Dear Community:

I’m excited to invite you to join us for a special summit forum hosted by the Ethiopian Community of Seattle as part of the Housing Development Consortium’s Affordable Housing Week!

If you are engaged in housing development, funding and acquisition, or community development, this event will be an important opportunity to hear from community leaders, elected officials, and public agencies working to advance housing justice and equitable development in our region.

The summit will feature opening remarks from:

• Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

• Office of Congressman Adam Smith

• Senator Rebecca Saldaña (37th Legislative District)

• Office of King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay

• Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck

• Office of Seattle Councilmember Mark Solomon

Our Community Developers Panel will include leaders from:

• Sophia Benalfew, ED of Ethiopian Community of Seattle

• Hamdi Abdulle, ED of African Community and Housing Development

• Agnes Navarro, ED of Filipino Community of Seattle

• Lalita Uppala, ED of Indian American Community Services of WA

• Francoise Milinganyo, ED of Congolese Integration Network

• (and a representative from El Centro de la Raza, pending confirmation)

Our Government and Institutional Partners Panel will feature:

• Sean Harrington,, WA State Department of Commerce

• Jenifer Chao, Director at Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

• Elsa Batres-Boni, Director at King County Communities of Opportunity

• Ubax Gardheere, Cultural Space Agency

• Representatives from Seattle OPCD and EDI

• Yasmeen Perez, King County’s Housing and Community Development Division 

We will also have a featured presentation by Tsega Desta, Program and Housing Director at ECS, who will share the Vision for Housing and Economic Future at ECS, along with community testimonies.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
Doors Open: 9:00 AM | Program: 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Lunch will be provided after the program.
Location: Ethiopian Community of Seattle – Community Room, South Seattle (8323 Rainier Ave South, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98118)

Please register here: https://forms.gle/cXX7hD8FTHL7KrK4A

We would be honored to have you join us for this important conversation and gathering.
Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues, partners, and community members who may be interested.

Thank you, and I hope to see you there!

Warm regards,
Sameth Mell
Spean the Bridge (formerly Partners in Change)

*Disclaimer* OCA-GS is posting this event on our Community Calendar as a service to the community. Date/Time/Location details are subject to change.

CISC’s annual fundraiser, the 2025 Friendship Dinner, is coming up on May 17th at the Museum of Flight! This special evening brings together community members, supporters, and partners to celebrate our shared impact and raise critical funds for CISC’s programs.

Stay tuned for more details—we can’t wait to share an unforgettable night with you!

*Disclaimer* OCA-GS is posting this event on our Community Calendar as a service to the community. Date/Time/Location details are subject to change.