A letter from Byrd Barr Place's CEO, Andrea

Dear Friends,

For nearly 60 years, Byrd Barr Place has been a leader in advancing civil rights and alleviating poverty throughout the Greater Seattle area and Washington. We have sought to empower our community by meeting basic human needs — a warm home, food on the table and financial tools— so community members can build stability and self-sufficiency.

2022 was a year of immense change here at Byrd Barr Place. From welcoming new staff and board members, to moving back into our newly renovated fire station home, we focused on growth and increased impact. A few examples:

New staff! We welcomed Tafari Maynard as our director of operations, Amal Mure as energy assistance program director, and Derrick Love and Tanise Love as our newest board members.
New programs! We continued to grow our essential services with our newly transformed food bank, The Market; financial literacy resources and workshops; and a new Water Assistance program.
New advocacy initiatives! We partnered with the Black Future Co-op Fund to create Black Well-being: Moving Toward Solutions Together, a groundbreaking report that highlights community identified approaches to tackling the structural barriers prohibiting Black well-being in Washington state and elevates revolutionary visions for the future.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our community. From our volunteers, to our staff, to our donors and supporters, we wish to express our deepest gratitude for holding us accountable to our mission and providing the resources necessary to do this work. We are honored to partner with you.

We are also pleased to share that we raised $193,600 since last November. Thank you so much to all our donors who made a financial contribution. Because of your support, we are able to continue providing services and programs with the dignity and respect our community members deserve. If you would like to help us get closer to our $250,000 goal, please consider donating online or calling us at 206-812-4940.

As we look ahead to 2023 we remain committed to our vision for an equitable future for all Washingtonians. We expect to expand our capacity for service and deepen our engagement with our community. We will continue to put people of color and equity at the center of a movement to advance intergenerational well-being in Washington state.

It continues to be a privilege to lead this work. On behalf of myself and the entire Byrd Barr Place family, we thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working with you in this new year!

Andrea Caupain Sanderson
CEO
Byrd Barr Place