How SESEC has supported Nimco Bulale’s leadership growth
Born in Mogadishu, Nimco Bulale grew up in South Seattle and South King County. She has spent her professional career serving her community as a community organizer, educator, and education policy expert.
“This is where I grew up. After I graduated, I worked in South Seattle. I’ve also lived in the suburbs, and we’ve moved around a lot. Obviously, I come from an immigrant family, one of nine kids. So really, just have grown up and have gotten to learn so much about the community and the students,” she says.
Today, she is an adjunct professor at the Western Washington University School of Education. She teaches a required course called Equity, Culture, and Education for students in their teaching careers. She also founded South Sound Strategies in 2021, a consulting firm that focuses on public policy strategy, government relations, and advocacy.
Her involvement with SESEC began in 2017, when she participated in one of the first Advocacy and Policy Cohorts (APC).
“For me, it was when I was getting started in my advocacy journey. I was newly starting to do policy work and advocacy work. So for me, what I first remember was this was the first opportunity that I was with folks who were at the same level career trajectory. I just really love the opportunity to be able to meet industry folks doing good work,” she says.
At the time, she was working at OneAmerica as an education program organizer, where she was later promoted to education program manager. After completing APC, she joined the board of directors at SESEC and has been a board member since. She is now one of the longest-serving SESEC board members.
“It was one of my first board positions, and it was truly transformative. I got on the board, and there were people that were already connected, that were just really supportive,” she says.
With nieces and nephews who are students in Southeast Seattle, she notes that she is “extra passionate about making sure investments and outcomes are reaching South Southeast Seattle and South Seattle more broadly.”
Recently, her consultancy firm has been involved in stakeholder engagement for the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) 2025 Levy Renewal. This has been in partnership with the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL),
Learn more about the Advocacy and Policy Cohorts here.
