Greetings SESEC community,
I sincerely hope this letter finds you well. Some significant news in my world and that of Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC): I have been named a recipient of the BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State Sabbatical Leadership Award Program. As of May 7, 2024, I will officially begin a 3-month sabbatical. During this time, I will move back from my role as SESEC’s Associate Director so that I can focus on rest and renewal.
Between May 7 and August 19 (my planned “return-to-work” date), my responsibilities at SESEC will be assumed by some exceedingly qualified staff:
- For operations questions including billing, payments and financial issues – Meghan Bedell, Operations Manager. [email protected]
- For grant proposal questions – Liz Huizar, Executive Director. [email protected] and Mary Beth Lochnicht, Grants Writer. [email protected]
- For the Youth Participatory Grantmaking Project, Family Navigators Project and the P-20 Data Alignment Project – Vivian van Gelder, Director of Policy and Research, [email protected]
- For SEED, APC and Data Cohorts – Mindy Huang, Director of Community Advocacy Programs. [email protected]
- For all other grants, reports, and issues – Liz Huizar, Executive Director. [email protected]
I am confident in this group’s ability to provide the highest level of service that our community expects from SESEC. Our leadership model continues to be a collective and our sabbatical plan is reflective of this.
I am exceedingly grateful for this time and space. Nonprofit leadership often requires that we sacrifice our mental, physical, and spiritual health. The BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State Sabbatical Leadership Award Program recognizes that rest, renewal, and restoration are foundational to racial healing and social justice in communities and is committed to normalizing rest and the practice of sabbaticals. These 3 months will offer me an opportunity to restore and transform myself. I will also return ready to continue to contribute to SESEC’s stability and sustainability. I can’t wait to share with you all that I learn!
I am tremendously grateful to the SESEC Board of Directors, staff and the numerous funders, partner organizations, individuals and other supporters who have had my back as we usher in this new era at our organization.
Effective May 7, please contact Liz Huizar, SESEC Executive Director, for questions and feedback regarding SESEC.
In deep heartfelt gratitude,
Michael Flor
Associate Director