Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center - KIAC
Mission
The KIAC is dedicated to helping immigrants in our community and the people/organization that help them.
Vision
The KIAC is an active, involved part of the immigrant community. We provide a multitude of services to facilitate the adjustment of immigrants to America and into our local communities.
Goals
The goals of the Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center include:
- Providing a central location for all immigrant-related services.
- Providing immigrants access to medical, legal and social services.
- Providing immigrants a variety of opportunities to learn or improve their English language skills.
- Providing information and assistance to other community organizations who deal with immigrants.
- Providing immigrants information on work and business opportunities (ie: job bank, business start-up classes, business mentorship programs).
- Providing educational classes to immigrants on a variety of topics (citizenship classes, classes for American spouses of immigrants, etc.).
- Providing assistance with everyday needs (reading mail, filling out job or housing applications, resolving conflicts with landlords/employers/others).
- Providing assistance to the children of immigrants through scholarships, tutoring, mentorship opportunities, and other classes geared to their needs.
Board of Directors
The KIAC is operated by a group of dedicated volunteers. Our Board members include:
Martitha May,
Chairperson
Martitha was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico then immigrated to the United States. She is a wife and mother. She is a committee member for the Mesa Redonda of Kitsap County and was a member of El Centro de la Familia Transition Task Force Board. Martitha is a certified YWCA Domestic Violence Victim Advocate and received certification from Washington State University as a "Strengthening Families" educator. She is a Board Member for Literacy Council of Kitsap, a member of the Diversity Advisory Committee for the Central Kitsap School District, a member of Kitsap Department of Emergency Management Vulnerable Populations Work Group, and the Mexican Consulate Binational Health Week committee member. Martitha can often be found at the Kitsap IAC, teaching clients about health and nutrition and advocating for immigrant rights and services. She also has extensive experience with publicity, fundraising, and media relations (print media, television, and radio).
Tom graduated from Western Washington University in 1975. Since that time he has been a counselor at the Women's Treatment Center in Purdy and has also worked at the Seattle Crisis Clinic, the Bishop Lewis and Interaction Transition Halfway House, Children's Protective Services, the Methodist Children's Home in Lumberton, NC, the Pro Se Law Center in Charlotte, SC, and the Men's Resource Center in Columbia, SC. He is currently the Vice President of the Peninsula Community Health Clinic Board, is a six-year member of the Kitsap Human Rights Council, is the Secretary of the Bremerton NAACP, and is President of the Methodist's Men's organization. He is married to Molly, his wife of 20 years, and has two lovely dogs Joshua and Laird.
Rebekah Dalby, Secretary
A Seattle native, Rebekah earned both a Bachelor's in Linguistics and a Master's in Library Science at the University of Washington. After graduation, she spent three years as a Reference Librarian with the City of Los Angeles Public Library System. Rebekah now works as an Adult Services Librarian at the Port Orchard Branch of the Kitsap Regional Library System. She is committed to providing excellent library services to non-native English speakers and in 2008 spearheaded a library initiative to better serve the immigrant population in Kitsap County. On a personal level, Rebekah is interested in literary fiction, culinary writing, gardening, cooking, travel and languages and is the mother of a very energetic little boy.
Courtney Stringer, Fundraising Chair
Courtney Stringer was born and raised in Issaquah, Washington. Courtney moved to Tacoma to pursue a degree in Chinese Studies and Business at Pacific Lutheran University and has never left. Courtney worked in Development at PLU, and continues her passion of fundraising. She currently serves as the Director of Annual Giving at Annie Wright School in Tacoma, WA. Courtney is passionate about helping people in Kitsap County by raising funds to insure that all families have an equal opportunity to be able to succeed. Courtney also loves to travel, and speaks both Chinese and Spanish.
Ray Garrido, Treasurer
Ray grew up in New York City and has lived in Olalla, Washington for 32 years. He is married to Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. Ray serves as an ESL tutor for the Kitsap Literacy Council and the Kitsap MAC and as a Mentor Mediator for the Dispute Resolution Center. He is also active in immigration reform, farming and food production and is a Master Gardener. Ray owns a web design and development company and loves to play soccer and watch birds.
KIAC Key Organizational Staff
April Borbon, DirectorApril has been a business owner for twelve years. She is a member of the Mesa Redonda de Kitsap, is the founder of the Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, has taught English as a second language for four years, participates in the Kitsap County Minority Services Committee, coordinates the Spanish language DUI Panel, and spends her vacations traveling to third-world countries in order to bring medical and other needed supplies to those in need.