With the incredible support of our board, we are thrilled to welcome Rodney Robinson as Upower’s new Executive Director.
Rodney brings more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of youth development, housing, and social justice, with leadership roles at well-known organizations throughout Seattle and Tacoma. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director and Interim Executive Director at A Way Home Washington, providing strategic oversight of operations and guiding the agency through its closure with a focus on equity and mission alignment.
Prior to this role, Rodney was Executive Director at the Campaign to End Youth Homelessness in Pierce County, where he invited Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations into critical conversations about ending youth homelessness.
He also served as Regional Director of Educational Programs at Treehouse, where he facilitated contractual partnerships with nine new school districts across Washington to co-locate case management staff to work directly with youth in the foster care system, and he created regional coalitions for foster care support programs to collaborate, share learning experiences, and document best practices.
Rodney envisions Upower continuing to provide exceptional service to youth and partners, while exploring opportunities to expand into other communities and deepen its footprint in King County. Guided by the belief that everyone is deserving of dignity, he also carries the principle that “everyone can complain, but who is willing to help change the situation.”
Rodney was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and earned his B.A. in Communication from Southern University. He is a proud dad to a son and a daughter, often behind the wheel of the “Dad taxi.” In his free time, he enjoys riding motorcycles, reading books, and going to the movies.
