African Community Housing & Development (ACHD)

Yesterday, I had the incredible honor of receiving the Washington Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) 2025 Economic Development Advocate of the Year Award. This recognition is deeply meaningful to me, as it reflects the work, passion, and commitment our entire team has dedicated to advancing economic development across Washington State. ??? At African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) we believe in building thriving, equitable communities—ones where opportunity is accessible to all. This award isn’t just a milestone for me; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication to economic empowerment. ??? ?? In my acceptance speech, I had the opportunity to reflect on my journey, the lessons learned along the way, and my vision for the future of AHCD. I invite you to watch and join me in shaping a more inclusive and prosperous tomorrow. ??? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g6yXa5Su #EconomicDevelopment #Leadership #CommunityImpact #AHCD #WEDA

#EmployeeHighlight: Ethiopia Alemneh: Leading with Service for 26 Years & Counting ?? For over two decades, Ethiopia Alemneh has dedicated her life to empowering African Diaspora immigrant and refugee families in the Greater King County area. As ACHD’s Director of Housing & Human Services, she leads with heart, expanding critical programs that provide housing, employment, and wellness support. Her leadership is personal. Just last month, she helped Tiruwork, a hardworking mother juggling multiple jobs, finally secure a home after years of setbacks. When complications with her applications prevented approval for housing two separate times, Tiruwork turned to Ethiopia—who, through her advocacy, helped make homeownership a reality for her client. ??? Ethiopia’s own journey is one of resilience. She arrived in the U.S. with only a suitcase and $100, determined to claim her independence and uplift others. From entry-level nonprofit work to leading 28 housing and social service programs, her story is proof that servant leadership creates lasting change. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Ethiopia and all the women who fight for equity, opportunity, and community every day. ?????? #WomensHistoryMonth #ACHD #ServantLeadership #CommunityImpact #WomenWhoLead #Community #Seattle #SeaTac

#EmployeeHighlight: Celebrating Zzaj Collins, Our 40 Under 40 Honoree! We are thrilled to announce that Zzaj Collins, our Chief Operating Officer (COO), has been named a 40 Under 40 honoree! This well-deserved recognition highlights her extraordinary leadership, dedication to community service, and unwavering commitment to empowering the African Diaspora immigrant and refugee communities in the Greater King County Area. Zzaj is one of the visionary women leading ACHD, where she plays an instrumental role in bridging cultural divides and addressing systemic challenges faced by the communities we serve. Since joining in spring 2024, she has transformed internal operations, ensuring smoother collaboration across departments while driving initiatives that uplift the community. Her journey—from the Los Angeles fashion industry to nonprofit leadership—reflects her deep-rooted values of service, equity, and empowerment. As COO, she ensures every resource, network, and educational opportunity she develops is accessible and meaningful to those who need it most. We are incredibly proud to work under her leadership and excited to see the continued impact she will make. Congratulations, Zzaj, on this incredible honor! ?? #ACHD #40Under40 #Leadership #Community #NonprofitLeadership

?? Hot off the press! ?? The latest ACHD Monthly Newsletter is here! ???? This month, we’re sharing exciting updates on community initiatives that empower the African Diaspora in housing, education, and economic development. Plus, don’t miss upcoming events—from workshops to cultural celebrations—designed to connect and uplift. And be sure to check out our resource highlights, featuring essential tools and services to support personal growth and community well-being. Stay informed, stay engaged, and let’s continue building a stronger, more connected community! ?????? ?? Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gkqEttVa #ACHD?#Community?#NonProfit?#news?#Newsletter?#CommunityEmpowerment?#AfricanDiaspora?#StayInformed?#TogetherWeThrive?#Read?#Housing?#SocialServices?#EconomicDevelopment?#RealEstate

Last Friday, Rocky Fong gave a dazzling presentation to members of our community, creating a lasting impact of financial knowledge for the family unit as a whole. Role-modeling smart money-making moves for your children plants the seed for future financial success and generational wealth. Empowering children with goal-setting, early earning, and money management skills fosters a strong foundation for their financial future. A huge thank you to Rocky for his support and dedication to equipping families with the tools they need to thrive financially. Your insights and commitment make a true difference! #FinancialLiteracy #GenerationalWealth #CommunitySupport

We’re excited to highlight our partnership with African Community Housing & Development (ACHD)! This incredible organization is dedicated to empowering African Diaspora immigrants, refugees, and their descendants in the Greater Seattle Area. Through culturally rooted programs in health, housing stability, economic development, legal support, resource navigation, holistic education, and access to cultural arts, they create lasting impact. We are grateful to collaborate with them in supporting families experiencing diaper need, ensuring that every child has the essentials to thrive. Learn more at https://www.achdo.org.

As we officially close out 2024, we reflect with pride on how ACHD has lived out its mission and vision, empowering the African Diaspora community through health and housing stability, economic development, cultural celebration, and so much more. Our organization and team have taken on huge responsibilities and experienced remarkable growth since our inception in 2018. In 2024, we’ve achieved some of our greatest milestones yet. Check out our end-of-year newsletter to see the goals we’ve crushed so far and how we’re still aiming for the sky in 2025: https://lnkd.in/gdMfFXeN Want to stay informed? Sign up for our monthly newsletter, in which we detail the significant work our employees take on and the accomplishments they make every day:? https://lnkd.in/gGkFtd4C

As we leave 2024 behind, the memory of President Jimmy Carter will continue to endure in the years ahead.

A huge thank you to the South Seattle Emerald for publishing this article about our Generational Wealth Small Business Conference, a significant event aimed at empowering small-business owners from Seattle's immigrant and refugee communities. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ghkfQGvv This article highlights how the conference offered valuable insights on building generational wealth, networking opportunities, and strategies to overcome the unique challenges faced by BIPOC and immigrant entrepreneurs. Attendees discussed the importance of collaboration, shared experiences, and ways to address economic inequality. The event underscored ACHD’s continued commitment to closing the wealth gap and fostering long-term prosperity within these communities. We’re grateful for the platform to share the important work ACHD is doing to uplift small business owners from immigrant and refugee communities in Seattle. We’re excited to continue the conversation and work toward a more equitable future for all. ??? Lauren Danielle Rosenthal ?? Gael Gallegos #GenerationalWealth #SmallBusiness #CommunityEmpowerment #EconomicEquity #BIPOC #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs #ACHD #SouthSeattleEmerald

Our Delridge Winter Farmers Market in West Seattle was a remarkable success with over 40 vendors and live music, making it our largest market yet. Held on Saturday, Dec. 14th, at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood, attendees enjoyed fresh produce, hot food, baked goods, roasted coffee, and more, while supporting local small businesses. This event is a testament to the mission of ACHD--we are committed to empowering our community by supporting small businesses. It’s an honor to contribute to this important work. Thank you to everyone who participated! While this was the last market of the year, we’re looking forward to continuing our efforts in May 2025. Stay tuned for updates! #DelridgeWinterMarket #CommunityImpact #SmallBusinessSupport #NonProfitWork #LocalVendors #WestSeattle #AfricanCommunityHousing #FarmersMarket