.
Latino Civic Alliance (LCA) formed in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) statewide, nonpartisan, organization that promotes Latino/as to participate in civic engagement and advocacy in their communities. LCA advocates improved policies in education, healthcare, small business, public safety, labor, housing, economic development and more.
Lummi Stepping Stones (LSS) is a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non-profit organization sponsored under the Lhaq’temish Foundation. LSS was created and formed by a few action-oriented community members who were focused on addressing the unmet need for Native Americans who are affected by homelessness, on and off the reservation. Our doors first opened on December 6, 2016 and we have since grown to additional locations. We provide assistance for on average 50-60 men, woman and children who are affected by homelessness for a variety of reasons. Lummi Stepping Stones grew to establish two homes, A Le Lang “Our People’s Home”, Ne’Wi Leng “Welcoming Home”, and two tiny homes. LSS collaborates with a variety of tribal, neighboring tribal, urban Indian, and non-tribal programs and services on and off the reservation. Their focus is client-centered towards healing of the mind, body and spirit for those who are ready to build their future on a solid foundation.
The Native Action Network was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The goal of the Native Action Network is to provide an environment in which Native women daughters, mothers, granddaughters, and great-grandmothers can interact with one another, share knowledge, and honor Native women making a difference in their communities, as well as to unite Native women of all ages and create a forum that celebrates the power which women have in creating positive change within their families and communities.
Partners for Rural Washington (PRWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for locally identified rural priorities in Washington state. Our Mission statement is, “Working with rural communities to develop their capacity to create a prosperous and sustainable future.” Our goals of elevating the rural voice in our state, advocating for rural priorities, and seeking to provide capacity where needed to rural areas, remains our top priority.
Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based statewide organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, and housing services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos. Sea Mar has developed operations in over 90 locations serving small and large vulnerable communities throughout Washington Health Centers state. Its intention is to build and combine Affordable Housing and Health Care needs. Sea Mar is targeting large family households as our prime directive for affordable housing.
The Seattle Indian ServicesCommission (SISC) is a state authorized, city chartered public development authority (quasi-governmental entity) and was formed in 1972 to carry out programs to expand housing, job and income opportunities, enhance recreational and cultural opportunities; and to improve the overall living conditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives in King County. SISC is currently working to redevelop its property into a Native Village that will contain affordable housing, cultural, employment, and supportive services.
Survival of American Indians Association
The Survival of American Indians Association incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in May 1964 to organize for protections of Indian treaties, sovereign government and natural resources rights and management. We engaged in public and institutional education services in adjunct to community, family, economic, and lands development.Our present focus is on creation of a “Living Sovereignty Legacy Center” in name of Billy Frank Jr. and his father with facilities to archive broad-based NW Indian histories, and to carry their lessons through teaching disciplines and advancing digital communications.
Tibetan Association of Washington
Tsultrim Dorjee
President
Jamyang Dorjee, Board Member
The Tibetan Association of Washington is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of Tibetans in the Greater Puget Sound region that strives to preserve the Tibetan language, culture and traditions. They do this primarily through its Tibetan Language & Culture Class program and through outreach, events and advocacy.
The Foundation of Homeless & Poverty Management (FHPM)
Diana Sullivan & Drayton Jackson
The Foundation of Homeless & Poverty Management (FHPM) is a majority Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is focused on all areas of homeless, the mechanism pertaining to structural poverty, systematic racism and societal biases. FHPM deals with areas of homelessness such as shelter construction, adult training, shelter management, low-income housing management, children and teen development and training, and homeless and poverty advocacy work. FHPM takes a two generational approach where parents get space for growth and development and their children get equal space at the same time in all programs, shelter, complex and day centers and partnerships. FHPM’s Motto is: “Helping people thrive, not survive.”
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF), was founded in 1970, as a non-profit foundation whose mission is to provide educational, cultural and social services that reconnect indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people. UIATF’s vision is to be a social service provider, community center, and cultural home for urban Indians.
The Village Spirit Center for Community Change and Healing is an agency that focuses on the housing, services, and community economic development of the Black community. Our goal is to build and create sacred living spaces with transformative services, and through joining with others, create wealth through asset acquisition for the Black/African American communities in Western Washington. The Village Spirit Center is an active member of the Communities of Concern Coalition which is a movement to bring inclusion and culturally relevant financial funding to all Communities of Color that have been excluded from the economic opportunities available to our society.
Donna Christensen is a contract lobbyist with Washington State Catholic Conference and Catholic Community Services/Catholic Housing Services. She specializes in the areas of Catholic education and issues concerning children and families, the state budget, and long-term care services for senior citizens and disabled persons.
The African Community and Housing Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, led by visionary women of color, that provides opportunities for African Diaspora immigrant and refugee communities, families, and individuals in King County to attain health and housing stability, economic development, high-quality education, and referrals to legal services.
Intramuros Community Development Partners
Tony Ogilvie & Dom Siababa
Interamuros Community Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed to develop their project. Intramuros Community Partners is in discussion with community partners for the design of the envisioned housing, commercial retail and services spaces, and a cultural community center.