I am Tanya Kim.
I’m the department director for the Human Services Department.
(Calm music)
I grew up in South King County
and my parents are immigrants.
We experienced some challenges and difficulties and we were low income too.
So I started working like 14 and split my time between home and school.
I really wish that there were folks that we could talk with.
We don't have to struggle in isolation.
In fact, community is so incredibly important.
And so as I got older, I learned about these resources and really leaned in.
(Piano music) Basically, our mission is to support people during times of need,
to have resources and solutions and be part of a strong, healthy community.
I'm inspired by staff every day.
People are dedicated,
they're passionate, they're smart.
I'm inspired by our community based organizations, our partners
that we work with on a regular basis.
(String music) And then my kids. I have a daughter who's 25
and a son who's 23.
For me, a very personal source of inspiration.
April came into our lives when Tamar and April were students in high school.
He introduced us because she needed a place to live.
But very quickly, April became a family member,
ended up going to university and got her master's degree,
and now she supports young people as a social worker.
And that's inspirational.
(Uplifting music) But I've been with the department for 13 years.
I've worked in community for over ten years
and it wasn't my ambition to be a department director.
I was really just focused on what is the work and how can we make
improvements.
And so I really had to think about how do I transition?
And I will faithfully conduct myself.
- As the director of the Human Services Department. - As the director of the Human Services Department.
At the swearing in, I wore a hanbok,
which is a traditional Korean garment.
My family got that to me as a gift. That gave me a little bit of courage
to kind of be myself,
be bold, and to say, Let's go.