Tamika Washington

Tamika Washington serves as a Lead Community Advocate in Houston, Texas, where she has worked for over 6 years connecting residents to critical resources such as utility assistance through Baker Ripley, medical resources, rent assistance, clothing, food, and healthcare connections, while also organizing backpack events for youth. She earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from the University of Houston Downtown in 2018 and is an ordained minister who leads her own non-profit organization, Restore Community Service, and participates in church missions including sponsorships in Uganda. Washington attributes her professional success to her upbringing and lifelong advocacy for children and families, noting that she strives to serve others with the respect and compassion she would want to receive, while managing her time effectively and valuing people for who they are. She advises young women entering the field to remain passionate, stay boots on the ground in the community, connect with mentors, and treat others as they would want to be treated themselves. Among the challenges in her field, she highlights the difficulty of securing sufficient funding for financial resources like rental assistance post-COVID, though medical and food resources are more accessible.