The Harry Bridges Center is thrilled to announce that Yasmin Ahmed, the Bridges Center's Assistant Director Student and Community Engagement, is a recipient of the University of Washington's Together We Will Award. The honor recognizes UW staff who have gone above and beyond in responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the university.

One of only twenty awardees selected out of 354 nominations, Ahmed was chosen for their work as an advisor developing Labor Studies programs, including their collaborations with undergraduate students and community members to develop the Seattle COVID-19 Oral History Project and the Building a Movement (BAM) Labor Internship. Under Ahmed's leadership, Labor Studies programs - from the Labor Studies Minor to scholarships and awards - are supporting more students than ever.

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO's Director of Racial and Gender Justice, Kasi Marita Perreira, is also a recent undergraduate student and Labor Studies Minor who was advised by Ahmed. Perreira writes:

As a returning student to UW, I was uncertain about my ability to succeed and finish my degree, particularly during a global pandemic. Yasmin gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed to believe in myself. They checked in with me on my goals, identified opportunities to complete additional minors that reflected my social justice work professionally, and supported me reaching my ultimate goal of graduation after 20 years! I could not have done it without their support and guidance, it truly made a difference in my experience at UW and I will forever be grateful for their leadership.

In connecting UW students with off-campus organizations, both the internship and the oral history project build upon the impactful work Ahmed has done and continues to do with the community beyond the University of Washington. Eunice How, a staff member of UNITE HERE Local 8 and president of the Seattle chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, has this to say about Ahmed’s work:

Yasmin’s thoughtfulness, creativity, and commitment to social and racial justice has positively impacted the members of UNITE HERE 8 and APALA Seattle. In this COVID crisis, when race and class disparities are exacerbated and marginalized workers are disproportionately impacted, Yasmin worked to ensure our diverse membership was supported through the Labor Center’s programs. Our membership is majority immigrants, people of color, and women. The way Yasmin leads their programs meant we were able to get a BAM intern who was a multilingual woman of color and in the oral history project, our APIA worker voices were front-and-center when historically we are left out.

Please join the Harry Bridges Center in congratulating Yasmin Ahmed on this well-deserved honor!