La Iniciativa de Centros para las comunidades de color de Bellevue favorece un esfuerzo liderado por la comunidad para avanzar en los valores y el compromiso de la ciudad con la igualdad racial construyendo confianza y conciencia a través del diálogo entre la diversa población de la ciudad, para así garantizar que todas las comunidades de Bellevue tengan la oportunidad de crecer y prosperar.
Estos diálogos crean alfabetización racial y habilidades a partir de educación y capacitación, mientras que las asociaciones con organizaciones comunitarias ayudan a crear recomendaciones y acciones de manera conjunta. El Equipo de coordinación de los CCC, un grupo diverso de personas que viven y trabajan en Bellevue y que están dedicados a mejorar las oportunidades y la igualdad racial en favor del progreso de toda la comunidad de Bellevue, lidera el esfuerzo.
Antecedentes
El 19 de enero de 2021, el Consejo Municipal aprobó la Iniciativa de Centros para las comunidades de color, un esfuerzo liderado por la comunidad para avanzar en la igualdad racial aquí y para crear confianza y conciencia entre la diversa población de la ciudad.
La iniciativa de tres año incluye un enfoque de tres niveles:
- Desarrollar confianza a través del diálogo: con la asistencia del personal de la ciudad, un Equipo de coordinación de las comunidades de color, conformado por diversos miembros de la comunidad, creará una serie de debates comunitarios sobre problemas de igualdad durante un año.
- Crear habilidades de alfabetización racial a través de educación y capacitación: la ciudad educará a los miembros de la comunidad sobre problemas de igualdad racial, posiblemente en asociación con los negocios locales, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y el
- Crear recomendaciones para acción de manera conjunta: en colaboración con el Equipo de los CCC, el personal de la ciudad, el liderazgo y otras partes interesadas, la ciudad analizará las actividades y recomendaciones para avanzar en la igualdad racial en la ciudad de Bellevue.
Communities of Color Coordinating Team
Amirah Haque
Amirah is a student in the Bellevue School District, and has lived in Bellevue for 12 years. Although her passion began in middle school, it has transitioned to a hands-on approach in community-led events. Amirah has championed minority groups' causes and rallied for equity across race and gender.
As a youth in her community, Amirah helped draw attention to the effects of toxic masculinity and, with her peers, led and supported projects that promoted awareness and facilitated long-lasting change. Amirah wants to continue to promote positive change in the community, serving on the CCC Team.
Joel Leiva-Rodriguez
Joel is a freshman at Seattle Pacific University, planning to major in international business. Joel’s family is Guatemalan, and has been living in Bellevue for 25+ years. When Joel is not at school, he’s the co-owner of Home for the Poor, a nonprofit organization that builds shelters for rural Guatemalans and provides them with food and clothes.
Joel’s goal for Communities of Color Coordinating Team is to create space for people of color in the community to be heard.
Monik Martinez
Monik is originally from a small farming community in Central Washington and has lived in Bellevue for the last five years. As executive director of 4 Tomorrow, a local nonprofit, Monik has focused her efforts on supporting youth and the Latinx community in King County.
Before 4 Tomorrow, Monik was a family engagement specialist in the Bellevue School District – a role that allowed her to deepen her interest in racial equity and build her understanding of the link between institutional change and ensuring that families in the community were served with fidelity. Monik is excited to join the CCC Team to learn from the wider community and work with other passionate community members in making our home the best place it can be.
Kananu Mason
Kananu has lived and worked in Bellevue since 2006. She has worked in healthcare for about 20 years, specializing over the last five years on neurology. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking/walking and vegetable gardening.
Kananu draws inspiration from interacting with people who make it a purpose to better themselves and/or their communities.
Randy Nuñez
Randy works, lives and has children that go to school in the city his wife was born and raised in – Bellevue. He feels most at home when he has an opportunity to get involved in the community, support efforts to build a sense of belonging for everyone and have moments of celebration.
Randy, who has a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington, joined the CCC Team because he believes the city plays an important role in the well-being of families and communities. He knows his life experiences reflect those of a large segment of our population, which he will do his best to represent honorably.
Ricardo Perezchica
Ricardo is an investor/broker with Compass in Bellevue, helping people make real estate investments. A Latino and the youngest of 10 siblings, Ricardo has been empowered by feeling included.
As a long-time real estate professional, he wants to promote opportunities for minority business owners in Bellevue. Ricardo wants to make sure information and resources are easy to find for all populations here.
Ryan Qualls
Ryan moved to Bellevue in 2010, finding work as a laborer, driver and hospitality worker. Of Tlingit and Mexican descent, Ryan was raised with Coast Salish, Makah and Klallam people on the Olympic Peninsula; Bellevue game him his first experience living in a city with diversity. He became familiar with the local Baha'i community and participated in a dance group that performed around Seattle for some years and started to learn about advocacy.
Ryan has volunteered for Alaskan Natives Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Black Action Coalition for Black and Indigenous Solidarity. He has received training for leadership from the El Pomar Foundation and advocated for environmental causes through Protectors of the Salish Sea.
Jeri Tiernan
Jeri is a queer, black, intersectional feminist, pronouns she/her. A nurse in the greater Seattle area, she has worked inside and out of clinical spaces, promoting health and racial equity, along with diverse inclusion.
Jeri's biggest concerns are for health equity and housing and economic equality for communities of color.
Lalita Uppala
Lalita and her husband, with their two children, have made Bellevue their home for the past 28 years. Following a short stint in toxicology consulting, Lalita stayed home to raise her children and volunteered in school PTSAs. Since 2007, she has been on the board of the India Association of Western Washington, and has also volunteered for the organization in various capacities, including as youth program director, president and, currently, community program director and vice president.
Lalita identifies and advocates for the needs of the Asian Indian community of Western Washington. Additionally, she is a trustee with the King County Library System board, and is an ardent advocate of libraries becoming the hub of a community, providing knowledge, education, awareness and connections. Lalita also sits on the board of South Asian Americans Together for Washington.
Royce Yuen
Royce has worked in Bellevue for the past 12 years, and is pastor and community catalyst for the Common Good Church, a faith community that seeks to benefit all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, education, socioeconomic status, or spiritual background.
Royce ministers in predominantly multicultural and multiethnic spaces and has advocated for racial diversity, equity and inclusion in a variety of industries and organizations throughout his career. He is excited about joining the CCC Team to come alongside city staff, leaders and stakeholders in their efforts to advance racial equity and build trust and awareness across the city’s diverse population.