Council - Executive Director

The mission of Opportunity Council is to help people improve their lives through education, support, and direct assistance while advocating for just and equitable communities.

At Opportunity Council, our values guide everything we do. Collaboration, respect, integrity, passion, and learning shape how we show up for each other and for our community. We’re also committed to weaving our values into every part of our work, from the help we offer in the community to the kind of workplace we create for our staff.

We are one agency in a nationwide network of Community Action Agencies, created in 1965 to combat poverty in partnership with others. We believe Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

For over 60 years, Opportunity Council (OC) has worked across Northwest Washington to build more just and equitable communities through service, investment, and collaboration. Headquartered in Bellingham, WA, OC is a private, nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Whatcom, Island, and San Juan Counties as its primary region. Through Community Resource Centers in Bellingham, East Whatcom county, and Oak Harbor, we connect people to programs and resources that support stability and opportunity.

In addition, OC extends select services to other counties and statewide.

By matching available homes with the people who need them; managing supportive housing programs; working with landlords and property management firms; and weatherizing, repairing and building housing, we work toward our goal of housing stability for everyone.

With quality early childhood programs that set the foundation for healthy brain development; a commitment to supporting and investing in childcare providers; and family support services that begin with pregnancy, we make sure children get the start in life they deserve.

When times are tough, we can help qualifying individuals and families in need make ends meet by helping with utility bills, paying rent, food, childcare, school supplies and more.

Through employment support, financial literacy classes and more, people gain the tools they need to build the lives they’ve dreamed of.

Reducing the impacts of climate change and making sure everyone has access to healthcare, nutritious food, and a safe and healthy home are all key to a vibrant, thriving community.

Opportunity Council is headquartered in the vibrant community of Bellingham, Washington. Bellingham, with its population of 99,000, marries local industry with the dynamic atmosphere of a college town. The city is adorned with breathtaking landscapes, offering a wide variety of outdoor activities, and is home to esteemed institutions like Western Washington University. Additionally, its strategic location near the Alaska Ferry, the Canadian border, majestic Mount Baker, and the serene Salish Sea adds to its allure.

Whatcom County offers a temperate climate and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, including skiing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and paddle boarding. It is also home to a growing and increasingly diverse population, with strong schools and family resources that make it a welcoming place to put down roots.

The rural landscape outside of Bellingham is punctuated by fertile farmlands and bustling farmers markets, where local produce finds its way onto restaurant menus and into the hands of farm-to-table enthusiasts. The Bellingham…