Page 4 - Sankofa News Winter Qtr Issue 9 Evergreen Alumni

Kiara credits her commitment to social services, to her parents, who each have served over 30
ALUMN AE
Kiara & Sandra Daniels
Kiara Daniels is a proud Tacoma native with a deep sense of commitment to giving back to
her community. As a community organizer, she advocates tirelessly for her community? the
Hilltop Community, which has experienced decades of racism, disinvestment, and
exploitation. Kiara is trusted and cherished in the Tacoma community, as easily discerned
from her high level of community engagement.
Kiara works as the Business and Community Development Coordinator for Spaceworks
Tacoma, a program of the Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. There, Kiara leads
the Hilltop Business Support aiming to secure space and resources for Black businesses in
the Hilltop business district.
Kiara graduated from Tacoma School of the Arts and continues to help recruit
under-represented students to the new high schools specializing in art, math, science, and
engineering. After high school she attended The Evergreen State College, Tacoma Campus
and further went on to earn her Master?s degree in Public Administration from the Olympia
Campus.
years for the State of Washington and as local advocates in the City of Tacoma. She also credits
Dr. W. Joye Hardiman, past Executive Director of The Evergreen State College-Tacoma, with
opening her eyes and heart to the impacts of systematic racism. Kiara reminisces on her time
as a child, sitting through Evergreen Tacoma classes with her Mother Sandra, also an
Evergreen-Tacoma alum. Recalling, ?Dr. Hardiman was the first person that truly opened my
eyes to the injustices that have been and are still being done, to the Black Community. The
intentional fracturing of our communities, as well as the erasure of
our histories and contributions to America?s infrastructure,
economy, and culture." As a young child, Kiara knew sitting in those
classrooms, that she would soon follow in the footsteps of her
parents?and instructors' such as Dr. Hardiman and Dr. Sheppard.
Last year, Kiara was awarded City of Tacoma?s Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Emerging Leader Award for her commitment to service, and
describes all her work as her love letter to the city of Tacoma. Kiara
mentors up and coming social justice advocates as they learn to
breakdown the tangled systems of oppression. Kiara is currently
running for an at-large seat on the City of Tacoma Council with
hopes of bringing a fresh perspective to issues the city is facing such
as lack of affordable housing and resources for our houseless
population.
You can reach Kiara at info@kiaradaniels.com or visit her website at
https://www.kiaradaniels.com/ to learn more about how you can support her community work.
Sandra attended the Bridge Program of TESC ? Tacoma 1994-1996
and upper division of TESC 1996 ? 1998. During her 2 years in the
Evergreen Program she served as a S&A member as the Treasurer.
Sandra became the Evening & Weekend Program Coordinator from
1999 to 2004, as she served as faculty and student support and
oversaw the safety and security of the building.
Sandra graduated from Chapman University in 2006 from the
Master?s in Organizational Leadership Program and specialized in
Non-profit Organizational Leadership and Human Resources.
Sandra embodies the MOTTO - ?Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve? by
serving on the TESC- Tacoma Alumni Vice President & President
from 2014 ? 2018.