Last month, Plymouth Housing staff gathered to celebrate the 2022-2023 Mission Awards, our annual ceremony to recognize exceptional staff who have gone above and beyond in their work at Plymouth. This year’s recipients were nominated by their peers for their commitment to our mission and demonstration of Plymouth’s values. The Mission Awards are not only an opportunity to recognize some special people at our organization, but a time to pause and reflect on the collective public service our staff perform on a daily basis—and to appreciate one another. Considering that Plymouth Housing has grown almost 40% in the last year, the celebration and breakfast in Belltown offered a chance for colleagues from across the organization to catch up and build deeper connections.
Left to right: Darrius Cox, Joe Murillo, Lily Niland, Parker Travis, Byram Simpson, and Karen Lee. Not Pictured: Mickey Beatima
This year’s Mission Award winners included:
Byram Simpson, Housing Case Manager, Almquist Place
“They empower others to speak out for what they believe in, creating a safe and inclusive community everywhere they go. Byram exemplifies what it means to be a leader with everything they do and is always the first to speak up for those who need it.”
Darrius Cox, Housing Case Manager, Simons Senior Apartments
“They ensure that they know each resident’s personality, needs, and likes to create a safe and welcoming environment. They treat each resident with tremendous respect and compassion, allowing residents to be themselves while also encouraging residents to be the best versions of themselves.”
Joseph Murillo, Residential Specialist, Scargo-Lewiston Apartments
“Joe is like the heartbeat of the Scargo-Lewiston. … A reminder to breathe, an offer to go grab a coffee on a rough morning, the right song pulled up on YouTube to capture the mood of the day—Joe will do whatever it takes to show you that he’s there for you.”
Lily Niland, Senior Rental Office Facilitator
“Described as the axel the Rental Office turns on, Lily’s tracking abilities and attention to detail help efficiently move residents into buildings. She is there to uplift the team and provide a peaceful and calm environment when situations turn.”
Mickey Beatima, Grants Administrator
“He consistently advocates for equity in housing through his work in data regarding racial equity. He has supported the process of using new data tools and expanding data use at Plymouth. … He was instrumental in writing and establishing our current holiday policy which allows staff to take holidays according to each person’s personal value and belief.”
Parker Travis, Senior Payroll Accountant
“He shows up every day ready to advocate for the well-being of employees by ensuring finance is on top of pay and will be the first to jump in and fix any problems that arise. Parker exemplifies our values by leading with empathy and compassion. This year has been filled with a lot of change and Parker has demonstrated trust every step of the way by keeping the well-being of employees in mind.
Plymouth also recognizes one team or department for their collective impact throughout the organization. The 2022-2023 Team Mission Award was presented by the Cultural Events Committee (CEC)!
The CEC works to foster thriving communities at our residential properties and by creating meaningful connections between Plymouth and other decolonizing efforts in the community. The formation and work of the CEC marked an important turning point for Plymouth and our culture. In the wake of a deadly pandemic which negatively impacted our ability to serve our residents and create healthy, thriving communities, the CEC reimagined celebrations for 2022 and 2023 and in doing so helped revive our culture.
Over the past year this team has planned events and programming recognizing Black History Month, AANHPI Heritage Month, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, Indigenous People’s Day, and Native American Heritage Month. The celebrations have included door-to-door meal distribution, food trucks, and tickets to events in the community like the Wing Luke Museum and the Seattle Mariners. The committee and its collaborators work hard to center the lived experiences of the cultural legacies being recognized and ensure that staff and residents engage with the culture in a meaningful way.
Thank you to our Mission Award recipients, the Cultural Events Committee, and everyone who helped make this event possible.