Tacoma open house: Closer to college life

We’re already feeling more at home in Tacoma! To commemorate the opening of our new regional headquarters on the campus of the University of Puget Sound, we recently held an Open House for staff, donors, partners, alumni and board members to socialize and help fuel our fire for advancing college access.

Joined by Tacoma Public Schools staff, the University of Puget Sound’s president Isiaah Crawford welcomed CSF, remarking on our organizations’ lasting impact on students, families and the Tacoma community at-large. A former first-generation college student himself, President Crawford feels a personal connection with CSF’s mission, and provided acknowledgement to “the mentors who would encourage me, the ideas that would influence me, the ways in which my time in college would change my perspective…change my life…and in turn, provide me with the opportunity to help change the lives of others.”  

CSF CEO James Dorsey expressed excitement and gratitude for deepening CSF’s partnership with the University of Puget Sound, as CSF expands its college program to serve 5x more college students in Washington state this year.  

Having CSF staff located directly on college campuses has many advantages. First and foremost, it puts our advisors and coaches in a setting where they can immediately connect with students, allowing them to meet and serve them within their campus environment. As part of the campus, CSF can be part of the community, and thus be more accessible.  

A campus-based office, like CSF’s new home within UPS, allows our staff to access other campus facilities for team meetings, special events and more. It allows us to strengthen relationships with university staff. Students feel like the CSF office is an extension of their home just as it is an extension of the supports they had as middle school and high school students. 

Our close community of passionate staff and supporters strengthens us, and we look forward to upholding our mission throughout all of Tacoma.  

Special thanks to: Amanda Scott Thomas, TPS – Director, Community Partnership; Diana Dimmer, Regional Board Chair/National Board Member; Tafona Ervin, Executive Director, Foundation for Tacoma Students; Nicholas Parks, Assistant Principal, Mt. Tahoma; Jenee James, 2001 Clover Park CSF alum. CSF would also like to give a big thanks to the University of Puget Sound and Stefana Walker for her support with setup and helping coordinate our successful open house. We’re optimistic about our future together and feel very fortunate to have UPS as a partner.