LIHI Board member Pearl Leung with King County Council Chair Larry Gossett (center) and Phil Fujii of Vulcan (Photos by Dave Greer)

LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee with Congressman Jim McDermott at LIHI’s annual gala

The Low Income Housing Institute celebrated 20 years of providing housing and services to the community with its 9th annual gala and auction at the Hyatt at Olive 8 in Seattle on Oct. 28.

During the past two years, LIHI staff have developed more than 3,600 units stretching across six counties. Their portfolio includes 1,845 units housing over 3,871 people, and 1,332 units house previously homeless households. (end)

Sharon Lee with Larry Gossett

Exterior of Gossett Place

The grand opening celebration for the Low Income Housing Institute’s (LIHI) Gossett Place took place at its location in the University District (4719 12th Ave. N.E.).

Gossett Place is named in honor of King County Council chair and human rights champion Larry Gossett. Named as one of the most influential graduates of the University of Washington, Gossett has worked tirelessly for the rights of people of color and disenfranchised populations.

Speakers included King County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Mike McGinn, House Speaker Frank Chopp, United Way CEO Jon Fine, Bob Santos, LIHI Board President Melinda Nichols, LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee, Enterprise VP MA Leonard, and others. (end)

At the renaming ceremony, back: School Board Director Steve Sundquist (left), School Board Director Harium Martin–Morris. Front, from left: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Seattle School Board Director Betty Patu, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, real estate investor Ken Alhadeff, and Seattle Public Schools Facilities Communications Director Tom Redman

Brighton Elementary School was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School at a renaming ceremony held at the school. The ceremony was attended by 400 people, including students. Read the full story

At a memorial for Roberto Maestas on Sept. 29, from left: Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, Rep. Phyllis Kenney, King County Executive Dow Constantine, community activist Bob Santos, Seattle Councilmember Larry Gossett, and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

Roberto Maestas, founder of the El Centro de la Raza, died last week. If anyone would ask me to name one Hispanic leader, Maestas would be the first to come to mind, and not because we both had received awards from the University of Washington on different occasions. Read the full story

The four amigos, from left: Bob Santos, Larry Gossett, the late Bernie Whitebear’s brother Lawney Reyes (standing in for Whitebear), and Roberto Maestas

The YMCA of Greater Seattle recognized four individuals with the YMCA A.K. Guy Award. Larry Gossett, Roberto Maestas, Bob Santos, and the late Bernie Whitebear were honored at the 26th Anniversary YMCA A.K. Guy Award Luncheon at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. Read the full story