This past week, the Housing Alliance received some great news from the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle/King County (HDC). During their 6th Annual Luncheon, HDC awarded the Housing Alliance two out of the three Emerging Leader Awards. Housing Alliance board president Nicole Macri and Communication Specialist Joaquin Uy were both each honored with a Housing Development Consortium Emerging Leader Award 2014.

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HDC Executive Director Marty Kooistra made the official announcement on Wednesday, April 30 at noon at the Washington State Convention Center. Staff member Joaquin Uy was in attendance to receive a framed certificate, dark chocolate, a plant, and a number of resources about leadership, all contained within a toolbox hand-made by Marty Kooistra himself. Nicole was out of town and unable to make it to the awards event.

Prior to his position as HDC Executive Director, Marty worked at Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County. While there, he gathered discarded wood and would build various pieces of furniture, like toolboxes (and toolbox awards!)

“It is an honor to receive this recognition,” said Joaquin shortly after receiving his collection of award materials. “Participating in HDC’s Leadership Development Program in 2012 gave me the foundation of skills that helped pave my way to this award.”

Josephine Wong, Deputy Director at the King County Department of Community and Human Services received the third Emerging Leader Award.

Later in the luncheon, HDC awarded Kirkland City Council this year's Municipal Champion Award for adopting an ordinance to prevent landlords from rejecting potential rental tenants solely based on the fact that they pay part of their rent with a Section 8 Housing Voucher.

Lastly, Bellwether Housing Executive Director Sarah Lewontin was the recipient of the Carla Okigwe Award. Congratulations to all awardees!

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Our own Bringing Washington Home Advocacy Awards Celebration is Tuesday, June 27. You can get your tickets here.