By Aneesa Grant, The Seattle Medium
On Monday, The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) announced the appointment of former ULMS Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement, Maya Manus, J.D., as the organization’s new Chief Impact Officer.
Manus, a Tacoma native and recent Juris Doctorate graduate from Seattle University’s School of Law, began her tenure with the organization in 2017 as the receptionist. Since that time, she advanced to focus on her passion for advocacy and dismantling both political and economic barriers facing vulnerable communities in the greater Seattle area.
As Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement, Manus created a variety of new processes to advance the Urban League’s Housing department and civic engagement efforts. She led the King County Make Black Count Coalition to help ensure Black people were adequately counted in the 2020 Census, contributing to Washington state having the second-highest Census response rate that year. Manus also led the organization’s efforts to register new and first-time voters, raising the agency’s former yearly average of 10 new registered voters to over 100 new registered voters per year.
In 2021, Manus laid the formal infrastructure for a brand-new Community Engagement department, to which she was appointed Director.
“Empowering young people within our organization to follow their dreams is one of the keys to our success and the future success of our community,” says ULMS President & CEO, Michelle Merriweather. “From the start, Maya has demonstrated the compassion, tenacity, and unwavering commitment necessary to empowering those we serve at every step in her journey. I am honored to watch her continue to grow and evolve into the trailblazing powerhouse and community leader she was born to be.”
As Chief Impact Officer, Manus will be responsible for monitoring and expanding the internal and external impact of the services and programming provided by the Urban League to the community. This includes providing strategic leadership, management, and guidance on the organization’s strategic initiatives and impact efforts through grantmaking, community engagement, programs, and donor engagement efforts.
In addition, Manus will also be working closely with the Urban League’s Board of Directors, currently led by Uplift Northwest Director, Gina Hall, to create strategies and opportunities for innovation, broader community investment, and impact on behalf of the organization as a whole.
“Maya is an outstanding force within the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle family who will not only thrive but exceed the responsibilities and expectations bestowed upon her in this role,” says Hall. “Her contributions to the organization have been invaluable, and we look forward to seeing Maya deepen her commitment to the Urban League’s vision of equity for all in the years to come.”
Manus will serve alongside the Urban League’s C-Suite executive team, including the President & CEO, Michelle Merriweather, and Chief Finance Officer, Mansour Camara. She will also oversee the organization’s impact-focused departments, including Fund Development, Communication & External Affairs, and Community Engagement.
“I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to wake up every day and work towards creating and expanding Black joy in the Pacific Northwest,” says Manus. “I am excited and ready to continue serving my community at such an amazing organization.”
