We act as a forum to share information, resources and best practices, and encourage other non-profits to work together to eliminate institutional racism and understand its connections to all other oppression.
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A group of representatives from Solid Ground, People's Institute NW and the City of Seattle met to discuss how non-profit human service organizations could work together to undo institutional racism. From that first meeting, 27 agencies were contacted to participate in an exploratory meeting. Ideas that emerged that year continue on through the mission today. NPARC discussed supporting each other in organizational anti-racism work by: helping agencies do follow up work after the training is completed, working on how to diversify our organizations, boards and staff and helping our organizations learn to take real leadership from people of color.
NPARC finalized its member expectations, conducted a survey of NPARC members to look at what support they needed (as individuals and agencies) and what goals they wanted NPARC to adopt. NPARC also held a strategy session with Dr. Kimberly Richards and Suzanne Plesik from the People’s Institute.
NPARC developed its first work plan and prioritized items in this plan. NPARC also successfully petitioned the Seattle Human Services Coalition to become a member coalition,giving us a seat on the SHSC Steering Committee. NPARC recommended that SHSC establish an Anti-Racism Award as part of its annual award-giving event.
NPARC developed a one page position paper and series of questions for a Candidates Forum held prior to the November elections. NPARC brought Ron Chisom from the Peoples Institute to Seattle for the SHSC annual awards ceremony and successfully advocated for naming this award the “Ron Chisom Anti-Racism Award".
NPARC prepared a series of budget recommendations regarding anti-racism and cultural competency services. These recommendations were included in the SHSC’s recommendations for City of Seattle, along with meeting individual city council members to review these and other SHSC budget recommendations.
NPARC continues its work in the form of monthly community meetings that gather people from all over the city to support each other in making systemic change.
NPARC institutes quarterly members-only caucusing meetings that extend the networking and support already inherent in the monthly community meetings. These caucus spaces allow individuals from various organizations to come together and work through the racial dynamics manifesting in their institutions. They also allow folks who do not have access to caucusing at their workplace to experience the growth opportunity that such discussions provide. In addition, NPARC's Leadership Team changes its name to Coalition Builders in order to express a non-hierarchical structure and acknowledge that coalitions are built among peers.
Kyana is a Black woman with extensive experience in shifting organizational culture through institutional anti-racism efforts and has actively engaged in moving the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative forward over the last 10 years. She is an accomplished race relations trainer and has a deep knowledge of curriculum development, facilitation and racial caucusing. With an M.Ed in Educational Leadership and an MPA in Policy Development, Kyana is skilled in implementing systemic change within a large, complex government or non-profit structure and embedding institutional practices that create space for anti-racist efforts. Kyana is a proven consensus builder and is adept in developing partnership between leadership and staff. She has coached, trained and motivated staff to build skill and create capacity in increasing effectiveness in challenging racial inequity.
Sarena is a critical thinker and anti-racist organizer dedicated to manifesting a more equitable and compassionate world. She moved to Seattle in July 2016 after studying International Development and Spanish and Portuguese at UCLA and then living and teaching in South America for 18 months. With a diverse background in fundraising, community engagement, and international education, Sarena is an active member of Seattle’s nonprofit community and passionate about moving our institutions towards racial justice. She’s a big picture thinker with an affinity for detail; a yogi, a reader, a traveller, a linguist, a chef; a lover of nature and a peanut butter enthusiast.
Taylor Briggs (he/him) received his undergraduate degree in Multicultural and Gender Studies from California State University, Chico. After earning his BA, Taylor went on to earn an M.Ed. in Student Development Administration at Seattle University. Now, Taylor serves as the Scholarship Program Manager for the GSBA Scholarship Fund which supports LGBTQ+ students pursuing post-secondary degrees. As a queer, transgender man, Taylor has firsthand experience in navigating inequitable systems that lack resources for queer and trans students. To uplift those who came after him, Taylor now aims to utilize his positional privilege to challenge traditional hierarchical power dynamics and center those most at the margins. In his spare time Taylor enjoys catching up on Netflix, cooking, and the reveling in the healing power of spending time with chosen family.
Josh Martinez is an anti-racist cis gay man with Mexican and Sri Lankan ancestry. He loves trying to understand systems and the systems that build those systems. He spends his time finding ways to shift power dynamics and dismantle capitalism. He has been an NPARC coalition builder since April 2019. Most days, he works as the director of agency programs and network development for Food Lifeline. He helps his department change how their organization shows up in community and with their partners. He is also a member of Food Lifeline’s equity team, making meaningful and lasting improvements to company culture. josh loves puns and wordplay, and he enjoys cooking, playing video games, swimming, and reading. josh lives in Seattle with his husband and two cats. He sometimes writes under the broad heading of “radical innovations” at his website, bethefuture.space.
Bio for Nichole goes here.
Bio for Mei-Li goes here.
Ander is a poet, community organizer, and lover of the outdoors. Ander is committed to social and racial justice and works to engage folks through arts, education, and community building. Ander began formally working toward a vision of collective empowerment as a 2013 Washington Bus Fellow. Since then, they have continued their work as a Member Organizer with the Coalition of Anti Racist Whites, and as a volunteer with FEEST Seattle, Gender Justice League, Gay City Arts, and the Fremont Abbey. Ander graduated from the University of Washington in 2015 and now works as a Legal Assistant on Civil Rights cases with Teller & Associates, PLLC. Ander is PUMPED to continue working toward racial justice with NPARC and can’t wait to meet you at the next community meeting!
Salma moved to the U.S. from Zimbabwe in 2001. She believes in finding different ways to talk about social injustices through stories and testimonials. Her work stems from the belief that every person is powerful and with a supportive community, anything can be achieved. She currently works at YWCA, emphasizing racial and gender disparities that still plague our society. In her spare time, Salma enjoys having dance parties with her nephews, doing CrossFit, hiking, and always answering the question, “Where are you from?”
Acquanda Y. Stanford
Robin Nussbaum, Ph.D.
Cheryl Cobbs Murphy
Ester 'Dove' Jones
Regent Brown
Julia Ismael
Keiko Ozeki, Ed.D.
Angola Dixon, Ph.D.
Toi-Sing Woo
Kimberly Mustafa
Jean Kasota
Waing Waing Hla
Reagen Price
Judy Blair
John Steen
Danielle Winslow
