The League of Women Voters-Kitsap Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee is sponsoring a webinar entitled Deconstruct Barriers for Full Participation of Diverse Communities. We will have representatives from the Voices of Pacific Island Nations, the Filipino American community, and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community. Our guests will speak about what brought them to their current communities, the barriers that keep them from fully participating in our country and/or county, and what has helped them overcome some of these barriers to be included in their current community.
Deconstruct Barriers for Full Participation of Diverse Communities Webinar
Friday, January 22, 2021, 4pm
Short Bios Submitted by the Speakers
Leslie Daugs is a first generation Filipino American who is in her fourth term serving on the Bremerton City Council. Leslie is known for being very outspoken and a tireless advocate for working families, minority rights, and progressive civic empowerment.
In addition to her service as an elected official, Leslie is a past president of the Bremerton Chapter of SEIU Local 925, a shop steward, bargaining negotiating team, political member organizer, and past member of the state executive board.
Leslie, and her husband Daryl, have three grown children and two grandchildren. They have also been foster parents to 54 children.
Lilly Kodama is on the board of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community and the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association. She was born on Bainbridge Island in the house that her grandfather originally owned, then her parents, and now by Lilly. Her family was part of the group of people of Japanese ancestry on Bainbridge who were exiled during WWII by Presidential Executive Order 9066 after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. She was 7 years old and the oldest child of 4.
Patrick J. Woo-Ching was born in the U.S. Territory of American Samoa. He served four years of active duty and eight year in the reserves with the U.S. Military. Patrick is currently a juvenile corrections supervisor with the King County Dept. of Adult and Juvenile.
Patrick is also the interim director and one of the co-founders of Voices of Pacific Islander Nations (VOPIN). VOPIN is an exempt nonprofit that serves the Pacific Island community of Kitsap County. VOPIN’s long-term objective is to extend services to their communities of the region.