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South Sound Leadership Foundation

South Sound

Leadership Foundation

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WORKING TOGETHER, LOVING THE SOUTH SOUND

At the South Sound Leadership Foundation (SSLF), we are bringing people together from all walks of life to love and transform our city. From youth mentoring to developing the next generation of diverse leaders to equipping other organizations with the resources needed – SSLF is helping the South Sound be a more vibrant place for everyone.

OUR WORK

South Sound Mentoring
Collaborative

A reginal network of youth mentoring organizations community to collaboration and the most effective practices for healthy youth outcomes

Proyecto MoLE

Equipping and mobilizing the next generation of Latino Leaders for the South Sound.

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Charity to Change

Equipping faith communities to partner together to more effective serve and be agents of change in their communities.

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A LEgacy of Transformation

Since 1989, the Leadership Foundations has had a transformational presence in the South Puget Sound region. This includes incubating and launching organizations and initiatives that continue to have significant impact today.

Here are just a few examples:

Alchemy Skateboarding

providing opportunities for youth to learn and grow through skateboarding 

Degrees of Change

preparing diverse, homegrown leaders to succeed in college and career in order to build more vibrant and equitable communities

Leaders in Women's Health

 fighting health disparities in the African American community

Tacoma Boat Buliders

enriching lives through craftsmanship

Fab-5

empowering young people as creative leaders who inspire change in their surroundings

The First Tee of South Puget Sound

empowering kids and teens through the game of golf

Act Six

providing full scholarships and leadership training for emerging urban and community leaders

AID Northwest

Supporting immigrants with dignity while in detention and upon release

Contact Our Staff For More Information

ALMA VARGAS

Program Manager

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MELODY RODRIGUEZ

Lead Director

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Noah Baskett Headshot

NOAH BASKETT

Coordinator

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Every dollar of your donation goes to supporting the work of the SSLF. 

Thank you for your generosity!

Alma Vargas

Youth Development Specialist, Proyecto MoLE

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What inspires/excites you most about Leadership Foundations?  

The LF vision to transform cities into places that are safe and enjoyable to live in by all and its mission to make it happen by supporting those that are already doing the job.  LF makes it clear that it is not a one-person job but rather a whole village and everyone’s contributions count.   

What book, movie, quote, or tv show has most shaped your understanding of leadership or the city?  

A quote of great significance to my understanding of leadership is from Dolores Huerta, “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we are put on the earth for.”  It reminds me that although everyone has a different purpose in life, that purpose should ultimately add value to this world.   

Melody Rodriguez

Director of Proyecto MoLE

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What inspires you most about Leadership Foundations?  

“It starts with a leader, a man or woman with a passion, plan and the ability to bring others along in making it happen.” This simple sentence that answers the question, “How do you transform a city?” It reminds me that leadership isn’t just about power, education, position and influence. 

When I reflect on, “a man or woman with a passion, plan and the ability to bring others along in making it happen,” it gives me hope for the future of our cities across the world because it reminds me to look beyond those who are in the traditional “leadership” positions within my community. Leadership is not about having a title or being elected, it’s about the individuals in our cities who often work on behalf of forgotten or most vulnerable within our neighborhoods. Their actions and heart for those they serve inspire others to think beyond themselves and to consider what would it take for everyone in our city to have what they need to be safe, healthy, valued and thrive.  

Tell me about a relationship that has shaped who you are today.  

If it weren’t for my father, I would not be the person that I am today. When I finished my undergraduate degree and started working at a community based non-profit, most of my family pushed me to find a better paying job and would focus on their concern for my safety because I was working with “at-risk” youth. My father was the one person who seemed to know that I was where I was supposed to be even when I had my doubts. Throughout the 13 years that I was with that organization, my father supported me, my programs and mentored my students. During those 13 years I moved from the lowest paying entry level position to the acting Executive Director. Because of his support and encouragement, I’ve spent the last twenty-seven years waking up knowing what it feels like to love what I do and to see how it contributes to the City of Tacoma. 

Celia Vigil

Communications Associate

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What book, movie, quote, or tv show has most shaped your understanding of leadership or the city?   

A quote that has shaped my understanding of leadership and the city is, “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

While the amount of work there is to do to transform cities is great, this quote reminds me that we are freed from having to complete it all, though our obligation to continue remains. We may never see a huge transformation in our lifetime. The work stretches far beyond us. However, this does not make our acts of faithfulness in the day to day less significant, no matter how small they may seem.