Rita
Executive Director
Rita is our fearless leader here at SYM. You can find her in the office, in Drop-In, running errands for our many programs, catching up with clients and making pots of coffee throughout the day to keep everyone going. She loves coffee, and her go-to order is a simple and strong 2 shots of espresso. She loves working with the clients and having them feel deeply known by herself and her staff. She enjoys walking around Green Lake and isn’t fazed by a classic Seattle rain.
Dan
DI Staff/part-time site supervisor
Daniel is a true PNW dude. You can find him on walking or biking trails in the mountains, eating Tacos Chukis in Capitol Hill, or showcasing his artistic side with his focus on street art. Before joining SYM staff he designed and painted the mural in Drop-in. Stop by and check out Dan’s work!
Mike
Di staff/ ACting Chaplain
Mike has a heart passionate about the powerful pursuit of individuals as being crucial to any hope of recovery and growth in life. He has a discipleship-oriented spirit that comes from his own experiences of people pursuing him in Jesus’ name. He’s a hard-core music style lover and can be found at skateparks hangin with his homies. He, like all of us on SYM’s staff, is a big fan of coffee and especially enjoys being at Poindexter. Another U District favorite of his is Cedars of Lebanon.
Antonio
Drop-In coordinator
Antonio finds enjoyment in the little things of life. He is passionate about the power of community and connection, especially for youth who are going through a tough time, as he has experienced his own struggles as a kid. Antonio hopes to inspire young people to seek out communities that resonate with their interest, values, or goals, through the community of SYM.
Alyssa
Operations assistant/program coordinator of the breakfast program
Alyssa is a class of 2024 grad from the University of Washington, where she acquired her BA in Spanish and a minor in Dance. She is passionate about social services and using language and other forms of communication as ways to foster connection between people. She enjoys sitting on the Ave and drinking a coffee. You can find her most frequently in the SYM offices, doing admin work, designing social media posts, and planning fundraisers!
Grace
Case manager/program coordinator of coffee run
Grace is also a class of 2024 grad from the University of Washington, where she earned her BA in Public Health-Global Health with a minor in Data Science. She interned with SYM for two quarters during her fourth year of university where she exuded compassion, dedication, and proactive effort and is now joining our team as a staff member! She loves spending time at Cafe Allegro and looking for new books to read at Magus Books. She is looking forward to stepping into her staff role here.
Interns
Will
UCBI Program intern
Will is studying Communication at UW with a focus on how social media shapes storytelling and its role in advocacy and building community and is minoring in Informatics. He cares deeply about authenticity, connection, and meeting people where they’re at, which drives his passion for understanding others’ experiences. At SYM, he wants to use his communication skills to help create a supportive space for young people in vulnerable situations here in the U-District and to help amplify their voices in ways that make them feel seen and valued. When he’s not working or in class, you’ll find him running, playing guitar, or editing videos—creative outlets that keep him grounded. He also loves being part of a book club, where he gets to connect with others over meaningful discussions. And when he needs a quiet spot to recharge or spend time with friends, Tea Republik on the Ave is his go-to, specifically for a pot of peppermint tea.
Jack
Program intern
Jack came to us as a volunteer about a year ago and served on Coffee Run. He then became a part time Coffee Run Program Coordinator in the summer. He is now back with us at SYM as a program intern, working mostly in the Breakfast Program and Drop-In! He is a third year UW student studying Applied Computational Mathematical Sciences (Scientific Computing and Numerical Algorithms). He originally heard of SYM through his mom, who used to be an SYM staff member! He hopes to have a positive impact in the community surrounding/within SYM. We are so grateful to have him back!