If you haven't noticed, we have new staff members! Since the start of 2021, we have introduced Spencer Lau, Quynh Trinh, Omari Taylor, and Nasro Ugas. Let's find out a little about them!
Spencer Lau
Spencer was born and raised in Honolulu and relocated to Downtown Seattle at the beginning of March. He spent the last four years in nonprofit accounting, two of which as the Director of Finance, bringing to the WCCDA experience in Finance, Human Resources, and general administration. Spencer is excited to work with the amazing CDA team, collaborate with its partners, and contribute to the mission and projects of the CDA.
Quynh Trinh
Quynh Trinh is about to graduate from WWU with a Bachelors's in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. She is excited to work on multimedia projects with future collaborators. Quynh loves to visit the taco bus across from Papa Murphy's and frequents Crawfish House for their fried chicken livers! She has grown up in White Center and will be moving back home after graduation!
Omari Taylor
“It is with the Rapid Re-housing program at the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in Seattle. I am one of two. The program is light-touch, helping people with initial move-in costs and a couple of months of decreasing rental assistance and assigning them a case manager for the duration of their lease (one year). The position that I am transitioning from is called Housing Specialist. It is with the Rapid Re-housing program at the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in Seattle. I am one of two. The program is light-touch, helping people with initial move-in costs and a couple of months of decreasing rental assistance and assigning them a case manager for the duration of their lease (one year). I am/was on a small team and am responsible for reaching out to prospective program participants, asking them specific questions regarding their housing status, their income source if any and what resources they are working with. I send them resources pertaining to things like employment leads, local credit unions, transportation (personal and public), where and how to obtain a vehicle, knowledge of their rights as a tenant, credit repair, expungement of criminal records and other resources that remove barriers or steer them toward self-sufficiency. I send summaries of their situations to the team and recommend them for enrollment based on my evaluation. We (the team) discuss each client’s situation and whether or not they would be a good candidate for housing. I saw an opportunity to grow beyond the role and started looking for other opportunities this spring. I believe that people who have proper knowledge of resources have better options, a better outlook and are better able to advocate for themselves.”
Nasro Ugas
My name is Nasro Ugas and I immigrated from Somalia. I am so happy to be the Community Outreach Navigator for White Center. I have lived in White Center for 13 years. I went to middle school and high school here. I am excited to give back to the community that helped raise me. I am looking forward to what this wonderful opportunity holds for me in the future.
To see our full staff, their positions or emails: https://www.wccda.org/staff-board