2015 woman of achievement: racial justice marsha tadano … bio... ·  · 2015-10-262015 woman of...

1
2015 Woman of Achievement: Racial Justice Marsha Tadano Long In almost all of her positions with the State of Washington, from Vocational Education Program Specialist to Director of the Department of General Administration, Marsha was the first woman and/or person of color to hold that position. She was a trailblazer who knew very well that her success as a woman of color would bode well for those women and people of color who came behind her. “I understood the significance of performing well, and I welcomed the challenge,” she says upon reflection of her 29 years in state government. Marsha has a long history of service to the community as a volunteer supporting various organizations such as the Japanese American Citizens League, YWCA of Olympia, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the Thurston County Food Bank, and the Hands on Children’s Museum. A leader in her own right, Marsha has also worked alongside her husband, Merritt D. Long, to found the Learning Seed Foundation in 2001, currently held at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, which awards new and renewable scholarships to graduating high school seniors, primarily students of color. Most of the students are the first in their families to go to college. As of 2015, over $278,000 has been awarded to 79 students from Thurston and Pierce counties. 89% are students of color, and 82% are women. On a personal level she provides ongoing support and leadership for students through mentoring, tracking progress, hosting them in her home, and inviting them back to speak about what their education has meant to them. Marsha’s commitment to supporting young people extends to mentoring young professional women in our community. Her actions over the years clearly reflect the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racial and gender inequality and advancing the social and economic status of all women and girls. Marsha Tadano Long is sponsored by

Upload: leduong

Post on 21-May-2018

225 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: 2015 Woman of Achievement: Racial Justice Marsha Tadano … Bio... ·  · 2015-10-262015 Woman of Achievement: Racial Justice Marsha Tadano Long ... Marsha Tadano Long is sponsored

2015 Woman of Achievement: Racial Justice Marsha Tadano Long

In almost all of her positions with the State of Washington, from Vocational Education Program Specialist to Director of the Department of General Administration, Marsha was the first woman and/or person of color to hold that position. She was a trailblazer who knew very well that her success as a woman of color would bode well for those women and people of color who came behind her. “I understood the significance of performing well, and I welcomed the challenge,” she says upon reflection of her 29 years in state government.

Marsha has a long history of service to the community as a volunteer supporting various organizations such as the Japanese American Citizens League, YWCA of Olympia, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the Thurston County Food Bank, and the Hands on Children’s Museum. A leader in her own right, Marsha has also worked alongside her husband, Merritt D. Long, to found the Learning Seed Foundation in 2001, currently held at the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, which awards new and renewable scholarships to graduating high school seniors, primarily students of color. Most of the students are the first in their families to go to college. As of 2015, over $278,000 has been awarded to 79 students from Thurston and Pierce counties. 89% are students of color, and 82% are women. On a personal level she provides ongoing support and leadership for students through mentoring, tracking progress, hosting them in her home, and inviting them back to speak about what their education has meant to them. Marsha’s commitment to supporting young people extends to mentoring young professional women in our community. Her actions over the years clearly reflect the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racial and gender inequality and advancing the social and economic status of all women and girls. Marsha Tadano Long is sponsored by