I am writing to share some personal news regarding the next stage of my journey. On April 10th, I will step down as Executive Director of Puget Sound Sage and Sage Leaders. Leading this organization over the past five years has been an incredible honor. I’m deeply proud of what we have built together; an organization rooted in community, guided by shared values, and clear in its purpose.
Sage’s strength has never rested on any single person. It lives in the collective leadership, sustained relationships, and community trust built over two decades. I feel immense pride reflecting on what we’ve accomplished together:
- Building grassroots power in the Chinatown-International District, through years of deep community organizing to ensure our neighborhood remains a home for working class and immigrant communities for the #Next100Years.
- Securing $13 million in funding for the King County Equitable Development Initiative by building a strong coalition of community organizations advocating for sustained funding that supports anti-displacement development projects in years to come.
- Organizing 250 community members through our first Neighborhood ICE-Free Zone training, canvassing 20 neighborhoods across King County and connecting with more than 500 neighbors to build organizing infrastructure that is durable and consistent.
- Launching a statewide Make Polluters Pay campaign to require the biggest fossil fuel polluters to pay their fair share for the climate damages in Washington State.
- Training over 170 emerging leaders through the Community Leadership Institute, expanding the program to Clark County in 2022 and Snohomish County in 2026, and celebrating 10 years as one of the most successful boards and commissions placement programs for leaders of color in the state.
- Building statewide leadership infrastructure through Sage Leaders, training more than 300 civic and political leaders and launching the Local Elected Leadership Institute in 2024, supporting first-time elected leaders of color.
The path to this moment has not been easy. I stepped into this role during a period of major organizational transition and in the midst of a global pandemic. During this time, Sage staff organized a union, and together we negotiated two collective bargaining agreements with Workers for a Just Transition.
These conversations were often challenging, but they helped us clarify who we are and what we value. Together we developed an equitable compensation philosophy centered on living wages and invested deeply in workplace culture, political education, collective leadership, and conflict transformation.
This work helped shape Sage’s new five-year strategic plan that directs how we set priorities informed by and accountable to grassroots power. It also nurtured a staff of passionate and talented people, who are deeply committed to each other and ready to throw down at a moment’s notice.
Leading Sage has also shaped me personally. If I’ve learned anything about leadership, it’s this:
- Great leaders don’t need all the answers. They ask the right questions and bring the right people together.
- Leadership means making space for others, where people feel empowered to make decisions and deeply connected to what we are building together.
- Staying grounded in principles takes time, constant communication, and continually assessing the compromises, challenges, and limitations of the nonprofit sector in movement building.
- Be brave enough to lead even when the path forward is uncertain
Most importantly, I learned that authenticity matters. As a woman of color in leadership, I carried a lot of pressure to show up in ways that didn’t feel like me. Letting that go—and leading as my full self—was one of the most important lessons of this journey.
As for what’s next, I’ll be just around the corner, literally. I will be joining the Wing Luke Museum as their next Executive Director. I feel incredibly fortunate that my path will continue to intersect with Sage’s work in coalition and partnership just a few blocks away in the Chinatown-International District.
There is much more to say than any letter can hold. Instead, we hope you’ll join us in celebration.
Please join us for a Community Celebration on Friday, April 3rd at the CID Community Center! Expect music, arts & crafts, goodbye toasts, maybe a few tears, and of course delicious food from Bananas Grill.
“Workers for a Just Transition is immensely grateful to Chrissy for her work at Sage. Her wisdom, leadership, and partnership have cultivated a sustainable workplace where we are all proud of the work we do. We all wish you well, Chrissy, and we look forward to our collaborations in the community!” – Philip Pantaleo, Workers for a Just Transition Union
“We are deeply grateful for Chrissy’s leadership over the past five years and the care, vision, and commitment she has brought to Sage. This organization has always been built on strong relationships, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Chrissy. At the same time, we feel confident in the strength of our staff and the broader network that sustains this work as Sage enters this next chapter. We look forward to sharing more about the path ahead.” –Tiffany Mendoza, Board President of Sage Leaders
As I close this chapter, I maintain the unshakeable belief that collective power creates transformative change. Thank you for walking alongside Sage—and alongside me—over the past five years.
Onward, together,
Chrissy 💕