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Education and Experience:

Bonnie Olson, owner of Emerging Design Consulting, holds a Masters Degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University Seattle.  Focus included organizational development, large-scale systems change methods, collaboration and multi-cultural communication.  Bonnie has a B.A. from the University of Washington in Psychology, with a minor in Political Science. Prior to setting up my own business, I worked for 25 years in human services, from case manager to executive director in nonprofits, and in public service as human services manager for a local municipality.  My work included services for: homeless persons, immigrants and refugees, youth in foster care, low-income seniors, welfare recipients, and other population groups.  I ran shelter and housing programs, employment programs, health care services, multi-disciplinary teams and set up many partnerships and collaborations.

Please browse this site to learn more about my consulting services.

A customized Emerging Design Consulting Team can be drawn together to meet your project needs, large and small.  I have diverse and exceptionally talented partners that I have worked over the years, and we can provide culturally competent and multi-lingual services.  I also have partners in other disciplines, such as architects, public relations experts, statisticians.

Work History:

In addition to my twelve years of consulting practice, my work history outlined below gives a sense of the breadth of hands-on experience I bring to my consulting work.

• Consulting Practice: 1998 to present
  
  
• YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish County
     Designed innovative employment programs for long-term welfare recipients, supervised employment programs for youth and homeless, childcare facilities, regional offices providing domestic violence and shelter services.

• City of Federal Way, Human Services Manager
     Wrote the city's first Comprehensive Human Services Plan, implemented city policies and grant oversight for human services, affordable housing development and community infrastructure development using CDBG funds.  Staffed commission and provided support to City Council committee.

• Health Care for the Homeless of Seattle-King County, Executive Director
         Management and contracts for multidisciplinary health services in shelter and transitional housing programs throughout the county, and contract for services provided in hospitals and community clinics for homeless persons.  Expanded teen health services in University district with new partnerships.  Fundraising and public relations.

• Neighborhood House, Director of Neighborhood Centers Programs
         Supervised programs for low-income residents in public housing through five community centers.  Programs included immigrant and refugee services, family case management, emergency services, support for resident councils.  Revamped immigrant and refugee services to be more culturally driven, established new multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams

• Senior Companion Program, Catholic Community Services, Program Director
       Ran federal program that matched low-income seniors with home bound elderly for support and weekly assistance.  Expanded program with inclusion of monolingual immigrant seniors to work in their communities.

• Seattle Emergency Housing Service, Program Manager
      Provided emergency housing services and case management for homeless families.  Designed first family transitional housing program in Seattle, established loan fund

• Youth Advocates, Foster Home Coordinator
       Licensed foster parents, placed teen foster youth, including formerly institutionalized teens requiring specialized services.

Personal Background

Bonnie Olson is a third generation Seattlite and grew up in the Yesler Terrace housing project, in a bi-racial family (Black and white).  My diverse, extended family includes black, white, Mexican, Cuban, Nigerian and Somali origins.  We are Christian, Muslim, Hindu and agnostic.  I am a life-long community volunteer and activist and have been involved in many grass roots campaigns for local and international change.