What is your role at Seattle Human Services?
I am a Senior Counselor with Aging & Disability Services’ Care Coordination Program. I work directly with case managers, nurses, clients, and providers, along with providing coverage for supervisors, as needed.
What made you want to work in human services?
Observing and learning from family, mainly my grandmother and parents. They led by example, and I made a career out of it. I wanted to serve those who I reflect and represent, and that led me to the position I am in. I went to the University of Washington, where I double majored in Social Work and American Ethnic Studies, then also received my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) at UW. I worked at non-profits that centered on Communities of Color, with Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) being the most recent one before coming here to HSD.
How has your job changed in recent years?
Reflecting the diverse communities we serve, at all levels here: When I started in ADS, I’d specifically see women of color hired as Social Service Aides, despite their lived and work experience, knowledge, and education. Now we see women of color as Department and Division Directors and at all levels of our department’s leadership.
Having a working relationship with alumni: I’ve been a practicum instructor with UW’s School of Social Work. Establishing a pipeline between HSD and UW SSW would be beneficial on both sides, so I hope we’re able to do that with them, Seattle University, Seattle Colleges, and other schools empowering these students to serve the people.
What do you love about your job?
Establishing trust: That’s what’s needed when a client lets you into their living space and their personal life. There’s vulnerability in sharing your past and current experiences from a mental, physical, financial, and relational perspective.
Black and Brown spaces, such as POC Caucus spaces: Learning from communities, and co-workers, who helped me in how I do my work in the 18+ years I’ve been here. These spaces ensure I’m doing the work needed to stay accountable as it centers our communities and people who look like me.
Being on interview panels: It’s fun to see, meet, and learn from those who may be joining us at HSD. If you need someone, call me, haha.
How do you contribute to HSD’s overarching goals related to racial equity?
I’m involved with our Race and Social Justice Initiative Change Team. I’m also active with the Asian-Pacific Islander (API) Caucus and was a past co-chair, during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, we were able to connect directly with our API Community to address the increased anti-Asian hate crimes, through ongoing meetings and grant support. Along with African Descent Caucus (ADC) and LatinX Caucus, we re-established the Joint Caucus–Human Resources (JCHR) workgroup and continuous meetings with HSD leadership towards these goals of racial equity. In these spaces, I worked with peers to collectively move and support each other. We need to continue to connect with and center our communities that helped us to learn and grow into the positions we are in now.
What motivates you or keeps you going?
That I would not be in the position I am in if my ancestors, community, and family, didn’t collectively fight for the things I’m able to have and do now. They did the heavy lifting, and now it’s my obligation to continue and remove glass ceilings.
Also: happy hour.
What’s one piece of advice for HSD newcomers or recent graduates in your field?
Find your people when you start. From them, learning, encouraging, and supporting, will help you evolve into the person you will become. Always trust your instincts, pick mentors who will give your career growth, and do the same when you are in the position to do so. It’s important to lift up others and share what I’ve learned with those who come after, just as those who came before did with me.
Also: happy hour, haha.