Neighborhood House: Courage, Community and Hope
Image: Neighborhood House Executive Director Janice Deguchi addresses supporters at What Matters Most on May 7, 2026. (Photo: Neighborhood House)
By Nancy Miller Herbert
On May 7, Bruce and I joined hundreds of friends and supporters of Neighborhood House at Seattle’s Town Hall for What Matters Most, the organization’s annual fundraiser.
This year’s gathering marked an extraordinary milestone: Neighborhood House’s 120th anniversary. Since 1906, the organization has helped generations of immigrants, refugees and low-income families find stability, opportunity and belonging. We have supported Neighborhood House for years, and the evening reminded us why its work remains so essential.
The event was joyful from the start. The PNW Steppaz, featuring Neighborhood House staff member Angel Berry, brought everyone to life with a wonderfully energetic performance. KUOW host Angela King guided us through the evening, and keynote speaker Craig Sims brought the perspective of someone whose career has been devoted to public service and justice.
But the most moving part of the evening was Executive Director Janice Deguchi’s address.
Janice began by acknowledging the warmth of the gathering – the food, music, friendship and shared sense of purpose. Then she reminded us why creating and protecting such moments matters: “Joy is not equally accessible right now.”
Janice put a human face on Neighborhood House’s work by sharing the stories of people navigating incredibly difficult circumstances.
She told us about Sofia, a mother recovering from a cesarean birth, caring for a newborn and toddler, and living with postpartum depression after her husband was deported. Neighborhood House home visitor Debora brought diapers, food, practical information and, perhaps most importantly, a trusted human connection.
We heard about Abdul and Amina, who came to the United States from Afghanistan after Abdul risked his life working as an interpreter for the U.S. military. When their citizenship applications stalled, Neighborhood House staff sought help from Senator Patty Murray’s office. In June 2025, exactly one year after applying, they became U.S. citizens.
And we learned about a young man struggling financially while completing high school and caring for a family member. With mentorship, educational support and financial assistance from Neighborhood House, he became a certified Home Care Aide, found stable employment, graduated and continued on to college.
These stories represent just a fraction of the organization’s reach. According to its 2025 Annual Report, Neighborhood House served 12,417 people across King County last year. Its programs helped 229 people avoid eviction, provided citizenship assistance to 763 people, connected more than 3,000 people with health services and served 882 children and families through early childhood education.
Those numbers are impressive. But the stories behind them are what stay with me: a mother receiving diapers and reassurance, a refugee family taking the oath of citizenship, a young person finding a path toward independence.
Janice also spoke candidly about today’s threats to immigrant families and people living in poverty. Her message was urgent, but it was not hopeless. She reminded us that courage is visible every day.
That courage is us. That courage looks like us. We are the activists. We are the caregivers. We are the people that refuse to look away. We are not waiting for the heroes. We are the heroes. We are the people we’ve been waiting for.
And if you’ve been wondering what to do next, tonight is one answer. Your generosity funds that courage. It funds protection. It funds dignity. It funds possibility. Together, we’re doing what matters most.
Bruce and I left Town Hall both inspired and challenged. What matters most is not simply believing in dignity, justice and belonging. It is showing up to defend them.
We are proud to continue supporting Neighborhood House and the courageous people who make its work possible.
Note: This material is intended for educational purposes only. As with all our public writing, blog posts do not constitute tax or financial planning advice; likewise, they are neither an offer to sell nor solicitation to buy any investment or security.
