Announcing our new Co-Executive Directors!

Announcing our new Co-Executive Directors!

by | Feb 6, 2020 | Jobs

The Washington Bus is thrilled to announce that we have named our two Co-Executive Directors. After much anticipation, please join us in welcoming Cinthia Illan-Vazquez, Co-Executive Director for Policy and Program, and Kelly Hickman, Co-Executive Director for Operations and Development! Throughout the search and selection process, both Kelly and Cinthia emerged as the best leaders for our organization and to support our powerful team. Their leadership couldn’t come at a more perfect time. As we move into an important election cycle, we are excited to strengthen our movement of engaging young people in civic life and to lead with strong anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable values. We are grateful to the entire Bus community for your support throughout this process. The Board of Directors would like to extend a special thank you to the Washington Bus staff, Annie, Danny, Leila, Libby, Mo, and Xinyu, and our Interim Executive Director, Amy Wasser, for their excellent work during this transition period.

Cinthia and Kelly will begin their new positions together on Wednesday, March 4th and look forward to being in touch with you. Their contact info can be found on our staff page. Put your party hats on — we’ll be announcing a party in their honor soon!

Cinthia (she/her/ella) joins the Bus from her role as Community Engagement Manager at the Center for Education Results where she led and supported various community engagement efforts and strategies. Her drive to bring access and equity to our political and civic process solidified when she was a Fellow and, later, the Fellowship Coordinator at the Bus. Previously, Cinthia served as legislative assistant to current Speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives Laurie Jinkins, and as a community organizer with the Washington Dream Coalition, an undocumented and youth-led advocacy organization. She believes in the importance of people-centered movements aimed at dismantling systems of oppression through policy. Cinthia is excited to leverage her skills to amplify the Bus’s mission. Away from the office, she enjoys outdoor activities that connect her to the indigenous lands we are occupying.

 

Kelly (she/her/hers) joins the Bus from her previous role as Assistant Director at the Missions Office of the Archdiocese of Seattle. She is a highly collaborative and passionate leader with nearly eight years of nonprofit co-directing experience inspiring people to meaningful civic action. She is deeply committed to building inclusive strategies to create a more equitable society for everyone. She holds a Master’s degree in Transforming Spirituality from Seattle University. Kelly is a third generation Seattleite who grew up in north Seattle. Away from the office, she spends lots of time with family and friends, snuggling her cat Leeloo, and dollhousing.

In gratitude,

Seferiana Day, Washington Bus Board President

Aaron Robertson, Washington Bus Education Fund Board President

Co-Executive Directors search

Co-Executive Directors search

by | Oct 9, 2019 | Jobs

After a six-month process whereby we assessed our strengths, structures and strategic direction, The Washington Bus is excited to announce that we have made the intentional decision to move from a hierarchical leadership structure to a shared management model as a way of elevating young professionals to take on significant leadership roles in today’s non-profit organizations. The Washington Bus therefore is seeking their next strategic and creative Co-Executive Directors – the Co-Executive Director for Operations and Development and the Co-Executive Director for Policy and Program – to shape, inspire, and manage the organization’s future in collaboration with one another, a talented staff team and a deeply committed Board of Directors.

The Washington Bus is a statewide movement building organization that engages young people in the civic process. We focus our resources on empowering young people of color, LGBTQ youth, first generation college students, and young people from working class and immigrant communities.

To lead the Washington Bus is to be at the forefront of moving our political process into a more inclusive and equitable space. The Bus drives up to the edges of the known civic engagement map, and then goes beyond. The Co-Executive Directors must navigate and thrive under these dynamics and be fully committed to steering the Bus into the decade ahead. In addition, they must have a track record of implementing anti-racist practices and working to undo institutional racism in our political structures. This is an incredible opportunity for two talented leaders to mesh their skills together in a way that brings out the best in one another and pushes the Washington Bus to excellence.

Search highlights

  • The Washington Bus is looking for two new executive leaders to act as a symbiotic team to run the organization
  • One ED will be responsible for Operations and Development, setting overall fundraising and communications strategy, budget development and general operations
  • The other ED will be responsible for Policy and Program, setting overall political, advocacy and programmatic strategies and developing strong community partnerships
  • The Washington Bus focuses on movement building, engaging young people – especially POC, LGBTQ, first generation college students and those from working class and immigrant communities
  • Priority application deadline is November 11, 2019, at 5pm

Click here for detailed job responsibilities and qualifications

Co-ED for Policy and Program
Co-ED for Operations and Development
View all open roles