Venalin joined the Forum in October 2022. She comes to us with extensive experience in youth development as she served as a Site Director with Tacoma Public Schools and Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS) as part of the Partnership for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative, a national research project with the Wallace Foundation, and various roles at BGCSPS. She then moved on to serve as Program Manager for Greentrike, Tacoma’s first OST (Out of School Time) intermediary that developed from all the collaboration and partnership work with PSELI. Venalin is known for her commitment to centering and building relationships, energy, and enthusiasm for supporting equitable and culturally relevant professional development around SEL, and her fun loving, creative spirit.

Venalin is based in Tacoma, Washington, just south of Seattle. She loves all things tabletop, arts, and finding the best local food tours wherever her travels take her.