Crisis Response Improvement Strategy (CRIS) Committees
Washington State needed to strengthen its behavioral health crisis response system to better support everyone in need. I facilitated the CRIS Committee and Steering Committee, engaging state agency leaders, Tribes, elected officials, providers, people with lived experience, and law enforcement. We created a shared vision for crisis response in Washington and developed actionable recommendations for the Governor, legislature, and state agencies, along with a plan to keep communities engaged in improving the system well into the future.
South Annex Base Equity & Social Justice Strategy
As part of its commitment to a fully electric fleet, King County Metro planned a new facility in an economically and linguistically diverse part of the region to house and maintain electric buses. As the project’s equity strategic advisor, I evaluated impacts of the project on equity, planned and facilitated charrettes focused on equity and social justice, and supported the project team in making pro-equity decisions. This work positioned the project to meet King County’s equity and sustainability goals and achieve Living Building Challenge certification.
Kitsap County Community Health Improvement Plan
Kitsap County needed a long-term plan to address its public health challenges. I worked with Kitsap Public Health and Harrison Medical Center to design a process that engaged leaders and community members from education, Tribes, the Navy, business, and underrepresented communities. I facilitated a workgroup comprised of representatives from each of these sectors. Together, we reviewed data, identified priorities, and created a Community Health Improvement Plan that continues to guide investments in public health across the county.
Grand Connection Crossing Community Engagement
The City of Bellevue is moving forward with the Grand Connection Crossing—a signature piece of the Grand Connection project and a landmark in public infrastructure. After years of planning and community input, the City needed to show progress while honoring the voices that had helped shape the vision. They also needed to balance the perspectives of historically underrepresented communities, private developers, funders, and other key stakeholders. I was brought in to develop an engagement strategy that did just that—centering equity, building trust, and giving the design team the insights they needed to move from vision to reality.
Environmental Justice Capacity Building
The South Downtown area, which includes the historic Pioneer Square and Chinatown/International District has been disproportionately impacted by years of intensive construction of public and private developments, the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 protests, and persistent homelessness. I worked with community-based organizations to strengthen their capacity to engage with government on new light rail planning. I helped them understand complex environmental justice analyses processes and plan collaborative advocacy strategies. As a result, these communities were able to shape decisions about station siting and design to better reflect their needs and protect their neighborhoods.
Environmental Justice Analyses for Tolled Projects
WSDOT sought to understand how highway and bridge tolling could affect low-income, minority, and limited-English proficient communities. In partnership with WSDOT and the University of Washington, I helped develop a methodology to assess these impacts—work that has since shaped national best practices. I led eight environmental justice analyses under NEPA, using transportation forecasts, demographic data, and public surveys and focus groups to evaluate effects on low-income, minority, and limited-English proficient populations. I also crafted mitigation strategies and worked closely with WSDOT and FHWA to ensure compliance with federal standards. The methodology we created continues to guide similar efforts across the country.
Eastrail Wilburton Framework Plan
Wilburton is poised to become one of Bellevue’s next great neighborhoods—shaped by new transit connections, the Eastrail corridor, and evolving city policies. To guide this transformation, the City hired me to facilitate a steering committee of key partners to inform the development of the Wilburton Framework Plan. Together, we explored how Eastrail could serve as a backbone for thoughtful, connected growth. The result was a collaborative, community-centered plan that earned the 2024 Governor’s Award for Smart Growth.
Eastrail Funding Commission
Business and community leaders came together to explore how the private sector could help bring Eastrail (formerly the Eastside Rail Corridor Trail) to life. I convened and facilitated this group, starting with one-on-one conversations to understand each commissioner’s priorities. I facilitated the group over 18 months and led them in developing the final recommendations report. Our top recommendation—to create an independent fundraising and advocacy group—was enthusiastically adopted. I later facilitated development of this new organization's business plan, and the resulting nonprofit—Eastrail Partners—has secured millions to help make the trail a reality.
Eastrail Eco-Charrettes
King County is closing the final gap in the southern segment of Eastrail—connecting Renton, Bellevue, and beyond with a safe, seamless trail that links transit, jobs, and outdoor recreation. I designed and facilitated a series of eco-charrettes to shape the project’s Sustainability and Equity and Social Justice goals. Through a highly collaborative process, we grounded the team in community needs, environmental context, and county requirements, then built consensus around bold but achievable strategies. The result: a clear, shared path to integrating sustainability and equity into every phase of the trail’s design and development.
CalHHS 988-Crisis Policy Advisory Group
California faced an urgent challenge: develop a statewide behavioral health crisis response implementation plan in just one year. I facilitated a diverse policy advisory group—bringing together providers, insurers, state agency leaders, Tribal representatives, elected officials, and people with lived experience. Together, we navigated complex perspectives to co-create a plan that ensures every Californian has access to effective, high-quality crisis care—no matter who they are or where they live.
Project Education Impact
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the Department of Children, Youth, and Families; additional state agencies; and key nonprofit partners came together to better coordinate their efforts to support the education of children and youth in foster care and experiencing homelessness. I facilitated the development of a shared theory of change and goals, designed a framework for collaboration and community engagement, and supported the team in securing a legislative mandate to continue their work. This work laid the foundation for cross-agency partnership in service of Washington’s most vulnerable students.
Public Safety & Homelessness Response Asset Mapping
In Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square, community groups, local government, and first responders have been working together to address crime and homelessness—aiming to create an environment where everyone feels safe, welcome, and for visitors, eager to return. I facilitated the development of a shared definition of safety rooted in community input, identified and mapped public safety and homelessness response assets, and provided Historic South Downtown and its partners with insights to strengthen coordination, improve services, and advocate for meaningful policy and funding solutions.
Team Building & Community Agreements
The Policy and Strategy Team at the Washington Student Achievement Council wanted to grow into a high-performing, deeply collaborative team—and brought me in to help guide the process. We began by creating community agreements that defined how they wanted to work together. From there, I facilitated the development of a framework to identify and pursue shared goals. This work laid a strong foundation for the team to collaborate more effectively in support of Washington’s post-secondary students.
Universal Health Care Workgroup
When the Washington State Legislature directed the Health Care Authority to explore how to implement a statewide universal healthcare system, I was brought in to facilitate the workgroup charged with developing the recommendations. The group included legislators, community-based organizations, providers, Tribes, insurers, and consumers—all with diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives. I helped the group navigate those differences to find common ground and shape thoughtful, balanced recommendations. I also advised on community outreach and helped transition public meetings to a remote format during COVID-19. Our work led to clear recommendations for the Legislature and the creation of the Universal Health Care Commission to carry the effort forward.
Vision for Comprehensive Plan - Community Engagement
As Redmond looked to the future, the City set out to update its Comprehensive Plan to guide growth through 2050—especially in its evolving urban centers. I developed and led the community engagement strategy for the visioning process, ensuring that a wide range of voices—including those often underrepresented—helped shape the plan. My goal was to make sure people understood not just what was changing, but why, and to ensure the plan reflected the values and needs of the full Redmond community, now and in the future.
Washington Women's Commission Strategic Plan
The Washington State Women’s Commission wanted to create a bold, actionable path to improve the lives of women and girls across the state. I worked with the Commissioners to develop a two-year strategic plan that outlined clear goals and concrete steps toward their vision: a Washington where every woman and girl is healthy, safe, prosperous, thriving, and empowered to reach her full potential.