Zheng Zhou just celebrated his two-year anniversary of working with the Human Services Department’s Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) division. Zheng writes about his role as an Administrative Specialist, why his work is meaningful and rewarding, and how positive energy can be contagious.
What is your role as Seattle Human Services?
As an Administrative Specialist for the YFE Division, I’m fortunate to support three incredible teams: the Planning Development team, the Food and Nutrition team, and the Grants and Contracts team. Altogether, I have the privilege of working with more than 20 amazing colleagues across these areas, each of whom brings so much heart and dedication to serving our community. I see myself as a bridge between teams, connecting people and information so that our programs can focus on serving Seattle’s families and communities. I take pride in offering a helping hand and bringing positive energy to my work. My goal is to make things easier for my colleagues and, ultimately, for the people we serve across Seattle.
How has your job changed in recent years?
In the past few years, I’ve seen more movement across teams and more new faces. I’m constantly meeting colleagues from different divisions within HSD and partners across other City departments. I’ve had the chance to connect with many amazing people, learn their strengths, and help us all work better together. I started as a complete newbie, and over time, building trust and relationships has made my job not only easier, but genuinely joyful.
Within our YFE Division, I’ve noticed a deeper focus on people-first values. We talk more about team culture, mental health, and work–life balance. We check in with each other, celebrate wins, and learn how to support one another as whole people, not just co-workers. That shift has been inspiring, and that care has made us stronger. The past two years have made me more grateful and humble. I’m surrounded by co-workers who teach me every day by their dedication, their kindness, and their courage. Their example motivates me to stay sunny and solutions-oriented, to keep learning, and to lift others whenever I can. Growing from a newcomer into a trusted teammate has been a gift, and I’m thankful for the chance to serve with heart.
What do you love about your job?
The people around me — truly. I love the people I work with. My colleagues are kind, dedicated, and inspiring. Everyone here genuinely wants to make a difference, and that kind of energy is contagious. Even on busy days, we find ways to laugh, encourage one another, and keep things positive.
What touches me most is seeing the good feedback we receive from the community. When someone shares that a program helped their family, or that they felt seen and supported, it’s a powerful reminder of why we do this. Hearing their appreciation for HSD’s services makes me feel that my role, even behind the scenes, is meaningful and rewarding. It motivates me to stay kind and humble, to do the little things well, and to keep aiming higher for the people we serve. Being part of that hope and care is the best part of my job.
How do you contribute to HSD’s overarching goals related to racial equity?
In my role, I’ve had the opportunity to support projects that directly advance racial equity, such as strengthening language access so community members can receive information and services in the languages they use and helping with Women- and Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (WMBE) efforts to expand fair and inclusive contracting. These projects remind me that equity lives in our daily decisions: how we communicate, who we include, and how we design processes so everyone can participate with dignity. I know racial equity is a long journey, and I make it a priority to stay informed and continuously grow. My approach is to keep showing up with kindness, listen deeply, learn from feedback, and use my role to remove small barriers wherever I can. Step by step, I believe those consistent actions add up for the people we serve.
What motivates you or keeps you going?
The relationships I’ve built over the years motivate me. Trust takes time, and I’m grateful for the connections with colleagues across YFE, other City teams, and community partners that grew from listening, showing up, and helping one another. Interacting with different people and making new friends also gives me energy. Every new connection teaches me something and reminds me why this work matters. Being able to serve the community now feels like a blessing, and it keeps me focused on doing small things well and treating people with kindness. Knowing that our work can make someone’s day a little easier or brighter is what keeps me moving forward with positivity.