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.

Members

See list of members

Amina Ahmed, Executive Director, Partner in Employment
Jim Baumgart, Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
Mark Bergeson, Associate Director of Academic Affairs and Policy, Washington Student Achievement Council
Luba Bezborodnikova, Assistant Secretary of Licensing, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
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, Chief Operating Officer, Northwest Harvest
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
James Harms, Reentry Systems Administrator, Department of Corrections
Lonnie Johns-Brown, Legislative Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Office of Insurance Commissioner
Mona Johnson, Director of Student Support, Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction
Kate Kelly, Policy Director, ATG POL Policy Unit, Office of the Attorney General
Diane Klontz, Assistant Director, CSHD, Department of Commerce
Councilmember Nickolaus Lewis, Lummi Nation
Juanita Maestes, Board President, Statewide Poverty Action Network
Sandra Miller, Workforce Development Manager, Washington Hospitality Assn. Education Foundation
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
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
Traci Underwood, MSW Program Coordinator, Economic Justice, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Julie Watts, Deputy Director, Washington State Budget & Policy Center
Jan Wichert, Director, Employee and Resident Services, Vancouver Housing Authority
Senator Hans Zeiger, Senator, Senate Republican Caucus