We’re delighted to introduce you to Faizah Shukru, who recently joined our team to coordinate Tukwila Village Farmers Market and other FIN events! Faizah has lived in Tukwila for more than a decade, and brings experience serving community both as a volunteer and as a professional social worker.
Read our interview to learn more about Faizah, and then meet her in person at Tukwila Village Farmers Market!
How did you learn about Food Innovation Network, and what drew you to join our team?
I learned about FIN through the job opportunity that was posted online. I am familiar with Global to Local, and my parents had participated in programs years ago when I was in middle school so I know that they did great work. What drew me to the team was the passion for food justice in the communities being served and the emphasis on utilizing the community to fight for food justice. Giving the community opportunities to grow and sell their own produce is amazing and shows the importance of community collaboration and partnerships.
You’re going to coordinate Tukwila Village Farmers Market! What’s your favorite vegetable, and how do you like to prepare it?
My favorite vegetable is asparagus! I love to do a simple salt/black pepper seasoning or even a garlic salt seasoning and a little bit of lemon juice. It can be baked or pan-cooked and served with rice and salmon or chicken and a salad. Delicious. 🙂
What do you love about living in Tukwila? If you could change anything about Tukwila, what would it be?
What I love most about Tukwila is the richness in diversity. Tukwila is the first place that I felt like I was “at home.” There is so much culture and diversity around you and gives you the opportunity to learn about other peoples’ culture.
If I could change one thing about Tukwila I would stop the rapid gentrification happening. Tukwila is known for the many culturally diverse small businesses and that is slowly being taken away from us one by one.
FIN’s office is closed June 12 in recognition and support of Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County’s call for a statewide march and general strike. How do you plan to spend the day?
I was excited to see that the FIN office would be closed this in support of the march and general strike. I think it is important to take a stance and show support and solidarity with the movement, especially when the community around us are largely people of color and immigrants.
I plan on supporting the movement in any way that I can, and will most likely be attending a protest hosted by local youth. As a Black Muslim woman myself I have been working on fighting for what I believe is right while also taking care of my own mental and emotional wellness, and will continue to do so on the 12th and beyond.
Is there anything else you’d like the FIN community to know about you?
I am extremely excited to be joining the FIN team. I have a passion for community work and believe that a holistic approach to community is important. Many of our communities face various struggles including housing instability and food inequities, and I am excited to be able to join a team that values the importance of addressing food disparities and utilizing community members as part of the solution to closing those disparities.