Q&A with our new Program Coordinator, Tia Nettles

Welcome to our new program coordinator, Tia Nettles! Read our Q&A with Tia below to find out what community means to her and what excites her about her new role at Northwest Health Foundation.

Q. What does community mean to you, and what communities do you consider yourself a part of?

Community to me means participating. It means picking my friends up from the airport, sending a quick check-in text and asking if they need me to grab groceries if they’re sick. As a Black queer woman at the intersection of various overlapping identities, it’s so important for me to show up for the Black and queer community.

Q. What excites you about your new role at NWHF? Is there a particular program you’re interested in learning more about?

I am really excited to participate in work that supports our grantees in doing the great work they’re doing. It fills my cup to know that, in my own way, I can contribute. Our Advancing Disability Justice program is the most exciting for me in particular. As a “neurospicy” person, I’m looking forward to learning more and supporting work that is intentional not just about meeting accessibility needs, but also about influencing policy that enriches the lives of disabled communities.

Q. What drives you to work in the nonprofit field, and philanthropy in particular?

My identities and the folks in my communities are what push me forward in this field. I ultimately want to be part of making systemic changes that make the world safer for people who look like me.

Q. What is something you love about your community, and what is something you’d like to see change?

I love my community’s joy and our ability to turn lemons into lemonade. I love seeing our creativity, brilliance, and how that energy radiates, flows and warms everything it touches.

A big change I would like to see is change in the form of policies that directly impact the health and livelihood of folks in my community. To me that looks like helping create systems that honor their dignity, safety and long-term well-being. 

Q. What brings you joy?

Phone calls with my best friends and family back home, a sunny fall walk at Laurelhurst Park, and trying out a new craft or video game. These days, it’s the small things that really ground me and remind me to center joy where I can.