Kamaia Bland is a lifelong Seattle resident and a devoted mother to her four-year-old daughter, who she loves more than anything. She started at Byrd Barr Place in October 2024 as a receptionist, and was recently promoted as a Community Connector.
As Kamaia settles into her new role, we sat down with her to discuss her favorite parts about the job, her vision, and her personal experiences that have helped guide her journey to Byrd Barr Place.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your upbringing?
I grew up here in the Central District, born and raised. My dad was in and out of the prison system growing up, so my mom was a single parent, which was hard to deal with. My siblings and I grew up moving everywhere and constantly changing schools, which made me pretty used to inconsistency. We also grew up homeless, and that’s why we were moving all over the place—staying with other people, couchsurfing. I grew up knowing that I didn’t want to live like that.
So working at Byrd Barr Place, it’s more relatable. Instead of just being knowledgeable, I’ve actually lived that life.
What drew you to work with Byrd Barr Place?
When I first visited Byrd Barr Place, I was looking for resources. Maybe two weeks later, I was searching for jobs and came across the receptionist position, and I thought, “Oh my gosh, that’s perfect.”
My daughter and I were homeless at the time and staying with my mom, so I felt this job was a match made in heaven. I knew I could not only get into the position to learn about other resources, but also help me and my daughter get our own space. Then, six months into my receptionist position, I got promoted to a Community Connector, which was super exciting.
The part that I was most excited about was just being able to connect with the community more. Being able to sit down, speak to people, and get them what they need—it feels like a full circle moment because I had to go through the same experience during my first three months at the organization.
My upbringing is the reason why I’m here. I didn’t know where I needed to be, or where I wanted to be, but I feel like I landed in the perfect place.
What is the community connector role? How does it impact the community?
Mainly, it’s exactly what it’s called—connecting the community with resources. I help clients fill out their applications, and make sure they have access to the resources they need by connecting them to another case worker or program. We also make sure that, if we have in-house resources, that’s the first thing that we get them.
We also do learning circles with other community connectors from local food banks. We get together about once a month so we’re all on the same page, sharing updates about our services, diaper boutiques, and more.
Can you share a success story that demonstrates a time when a client was grateful for your support and/or made an impact on their everyday life?
I had a family with vouchers for housing, but not enough for their security deposit. I was able to get them some cash assistance and they moved into their apartments, but the condition of the place was so bad. We were able to get in contact with the tenants union and they rehoused them. That was during my first month in the Community Connector role where I was able to make that happen.
What drives or inspires you to do the work you do?
It’s kind of like a mission—I want to be able to help as many people as I can. Being able to provide the consistency I didn’t have as a kid is stuck in my mind. I have a four-year-old, so I’m just trying to create a big consistency bubble and just to show my baby that it’s possible.
What is your favorite part about this job?
Probably the research. When I respond to inquiries—every time I read an email or speak to a client, I really sit down and look into what they need specifically. I find out things I never knew, and I get to speak to people who are super knowledgeable about available community resources.
Do you have any role models or sources of inspiration?
My mom. She never stopped, she never got tired, she was always focused on her kids. I think that’s where I get it from. The first thing I think about is always my baby—and my mom has four of us, and she was also a teacher! So, she raised a lot of kids and contributed to a lot of kids’ lives.
Outside of work, what is something you do that brings you joy?
I like to go to my mom’s. I’ll go over there after work and I’ll just sit down, and we just talk, and maybe have a drink or two. We just enjoy each other’s company.
