City of Burien: Citizen of the Year
May 17, 2021
These two choices were made because both “demonstrated commitment to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Garcia left her job
These two choices were made because both “demonstrated commitment to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Garcia left her job
The Gates Foundation Discovery Center in partnership with South Seattle Emerald and Civic Commons hosted the event virtual event, In
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are acknowledging that people who identify as women have made significant contributions to
Community organizations developed new approaches to support families with food during the pandemic, and ways to make that food more
Wow! What a year. The Seattle Times editorial board’s annual appreciation of people who improve our region could not help
Inside Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, masked staff and volunteers are busy packing up food boxes that will soon go out.
South King County food bank Feeding El Pueblo is helping Latinx people struggling with hunger during the pandemic. Feeding El
November 30, 2020 — Like other cities around the country, the City of SeaTac was allotted federal CARES Act funding to
The boxes are full of traditional Latino spices and products. The items were donated by Feeding El Pueblo, an organization
Ashley Kay Smith / Last Forever Images
Amber Trillo / The Photographer Cat
Web Design by Leo Carmona
Martha is a workplace safety professional and has been in the worker’s compensation arena for over 12 years. Graduating from the University of Washington undocumented, before DACA, she navigated through higher education advocating for herself to remain in school. She’s currently earning her Masters’ in Safety and Health Management from Central Washington University. During her spare time, she mentors Latina students, translates immigration letters for people seeking legal relief and assists in resume/cover letter preparation. She currently resides in Federal Way, WA with her husband Mario of 10 years, their daughter Dahlia and two chihuahuas, Buttercup and Dixie. Martha holds a Master’s of Safety and Health Management from Central Washington University. OSHA Safety Leadership for General Industry Certification.
Susana Contreras-Mendez joined ESG in 2022 to support its Post-secondary Attainment portfolio. Prior to joining ESG, Susana was an Associate Learning and Impact Officer at Ascendium Education, where she worked in partnership with the philanthropic team to measure its performance and to support collective learning about its strategy and operations. Previously, she was a researcher at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a policy think tank in Washington, D.C. She conducted research on strategies to increase upward mobility for families, with a particular focus on the post-secondary experiences of student parents.
Other professional experiences include interning at Lumina Foundation and directly supporting low-income families through nonprofit and government programs. Outside of ESG, Susana serves on the board of Alimentando al Pueblo, a non-profit working to promote healing through comunidad, comida, and celebración (community, food, and celebration).
As a former Head Start child, first-generation college graduate, and TRiO Alum, Susana has firsthand knowledge of education’s transformational benefits. Susana holds a Master of Higher Education degree with a concentration in Diversity and Social Justice from the University of Michigan and a dual bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Sociology and American Ethnic Studies with a minor in Education, Learning, and Society.