Events

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Penny West moved to Seattle in 2004 and fell in love with the area. In 2016, she and her husband bought their first home in White Center and they have spent the last 8+ years getting to know the community. With a recent career change to real estate, Penny finds herself with a bit more flexibility to be able to contribute - hence her interest in the Rotary Club. Recently, Penny and her 10 year old daughter began volunteering with the White Center Food Bank. She also made a connection with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association and plans to spread some knowledge to the low income community around her about Down Payment Assistance programs as well as how to qualify to own a home. Being part of the local community is very important to Penny and her family and she is so thankful to have knowledge to share and help!

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Bridging the Gap: How Highline Schools Foundation supports Students, Educators and Families in Highline.

Fred Swanson is a knowledgeable, adept team builder and collaborator focused on removing barriers and dismantling systems that prevent communities from achieving joy and equity.  A proud dad, dedicated leader, published writer and award winning poet, Fred won the Business of Pride 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from Puget Sound Business Journal. He is currently Executive Director of Highline Schools Foundation, Vice President of the Des Moines Rotary Foundation, an organizer of Burien's 7 Stories Project and served as Chair of the City of Burien Human Services Commission for the past two years.

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Meg Alley is the Communications and Development Director at Team Read, a student powered literacy tutoring organization. She’s worked in fundraising and communications for Seattle-area nonprofits since 2012 and currently serves as Board President at The Environmental Science Center. When not working or volunteering in the community, she can usually be found with her nose in a book or exploring the Northwest with her family.

Team Read is a local literacy tutoring organization that has partnered with Seattle Public Schools for over 25 years, and will soon begin its 7^th year partnering with the Highline School District. What sets Team Read apart is that they recruit and train local high school students to work as paid reading tutors to second and third graders who need literacy support. The dual impact of this program results in elementary students improving their reading skills, and teens having access to a meaningful first job. Meg will present on Team Read’s curriculum, structure, impact, and opportunities for community support.

Meet at Azteca in Burien.

Shawna Moore, HEA Vice President and Dean of Student Success Puget Sound Skills Center. Over the past 20 years in Highline, Shawna has taught K through 12. Shawna leads the racial and social equity work at the local, council, and state level. Her leadership extends to serving as a WEA Culturally Responsive Trainer, a Cadre Lead for ECS 01 and 06, as well as a Core Team member of RECN (Rainier Educators of Color Network). Her passion is helping educational professionals experience the power of relationships and human connection with the goal of ensuring all students have a caring adult in their educational setting. Meet her in person at the Rainier Educators of Color Monthly Meetups!

Executive Director Joanna Stodden was born and raised in the rivers, forests, and mountains of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot and other Coast Salish peoples.  After graduating with a BS in field biology from the Evergreen State College, she worked for several environmental consulting firms conducting stream surveys for amphibians and salmon habitat all over Southeast Alaska.  She eventually became lonely among the grizzly bears and mosquitoes and felt a strong desire to share the remarkable biodiversity of our earth with others.  She has taught environmental education on beaches, forests, wetlands, aboard tall ships, in school gardens, and on a beach with the third greatest tidal exchange in the world! She began teaching Beach Heroes Programs for the Environmental Science Center in 2009 and served as ESC’s Program Manager from 2015-2019.  Joanna is delighted to advocate for outdoor programming in south King County and feels honored to be able to partner with the dedicated and talented teachers, parents, students, and community members who understand the value in stepping outside of the four walls of the classroom.  You will most likely find Joanna squawking and dancing with the herons, or following an ant back to her colony alongside her busy and inquisitive toddler.