Katrina Mariategue

Katrina Mariategue's Fundraiser

We are building a movement for Southeast Asian American equity image

We are building a movement for Southeast Asian American equity

Join SEARAC in our work to bolster community visibility, healing, and family

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2022 marked my seventh-year anniversary at the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). And this year I am excited to share that I was promoted to serve as SEARAC's first ever Chief Operating Officer.

This is a huge testament to how fast SEARAC has been growing since I originally joined as their Immigration Policy Manager in 2015. From a staff of seven to now a staff of 14, I never imagined working almost a decade at one organization where I continue to feel passion for its mission, while also growing personally and professionally.

In my 7.5+ years here, the work culture supported me to be able to start a family, raise my daughter, go on sabbatical, and develop me as an interim executive director. I go on and on with everyone I know about SEARAC's amazing 4 day/ 32 hour work week, flexible schedule, amazing benefits, and overall culture of care that encourages staff to take care of their family and their mental health. So many non-profits talk about the importance of restorative justice but SEARAC also walks the walk. It is a model of how national advocacy organizations can make a difference while still caring for the people who make them run.

I am also incredibly proud of all of SEARAC's programmatic accomplishments these past year. In 2022, we introduced an SEAA- centered anti-deportation bill (the first time in history!), hosted a virtual conference to discuss mental health and wellness, distributed COVID education materials translated in various SEAA languages, and fought for education equity. We continue to be a leading voice in Washington, DC, on Capitol Hill, and in the White house on immigrant and refugee policies. As we look ahead to 2023, we are excited to transition back into in-person programming and bring back our flagship Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) program, partner convenings, and meeting / reconnecting with board members (and staff!) who joined us during the pandemic.

Will you support this organization that supports me and fights for SEAA immigrant and refugee equity?