The Board of Directors of Pathwaves WA is thrilled to announce the appointment of our inaugural Co-Executive Directors, Nubia López and LaToya Holmes-Ware!
After an extensive search process, the Board of Directors unanimously selected LaToya Holmes-Ware as our Co-Executive Director, Development & Outreach, starting January 3, 2023. LaToya brings extensive experience leading systems-level change work in state government and the nonprofit sector. Growing up as a Black girl in the Mississippi Delta, LaToya learned firsthand how systems are created to oppress people of color and has dedicated much of her career to dismantling systems of oppression. Most recently, LaToya served as a Co-Director (in a triad leadership model) of the Office of Racial Equity & Social Justice (ORESJ) for Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
In the process of the Co-Executive Director search, the Board received more than 100 applications for the position and engaged in a thoughtful and rigorous process that included multiple interview stages and the participation of key community members.
“We are thrilled to welcome LaToya to Pathwaves because she brings a deeply relational and values-oriented leadership approach that will strengthen Pathwaves’ efforts to build collective power in BIPOC communities and transform early childhood systems in Washington.” – Dr. Soleil Boyd, Pathwaves Board Chair
Nubia López began in senior leadership at Pathwaves in 2021. In April 2022, the Founding Board formally adopted a Co-Executive Director model that reflects the organization’s commitment to shared leadership and collaboration, and appointed Nubia as Pathwaves’ Co-Executive Director, Program & Operations.
Prior to joining Pathwaves, Nubia worked for over 15 years at the intersection of community partnerships and educational systems in Washington state. Most recently, she worked at the University of Washington’s College of Education and on Puget Sound Educational Service District’s early learning efforts.
Nubia’s journey to early childhood policy work began with her lived experience as a daughter of low-income, immigrant parents who sought the best opportunities for their child. Her firsthand understanding of how inequitable opportunities lead to inequitable outcomes has fueled her continued passion and belief that all children and families deserve to thrive.
“I am excited for the strong partnership LaToya and I will build! We are a good complement to each other and I look forward to learning from her and collectively working to build opportunities for more families in Washington.” – Nubia López, Co-Executive Director
Together, LaToya and Nubia are eager to co-lead the amazing work that Pathwaves has planned for 2023! We hope that you will join us in celebrating this new chapter and we are grateful for your continued support and partnership as we welcome LaToya to Pathwaves.
