SEATTLE (April 3, 2023) – The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) has announced the selection and 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, carries more than six years of experience serving economically vulnerable communities through various roles within the Urban League’s Seattle affiliate.
In 2017, she began her tenure as the organization’s receptionist after graduating from Washington State University. From there, and with the support of the organization’s leadership team, Manus began to focus on her passion for advocacy and dismantling both political and economic barriers facing those most vulnerable in the greater Seattle community.
Over the next six years Manus created a variety of new processes to advance the Urban League’s Housing department and civic engagement efforts. Through this work, 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 of.
“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.”
In her new role 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 be serving 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 her former conception, Community Engagement.
“I’m thankful to the Urban League because being a part of this team and the work we do to uplift our community day-in and day-out has helped raise me to become the Maya you see today,” says Manus, “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. I am excited and ready to continue serving my community at such an amazing organization.”
About the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle:
With a vision of equity for all, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) empowers those we serve by providing programming and services designed to support and encourage self- sufficiency in all aspects of life. Our five areas of focus include advocacy & civic engagement, education, housing, public health and workforce development.
