Staff

Marcy Bowers
Director

Marcy Bowers serves as Poverty Action’s Director. She began as a volunteer with Poverty Action in 2001 and came on staff in 2005. Since joining the staff, she has played virtually every role in the organization, from recruiting and managing volunteers to coordinating our annual MLK Day Lobby Day, and from communications and fundraising to leading and staffing local electoral and national outreach campaigns. In her current role, she oversees day-to-day operations and leads a stellar staff and talented board in their work to implement our vision of an economically and socially just state. Additionally, Marcy serves as the Board Chair for the Win/Win Network, is a board member of the Washington Asset Building Coalition, and is a member of the Solid Ground Strategic Leadership Team. Marcy has deep organizing and policy experience having worked for social justice in Seattle, Texas, and Central America.

Outside of work, Marcy enjoys being a Seattle stereotype with her love of hiking, running, biking, and coffee. She also currently enjoys exploring the region with her precocious toddler. Marcy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Washington.

Contact Marcy at marcy@povertyaction.org

Omar Cuevas Vega
Community Organizer

Omar serves as Poverty Action’s Community Organizer. In this role, he coordinates our annual MLK Day Lobby Day, leads our Vote for a Change campaign, and mobilizes community members to take action on the issues they care about. Prior to joining Poverty Action, Omar worked as the marketing and community outreach director at Freedom Project working as their marketing and communications specialist, grantwriter, and community engagement liaison. His professional work also includes direct social service in case management in Los Angeles based nonprofits. Personally, he has organized around issues related to environmental justice, immigration reform, and affordable housing in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Outside of work he enjoys reading science fiction, hiking, knitting, and working to finish all his shows on his to-watch list. He holds degrees in Social Work from the University of Washington and the California State University, Los Angeles.

Contact Omar at omar@povertyaction.org

Jay Doran
Policy & Field Campaign Manager

As Poverty Action’s Policy & Field Campaign Manager, Jay leads our campaigns associated with debt relief. This includes issues such as consumer protections, medical debt, and re-entry policies. Jay oversees our policy, organizing, and communications staff, ensuring that our short-term policy and field strategy efforts build toward our long-term goal of a strong movement for economic justice and sound legislative strategy.

Jay brings experience in organizing, coalition building, policy advocacy, and communications. Prior to joining Poverty Action, he served for four years as the Communications & Advocacy Director of the Legal Foundation of Washington, working to increase public funding and support for civil legal aid. He has also held positions with Friends of Youth, the Washington United for Marriage Campaign, and Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. Additionally, he currently serves on the board of the Seattle Community Law Center.

Jay holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Psychology from Duke University. He lives in West Seattle with his partner, son, and two cats. Jay enjoys reading, swimming, disc golf, hip hop, and making up songs with his 4 year old.

Contact Jay at jay@povertyaction.org

David Hlebain
Basic Needs Campaign Coordinator

David manages Poverty Action’s Basic Needs Campaign. In this role he focuses on strengthening programs and policies that support families and individuals living in poverty, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Housing & Essential Needs, Aged, Blind & Disabled, and Adult Dental. He provides campaign planning, analysis and lobbying on these programs and connects our members with lawmakers and the media. In addition, he organizes Poverty Action’s annual MLK Lobby Day of Action at the Capitol.

Prior to joining Poverty Action, David worked as a policy analyst with the Washington State Budget & Policy Center with a focus on poverty and economic inequality. He has also worked on poverty and child welfare issues as an analyst, lobbyist, and organizer with Partners for Our Children. Additionally, his professional work includes direct social service and program management work in several Seattle non-profits and higher education settings, including Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Year Up, and the University of Washington.

Outside of work David enjoys running, biking, exploring the outdoors, reading, and cooking and conversing with loved ones. He holds degrees in Social Work from the University of Washington and Sociology and Anthropology from St. Olaf College.

Contact David at davidh@povertyaction.org

Adriana Lasso-Harrier
Communications Coordinator

As Communications Coordinator for Poverty Action, Adriana implements media and communications strategies to help advance the narrative about poverty in Washington State, and works closely with community members to uphold their stories. Before joining Poverty Action, Adriana worked at Solid Ground as a Housing Specialist, directly serving individuals who were experiencing homelessness and helping them obtain permanent housing. She has substantial experience working with a variety of community groups—from patients recently diagnosed with cancer to youth outreach groups– to help them access the resources they need or elevate their cause, and always approaches her work through a grassroots organizing and trauma-informed lens. Additionally, Adriana maintains a blog dedicated to cultural musings; her current project is devoted to elevating the experiences of mixed-race millennials in the United States.

Outside of work, Adriana loves reading long novels, drinking tea, visiting museums, and wandering around new cities. She is a certified Vinyasa Yoga instructor and can often be found in her studio, engaging with students or cultivating her own practice. Originally from Boston, Adriana holds a B.A in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Contact Adriana at adriana@povertyaction.org

Tony Lee
Senior Fellow

As our Senior Fellow, Tony supports and advises Poverty Action and Solid Ground’s advocacy work with local government on issues related to funding and human service policies. Tony was a founding member of Poverty Action in 1996, playing an essential role in our development and direction. For the past 19 years, Tony served as Solid Ground’s Advocacy Director, working on legal justice and legislative issues. We are thrilled to have Tony’s continued expertise and energy in his “retirement.”