That's So Auburn!

Hello and welcome to episode four of our third season of That's So Auburn! I'm Nancy Backus, Mayor of the City of Auburn, and today I'm joined by two guests, Interim Events Supervisor Kristy Pachciarz and Events Coordinator Amanda Valdez! They're the brainpower behind many of our events organized by our Parks, Arts and Recreation department, such as Veterans Parade, Petpalooza, KidsDay, Lighted Santa Parade and of course, the Auburn Farmers Market. Kristy has been with the City of Auburn since 2006. It wasn't long after she joined our ranks that she created Petpalooza, one of the premiere pet-related events in South King County, let alone the State of Washington. She's also had a hand in creating half a dozen others, like Daddy Daughter Date Night and Peter Cotton Trail. She organizes the Veterans Parade each and every year, alongside a handful of other major events, so she's quite busy just about every day of the year. Amanda joined the City of Auburn in 2015 and since becoming a coordinator in 2016, has overseen the Auburn Farmers Market each and every summer. She's helped shepherd the market into a premiere shopping experience for our Auburn residents and visitors, bringing fresh produce, craft-made items, delicious sweets and more to thousands of our patrons. She also oversees our Lighted Santa Parade, one of my favorite events of the year. I just love seeing all of the people march down to City Hall and stand in awe as our tree lighter flips the switch. Give us a listen and don't forget to like, share and subscribe!

Welcome to episode 3 of our third season of That's so Auburn! I'm joined today – again – by Green River College President Dr. Suzanne Johnson to talk higher education, new initiatives, the changing educational landscape, and so much more. Dr. Johnson joined Green River College in 2017 and in those 8 years, has been a major driving force in keeping higher education a backbone of the Auburn community. Under her stewardship, Green River College has thrived and continues to be one of the premiere community and technical colleges in the State of Washington. And might I add – it's my daughter and I's alma mater!

We're joined by Vonnie Mayer, the Executive Director of Valley Com 911, who brings nearly 40 years of experience in emergency communications and public safety. She began her career in the late 1980s as one of the first civilian dispatchers at the Angle Lake Fire Department and joined Valley Com 911 in 1993. Known for her people-driven leadership, Vonnie fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, and operational excellence.  As a mentor and advocate, Vonnie prioritizes employee growth, wellness, and resilience, firmly believing that people are the heart of public service. Her unwavering dedication has made her a respected and influential leader in the emergency communications industry. When she's not leading with purpose, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends on Lake Tapps.  There's so much more to Vonnie's journey, so get listening!

And our final episode in our council series is Councilmemers Tracy Taylor and Hanan Amer, two of our newest on the council.  Councilmember Taylor was a 6-time Emmy nominated and Edward R. Murrow TV/Radio Reporter in the Seattle Market for over two decades before transitioning to government work.  She now serves as a Communications Coordinator in the City of Kent, bringing her wealth of experience and community-driven spirit to her current role.  Tracy's dedication to the community is evident as the former Vice President and current board member of the Seattle Animal Foundation, volunteer and foster family with Hearts for Doxies Dog Rescue, and former City of Auburn Arts Commissioner. In addition to her community service, Tracy is a devoted bonus mom to her 18-year-old daughter and a wife to her husband, Kyle.  Councilmember Amer was born in Oklahoma and raised in Benghazi, Libya. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Benghazi University and works as an engineer at The Boeing Company. In 2008, Hanan married her husband, who has been a resident of Auburn since the 1990s. They raised their children in this beautiful community, both of whom graduated from Auburn High School. (Go Trojans).  Hanan graduated from the Community Emergency Response Team (or CERT) program in 2014 and is a proud lifelong member of Girl Scouts. In 2023, she was honored with her 35-year volunteer pin as a Girl Scout / Girl Guide and received the Girl Scout honor pin for outstanding service in Girl Scouts of Western Washington. She also earned the Bronze and Gold President's Service Volunteer Awards for her dedication to volunteering with the Girl Scouts and United Way of King County. 

Our council conversations continue with Councilmembers Yolanda Trout-Manuel and Kate Baldwin! Councilmember Trout-Manuel, who served as acting deputy mayor for a portion of last year, began serving on the council in January 2014 and currently represents Auburn on the Sound Cities Association (SCA) Domestic Violence Initiative Regional Task Force, SCA Children and Youth Advisory Board, National League of Cities (NLC) Hispanic Elected Officials (HELO), and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Councilmember Trout-Manuel also serves on the Auburn Prevention Coalition for the Auburn School District.  Councilmember Baldwin joined the City of Auburn in January 2022 and is in her first term. Councilmember Baldwin is a Senior Advisory Architect who consults on IT Service Management and ServiceNow software for major public and private organizations throughout the PNW and across the United States. She has worked for Milestone Technologies since 2012, going from one of the most junior consultants brought on staff, to becoming both the youngest and first female solution architect within the practice.   

We're back! For Season 3 of That's So Auburn! podcast we're interviewing all of the Auburn City Councilmembers, two at a time. Each episode will release a week a part, beginning with today's! Mayor Backus sat down with Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes and Councilmember Clinton Taylor to discuss the day to day, what got them into politics, and what keeps them going.  Deputy Mayor Rakes has lived in Auburn since 1960, when her family moved from Bellingham because her father got a job at the fire department. He retired there in 1980 as a captain. Rakes attended Auburn schools and graduated in 1973. She then enrolled in Mr. Lee's Beauty School and Knapp College of Business and took a few classes at Green River College. Cheryl has been serving the Auburn community as Executive Director of the Downtown Auburn Cooperative since 2019, a position she loves as she works directly with small businesses. During the December 16 council meeting, she was elected by her fellow councilmembers to a one-year term as Deputy Mayor. Cheryl has been on the council since early 2023.  Councilmember Clinton Taylor is the Founder and Executive Director of a financial education non-profit serving low-income BIPOC youth and young adults across Puget Sound. A U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran, Clinton holds degrees in Human Development, Organizational Leadership, and Non-Profit Leadership. He serves on the board of JumpStart Washington Coalition and the Washington State Partnership on Juvenile Justice, with prior roles in organizations like the Auburn Public School Foundation and Better People. As a 13-year Auburn resident, Clinton pastors a local non-denominational church and enjoys family time or cheering for the Los Angeles Rams and Oregon Ducks. Clinton joined the council in 2024.   

In this episode of That's So Auburn! Mayor Nancy Backus is joined by Police Commander Cristian Adams, who began his law enforcement career in Auburn in 2005 as a patrol officer. He now oversees Traffic, Records and our Community Response Team.  The world was much different when Cristian first applied to be an officer -- he was one of about 250 applicants. Today, Auburn and many communities in Washington and South King County, struggle to fill vacant positions.  Cristian talks about his law enforcement career, current objectives with ongoing community safety meetings across Auburn, and how his team is making a difference in Auburn.

Part 2 of our intern takeover, this time with the wonderful ladies who run the program! Mayor Nancy Backus is joined by City of Auburn Human Resource Department's Chardae Gillespie, Brianna Winters and Melissa Medisch, three women who love the work they do and the impact it has on the next generation of city workers. Listen to their spirited conversation about the NextStepAuburn program and how it impacts not only the interns themselves but the city as a whole.

City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Next Step Auburn interns (Angee) Pogosian, William Olson, and Emma Blanton, who started in June for the 10-week internship with the city. The quartet talks about their favorite moments (so far), lessons learned, and goals for the future! Part 2 will be released in August.

Miss Auburn Maddy Lindsay and Miss Auburn's Teen Maddie McCarthy join Mayor Nancy Backus in this very special episode of That's So Auburn! Learn about the Miss America organization, the amazing scholarship and community service opportunities, and how the Maddies plan to use their platform to change the world for the better. 

This episode is all about, well, Mayor Nancy Backus! For the past two years you've heard her interview a whole bevy of guests, from school district officials, emergency managers, homelessness service providers, Miss Auburn and more. And now, the tables are turned -- literally! She's in the hot seat, ready to answer the community's most burning questions. 

Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Anti-Homelessness Director Kent Hay, Outreach Worker Drew Conley, and community member Kyle Benson, who spent years homeless in Auburn. Kyle talks about his journey from heavy drug use to jail to now being clean and sober and in permanent housing. This is episode is also a follow-up to our very first episodes in season 1, titled "Addressing Homelessness in Auburn." There are three parts, please give them a listen!

Mayor Nancy Backus chats with Green River College's President Suzanne Johnson and Vice President for Advancement George Frasier about that gorgeous campus up on Lea Hill and the struggles it and many colleges across the country have faced since the pandemic began in 2020. The three chat about enrollment shortfalls, what's being done, and what's the plan for the future. Plus, and this is important, do they prefer Friends or the Office? Stay tuned to find out.  

In this month's episode of That's so Auburn! Mayor Nancy Backus and Communications Manager Jonathan Glover catch up with Debbie Christian, the Executive Director of the Auburn Food Bank. If you haven't heard the wonderful news, last month, an anonymous donor wrote the check of a lifetime, all by paying for the entire outstanding bill as the food bank moves to a new, much bigger and better building. The story is so wonderful it's ripped straight out of a Hallmark movie. But even better -- it's all true! The trio also discusses how Debbie got into this line of work and the amazing contributions she makes each and every day to Auburn.

City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Coordinator Amanda Valdez and 7-year-old Lucas Fernandez, who was selected to light the tree outside of City Hall earlier this year! It's a wonderful tradition that begins as a parade down Main Street from Auburn High School and ends at City Hall Plaza, where hundreds will gather to watch Lucas flip the switch. Lucas was one of about 30 applicants, the most in the history of this event! Hear from Lucas about his favorite holiday traditions, what it means to be a tree lighter, and why this time of year is so special.

Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with City of Auburn's special events coordinator Kristy Pachciarz and Roger Olson with the American Legion Post 78 to talk about the Auburn Veterans Parade! You know, that great big giant parade that snakes through Main Street each year??? You might be wondering how it started, how it grew so big, and what it means to the folks involved (hint: a whole heck of a lot). 

Mayor Nancy Backus sat down with Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber and Arts Supervisor Allison Hyde to talk all things Postmark Center for the Arts! They detail the storied history of the building, the yearslong project of getting it completely renovated, and what's to come. Spoiler alert: you ain't seen nothin' yet.

City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Junior Councilmembers Waylon Menzie, Khysner Ayo and Jonathan Mulenga to discuss, well, what it means to be a young person representing thousands in local government! The Auburn City Council created the Junior City Council in order to get advice and ideas from students on things like parks, recreation, entertainment, traffic, police, festivals, trails, environmental stewardship and other social issues. Students learn leadership skills, improve their chances for scholarships, learn how City government operates and see how they can influence government activities in order to make a positive difference in the community. While Khysner still has a year left of high school, both Waylon and Jonathan graduated this year and are soon off to college and beyond! Listen about how their time on council has been, and what's in store for them (politically and otherwise) down the road. 

In this final episode of Season 1, Mayor Nancy Backus and Communications Manager Jonathan Glover sit down with artists Jill Drllevich and Peter Reiquam, who collectively are responsible for some of the most recognizable pieces of art in the city.

In this episode, we discuss all things winter weather preparedness -- how the city responds to snow events, which areas are plowed first and what are the limitations. We also dive into trash collection with Waste Management, and how Auburn School District makes the decision to give kids their favorite day of the year: a snow day! Guests: Erik Cottle and Andy Boswellof City of Auburn Maintenance and Operations Karissa Smith, City of Auburn Emergency Manager Cindi Blansfield, Auburn School District Associate Superintendent Jason Shea, Waste Management District Manager

Mayor Backus was inspired recently after being interviewed by a local Scout Liem Allen about increased littering and how to combat the growing issue. Listen in on the interview and then hear from three Auburn staff members on what the City of Auburn does to keep Auburn clean and what community members can do to help. You will hear about the following resources and programs to help make Auburn shine: See, Click, Fix reporting app Auburn Adopt-a-Street program Auburn Adopt-a-Park program Auburn Graffiti Abatement program Waste Management Bulky Item pickup King County Cleanup LIFT Discount

In this episode, we chat with Miss Auburn Carrie Everett and Miss Auburn's Outstanding Teen Alexis Douglas. Hear how these two young women embodies Auburn's story of resilience, hope, and bright future. 

In this episode, we discuss an important but sometimes uncomfortable topic—sexual assault and abuse. We dive into the history and myths around sexual abuse, signs for identifying abuse, how to handle disclosure, online safety, and resources available. Guests: Marie Pereda, Parent Educator with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center Detectives Francesca Nix and Doug Faini, Auburn Police Department

Mayor Nancy Backus continues her multi-part series covering homelessness and how Auburn is responding to this issue. In this episode she is joined by more people in our community that are working on bringing people inside. You will hear from the Executive Director of the Auburn Food Bank Debbie Christian, two outreach workers from We Care Daily Clinics - an organization that combines medication assisted treatment and behavioral health counseling services, and one of Auburn's recent success stories!

In part 2 of her mulitpart series on homelessness, Mayor Nancy Backus is joined again by by Kent Hay, Auburn's Homelessness Outreach Administrator, to talk about the specific challenges we have when it comes to moving people off the streets and into safer and healthier living conditions and let you know how you can be a part of reducing homelessness in Auburn.

Mayor Nancy Backus kicks off her first episode of "That's So Auburn!" with one of the most talked about issues in the city - homelessness. In this first part of a multipart series she is joined by Kent Hay, Auburn's Homelessness Outreach Administrator, to help listeners understand the challenges and the successes of Auburn's approach to the crisis.