Speaker
Mike Craw
Associate Director of Master in Public Administration Program
Mike Craw (he/him/his) is the Associate Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA), The Evergreen State College. He teaches courses in public finance, policy analysis and urban management. His research on local public finance, social policy and community development has appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, Urban Affairs Review, Publius, and Public Administration Review. His work on neighborhood governance was recognized with the American Society for Public Administration’s Mosher and Mosher award in 2018. He earned his Ph.D. in political science at Indiana University in 2004, specializing in methodology and public policy.
Session Block I
Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve: A Non-Profit Panel Discussion
Speaker
Amanda DeShazo MPA ’16
Executive Director of Tacoma Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium
Session Block I
Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve: A Non-Profit Panel Discussion
Speaker
Leah Ford ’18
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Program Manager
As a dedicated leader in health equity and community engagement, I have driven transformative change to improve health outcomes across sectors. I chaired the Health Committee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, advancing initiatives that prioritize the black community. I also contribute strategic guidance as a member of the Evergreen State College Foundation Board of Governors, the Board of Directors for First 5 Fundamentals, and the Executive Committee of Leaders in Women’s Health.
At the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, I collaborate with teams to design health equity policies grounded in community needs. Using a data-driven approach, I identify health disparities and address their root causes, ensuring targeted, impactful interventions. I lead the department’s Community Health Assessment, Community Health Needs Assessment, and Community Health Improvement Plan initiatives, setting priorities that drive systemic change.
Passionate about lasting, equitable solutions, I am committed to ensuring every individual has the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health.
Session Block I
Personal Health & Community Wellness Workshop
Speaker
Alicia Klein ’05
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Immunizations and Provider Engagement Program Manager
Alicia Klein has worked in healthcare for over 25 years, holding a Marsters in Healthcare Administration. Currently serving at the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department as the Immunization and Provider Engagement Program Manager. Alicia also serves as the President of Leaders in Women's Health, an organization established in 2011 to combat Breast Health outcomes for African American women in Pierce County. Over the years LIWH has evolved to also intentionally interrupt other social drivers of health.
Session Block I
Personal Health & Community Wellness Workshop
Speaker
Taniesha Lyons ’20
Executive Director of Federal Way Black Collective (FWBC)
Taniesha Lyons is a dedicated leader with over 20 years of experience in Human Services, focusing on equity and inclusivity. As the Executive Director at FW Black Collective, she has secured funding and enhanced community engagement. Previously, she advocated for educational equity as the Associate Director at Vibrant Schools of Puget Sound.
Through her consultancy, Taniesha Cares LLC, she offers expertise in business development and diversity initiatives. She is also a current member of the Pierce County Performance Audit Committee. Her past roles include serving as a Human Rights Commissioner in Tacoma and supporting students at Evergreen State College. Taniesha holds advanced degrees in Public Administration and Human Services, with skills in project management, strategic planning, and nonprofit leadership.
Session Block II
Empowering Leadership: Skills and Strategies for Early and Mid-Career Professionals Workshop
Speaker
Tara Newton ’16
Executive Director of Hilltop Action Coalition
Session Block I
Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve: A Non-Profit Panel Discussion
Speaker
Rashad Norris MPA ’06
Founder of Relevant Engagement Consulting LLC, Community Engagement Director at Highline College
Alicia Klein has worked in healthcare for over 25 years, holding a Marsters in Healthcare Administration. Currently serving at the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department as the Immunization and Provider Engagement Program Manager. Alicia also serves as the President of Leaders in Women's Health, an organization established in 2011 to combat Breast Health outcomes for African American women in Pierce County. Over the years LIWH has evolved to also intentionally interrupt other social drivers of health.
Session Block II
Sowing Seeds of Hope: Youth Programming and Community Enrichment Roundtable
Speaker
Jason Reddock ’18
Nonprofit Development Manager at The Democracy at Work Institute
Jason is the Development Manager for the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI), a national nonprofit out of San Francisco focused on expanding the promise of business ownership to immigrants, BIPOC, and low-wage workers using the cooperative model. As a full-time grant writer, he secures public and private funding that supports the organization's programs and long-term sustainability. Before DAWI, Jason served as Program Manager for Tacoma Boat Builders, a skilled trade-focused diversion program for court-involved youth, located on the Thea Foss Waterway. He joined their Board of Directors earlier this summer.
Jason started writing professionally in 2014 by drumming up client stories for publication in FISH Food Banks' monthly newsletter. Then his interest in social media and advertising drew him to copywriting and boutique marketing firms in Tacoma and, eventually, freelance writing. Today, he uses his knowledge of the federal grant writing process to support several education and social justice nonprofits in western Washington by providing critical capacity to small fundraising teams. In time, Jason sees himself sitting on the other side of the table as a grant maker, identifying and selecting promising organizations doing excellent work in education, workforce and youth development spaces. He graduated from Evergreen-Tacoma in 2017.
Session Block I
Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve: A Non-Profit Panel Discussion