From the organizers, Ethiopian Community of Seattle:
Join the Ethiopian Community of Seattle for a powerful morning forum centering immigrant and refugee voices in the movement for housing justice and equitable development. This event will explore the intersection of cultural identity, affordability, and community driven solutions to displacement and economic insecurity. Through storytelling, panel discussions, and partner reflections, attendees will hear directly from community members, housing organizations, and public agencies working to advance housing access and opportunity. The event is free and open to the public, and will conclude with a shared lunch and space for continued conversation. Light Refreshments offered between 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM.
Register Here: https://forms.gle/cXX7hD8FTHL7KrK4A
The “Housing Justice & Community” forum will begin with opening messages from the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Community of Seattle (ECS) Sophia Benalfew, the Board President of ECS and Federal Way City Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson, and Tsega Desta ECS’s Program and Housing Director. And the program will continue to hear powerful messages and remarks from:
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
The Office of Congressman Adam Smith
Senator Rebecca Saldana
Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck
The Office of Seattle Councilmember Mark Solomon
The Program will continue with two dynamic panel discussions:
PANEL 1: Housing and Community Resilience, highlighting the work of community based developers serving immigrant, refugee and BIPOC communities across the region. Panelist include:
Sophia Benalfew, Executive Director, Ethiopian Community of Seattle
Hamdi Abdulle, Executive Director, African Community Housing & Development
Agnes Navarro, Executive Director, Filipino Community of Seattle
Lalita Uppala, Executive Director, Indian American Community Services of WA
Francoise Milinganyo, Executive Director, Congolese Integration Network
Representative from El Centro de la Raza (confirmation pending)
PRESENTATION: Tsega Desta (Program and Housing Director at ECS) will present on Ethiopian Community of Seattle’s long-term vision for housing and economic empowerment. This presentation will highlight ECS’s development goals, community centered design priorities, and broader strategies to ensure economic sustainability for Ethiopian and immigrant families in South Seattle. The session will also include powerful testimonies from community members, sharing stories of housing challenges, resilience, and hope.
PANEL 2: Government & Public Investment Partnerships, will feature leaders from key government departments and funding initiatives to explore resources and policies supporting equitable housing development. Panelists include:
Sean Harrington, WA State Dept of Commerce
Representatives from Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD) and Seattle Equitable Development Initiative (EDI)
Jenifer Chao, Director, Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods
Elsa Batres-Boni, Director, King County Communities of Opportunity
Ubax Gardheere, Cultural Space Agency
For questions, please contact Sameth Mell at mellsameth@gmail.com
https://www.ecseattle.org
