2024 has been a year of tremendous growth and accomplishment for RVC. Our Community Impact Fellowship program celebrated the graduation of the 2022–2024 cohort! This marks our fourth cohort to complete the program since its launch in 2015. It has been an honor to witness the progression of each and every fellow, and we’re eager to see the impact they will make in Seattle and beyond.
This summer, we also hosted the RVC Block Party – our first big summer bash since the start of the pandemic. In addition to being a ton of fun, it was an opportunity to share space and stories with the most dedicated members of our community. If you missed it, check out the event video and pictures on our website!
One of the biggest areas of growth has been our internal capacity. RVC hired five new team members to our General Operations and Development teams as an intentional investment in our organization’s sustainability so we can continue making an impact in King County for years to come.
We sat down with two of our new team members, HR Manager Sunshine Allen (She/Her) and Individual Giving Officer Grey Alexander (He/Him), to hear their stories, their motivations, and the impact of RVC’s work.
“After having over 10 years in the field I wanted to make an impact where it matters most, the heart of operations. Creating equitable policies and focusing on the mental and emotional health of the folks doing this work.”
Q: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to this line of work?
Sunshine: Growing up in the world of nonprofits, I’ve always seen the impact we have on community. After over 10 years in the [nonprofit] field, I wanted to make an impact where it matters most, the heart of operations. Creating equitable policies and focusing on the mental and emotional health of the folks doing this work.
Grey: I’m a proud Seattle native with strong roots in the Central District and South King County. I have a lot of pride in the PNW, specifically the vibrant Black and immigrant communities that I grew up around. After graduating college in 2020, I started working at a small nonprofit in an administrative role and was quickly promoted to a development role. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: How has being at RVC changed your relationship with work?
Sunshine: It has helped me create work-life boundaries as well as finding new ways to communicate and problem-solve. We don’t have all the answers but for the most part everyone is willing to come to the table to brainstorm how we can get the answers.
Grey: Being at a place like RVC that not only embraces distributed leadership, but also self-management, has changed my relationship with work for the better. It’s also been such a pleasure getting to bond with the people on my team and wider staff. The amount of knowledge, passion, and resilience within our staff is truly inspiring.
“Being at a place like RVC that not only embraces distributed leadership, but also self-management, has changed my relationship with work for the better.”
Q: What’s a favorite hobby or interest you have outside of work, and does it ever influence your approach to your job?
Sunshine: My favorite hobbies are traveling and being in nature. It is where I feel most grounded and in line with my ethos. I feel like it influences my view on everyone being human and that sometimes we have a waaaay too serious of an approach with life and forget that joy can be found everywhere if we simply look for it.
Grey: I love riding my bike, reading, and writing fiction. Development is all about relationships and communication, so I find myself relying on my writing skills on a daily basis.
Q: What’s a favorite memory with one of your RVC colleagues?
Sunshine: I think my favorite memory is our RVC staff cookout! Just being able to watch everyone eat, paint, and talk. We were out of our job roles and just enjoying each other in community.
Grey: The fellowship graduation because it was the first in-person RVC event that I attended as a new staff member. I got to meet all my colleagues, talk to our fellows (now alumni!), and the food was fantastic. It was so lovely to see all the family and friends of the fellows come out to support them.
Q: In your current role, how would you like to make a difference at RVC or in your broader community?
Sunshine: I want to continue building and furthering Problackness in my community and at RVC. To bring an equitable approach to HR and the nonprofit world in general.
Grey: Becoming a master of multimedia communication and using those skills to take RVC’s campaign strategy to the next level. I’ve always wanted to learn more about videography!
Your Support Makes the Mission Possible!
As we close out 2024, we invite you to join us in continuing this vital work. Your contributions during this holiday season will directly support programs like the Community Impact Fellowship and help us expand our capacity to serve more organizations in King County. Together, we can ensure that RVC’s mission continues to thrive and uplift the voices of communities of color.