50th Anniversary Gala - Solid Ground

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Event Details

Join Solid Ground for our 50th Anniversary Gala, Wednesday, May 8, 5:30pm at SUMMIT* (900 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101) to celebrate a half century of progress toward solving poverty. You’ll hear from participants, partners, leaders, and changemakers who have helped improve the lives of thousands of our neighbors. We’ll also share our transformative vision for the future! CEO Shalimar Gonzales will cohost the event with Sasha Summer Cousineau, Fundraising Auctioneer extraordinaire.

You’ll enjoy…

Reception with jazz greats Bruce Phares and Tim Lerch
Dinner, an inspiring program, and a call for support
Keynote address by Converge Media’s Omari Salisbury
End-of-evening music by an ensemble of the award-winning Garfield Jazz Band

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Summit is a new Seattle Convention Center venue at a different location from the original building.

TICKET PRICES:

Individuals: $200
Tables of 10: $1,750

QUESTIONS?

events@solid-ground.org

Speakers & Presenters

Omari Salisbury, Keynote Speaker

Omari is cofounder of Converge Media. Raised in Seattle’s Central District, he has launched TV and radio stations across Africa and the Middle East – as well as East Africa’s first totally digital media marketing agency – and negotiated content deals for over 40 countries. In 2016, he returned to Seattle and launched Converge Media to uplift stories of Seattle’s Black community. Converge has built a loyal following for its Emmy Award-winning coverage and culturally relevant content about the Pacific Northwest. And Omari has earned a reputation as an authentic and honest communicator with the trust and respect of his community and Seattle power brokers. Read our interview with him: Omari Salisbury to present keynote at Solid Ground’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Cheryl Cobbs Murphy

In 1984, Cheryl was hired as Housing Director of the Fremont Public Association (FPA). She quickly earned the role of Deputy Director, then was named Executive Director in 1999. Under her leadership, the FPA/Solid Ground expanded into a regional Community Action Agency with a reputation for innovating programs and driving statewide policy change. But the most profound part of her legacy was her leadership to embed anti-racism principles into every aspect of how we work to solve poverty.

Patricia Flores

Thirty years ago, Patricia, her teen daughter, and her grandson fled violence in their Toppenish home and headed to Seattle, landing at our Broadview Shelter. While there, she learned about and volunteered to serve on the Seattle Rape Relief crisis line, an experience that led her to a long career in sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy. Patricia was Advocacy Coordinator for the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, where she drew on her personal experience as a survivor. More recently, she served as Executive Director of Catherine Place, a nonprofit resource and support center for women and LGBTQIA+ community members in Tacoma.

Shalimar Gonzales

Shalimar joined Solid Ground as Chief Executive Officer in January 2021. Her down-to-earth charisma belies a foundation of rigorous leadership development. Prior to joining us, she served as District Executive for the YMCA of Greater Seattle, overseeing operations across five locations and 500 staff. During her 17-year career with the Y, she led diversity, inclusion, global capacity building, international partnerships, and more. She started her career in arts-based programming in Seattle and later served at the YMCA of Los Angeles. Shalimar is the current Board Chair of the Washington State Community Action Partnership and Immediate Past Chair of the Community Roots Housing board.

Mary Ruffin

Mary, Solid Ground Board Chair since 2023, lived for seven years at our Sand Point Housing campus in Magnuson Park with her mom and younger brother. During that time, she graduated from the University of Washington and UW School of Law. Mary first joined Solid Ground’s Community Accountability Council (CAC) to provide resident perspective on agency operations and programs. Then in 2021, she joined the Board of Directors as a CAC representative, helping to formalize the CAC’s role in selecting Board members. Mary works in the legal field and is studying for her bar exam.

Emcee & Musicians

Sasha Summer Cousineau, Emcee

Sasha is owner of Revel Rouser Events and a fundraising auctioneer, gala emcee, and event planning consultant. A lifelong performer passionate about social justice, racial equity, and feminism, Sasha believes her clients make up the heart and moral compass of our communities.

Bruce Phares, Bassist

Bruce is a guiding light of the Northwest’s jazz scene. Perhaps best known for his four-decade duo relationship with legendary pianist Overton Berry, Bruce heads numerous ensembles of rotating NW jazz luminaries at clubs and festivals, and hosts Vashon Island’s The Jam in the Atrium, showcasing top-drawer jazz compatriots. He has also collaborated with such greats as Diane Schuur, Larry Coryell, Roland Hanna, Frank Wess, George Cables, Bruce Forman, Charlie Bird, and Ernestine Anderson.

Tim Lerch, Guitarist

Tim is a world-renowned performer, educator, Emmy award-winning composer, member of the legendary NW Gypsy Jazz Group Pearl Django, and half of a popular duo with Jamie Findlay. A well-respected and popular teacher (with over 90,000 followers), Tim connects with students of all skill levels through private lessons, classes, workshops, and master classes.