Governor's Poverty Reduction Work Group

Living in poverty can become a self-perpetuating cycle that affects generations. To address this challenge, the governor in 2017 created the Poverty Reduction Work Group. The group is tasked with developing a strategic plan to reduce poverty, improve communities and make needed progress related to housing, health integration, employment and education.

Interim Progress Report (October 2018)

Members

See all members, listed alphabetically

Amina Ahmed*, Executive Director, Partner in Employment (*Passed away Dec. 2018)
Jim Baumgart, Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
Sue Birch, Director, Health Care Authority
Sarah Buhayar, Deputy Director, Pacific Northwest, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Gary Chandler, Vice President Government Affairs, Association of Washington Business
Olympia City Councilmember Jim Cooper, President & CEO, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest
Senator Manka Dhingra, State Senate Democratic Caucus
Eu-wanda Eagans, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development, Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region
Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director, Chief Seattle Club
Larry Eyer, Executive Director, Washington State Community Action Partnership
Cheryl Fambles, Chief Executive Officer, PacMtn Workforce Development Council
Erin Frasier, Policy Associate, Workforce Education, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
Nova Gattman, Legislative Director, Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
Claude Green, Senior Project Director, Mentor Washington
Ellen Austin Hall, Acting Policy Director, Attorney General of Washington
James Harms, Reentry Systems Administrator, Department of Corrections
Drayton Jackson, Co-Chair, PRWG Steering Committee
Lonnie Johns-Brown, Legislative Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Office of Insurance Commissioner
Roy Johnson, Executive Director, Vancouver Housing Authority
Hien Kieu, Executive Director, Partner in Employment
Diane Klontz, Assistant Director, CSHD, Department of Commerce
Councilmember Nickolaus Lewis, Lummi Nation
Haley Lowe, Assistant Director, Student Support, Student Engagement and Support, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Juanita Maestes, Board President, Statewide Poverty Action Network
Ami Magisos, Assistant Director, Policy and Planning, Washington Student Achievement Council
Erin Monroe, President & CEO, Workforce Snohomish
Nam Nguyen, Commissioner, Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs
Daisye Orr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategy, Prevention and Community Health Division, Department of Health
Sharon Pesut, Executive Director, Partners in Careers
Dona Ponepinto, President & CEO, United Way of Pierce County
Ed Prince, Executive Director, Commission on African American Affairs
Tim Probst, Director, Workforce Development Strategic Initiatives, Executive Programs, Employment Security Department
Michael Reichert, President & CEO, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
Nicole Rose, Director, Eligibility and Provider Supports Division, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Maria Sigüenza, Executive Director, Commission on Hispanic Affairs
David Stillman, Assistant Secretary, ESA, OAS, Department of Social and Health Services
Neil Strege, Vice President, Washington Business Roundtable
Marisol Tapia Gonzales, Senior Programs Manager, Puget Sound Training Center
Dan Torres, Executive Director, Essentials for Childhood, Department of Health
Traci Underwood, MSW Program Coordinator, Economic Justice, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Julie Watts, Deputy Director, Washington State Budget & Policy Center
Christina Wong, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Northwest Harvest
Senator Hans Zeiger, Senator, Senate Republican Caucus