HSD Director Dannette R. Smith was honored as a “Leader of Vision and Integrity” at an evening reception on Thursday, November 17th at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS). More than 100 people attended the event including Mayor McGinn and Councilmember Nick Licata, who presented Dannette with an award to commemorate her leadership in the community and City government.

The event was organized by leaders of community-based organizations, including ACRS, First Place School, Minority Executive Directors Coalition, Monica’s Place, El Centro de la Raza, East Cherry YWCA, Cultural Reconnection, Central Area Senior Services, Brimm-Donahue & Associates, Atlantic Street Center and Achievement Architects North.

In addition to speeches by the Mayor and Councilmember Licata were tributes to Dannette by Diane Narasaki with ACRS, Jorge Baron with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Betsy Lieberman with Building Changes, Merrill Cousins with King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and others. The speeches were interspersed with music, song and poetry.