NETWORK LEADERSHIP
Muriel Herrera-Velasquez (she/her)
Network Manager, PCECN
Muriel values community advocacy and collaboration. She is passionate about breaking down barriers and building bridges for present and future generations. She believes in manifesting positivity and that there is no better medicine than laughter. You will most likely find Muriel, iced coffee in hand, following her rambunctious toddlers around. Deeply connected to her Mexican roots and heritage, most weekends are spent with family and good food.
Rosario Bautista, BA
(she/her)
Community Outreach Specialist, HopeSparks
Family Voice and Voces de Familia Action Team Lead
Rosario earned her BA in Family and Consumer Science with a minor in Sociology from Central Washington University. Rosario has experience working with children ages 1-18 years old in school settings as a substitute teacher, a visitation supervisor, and a Family Support Specialist. Coming from a Hispanic background, Rosario understands the importance of having access to resources in one's own language and having someone that understands their needs. She grew up in the Tacoma area, and is very passionate about serving the community. Outside of work, Rosario enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, and having a good cup of coffee!
Emily Poncik
(she/her)
Program Director, Family Connects Pierce County
Emily Poncik is the Program Director for the Family Connects Program in Pierce County, overseeing program implementation and sustainability efforts since 2020. A former resource parent, Emily is committed to building systems that center family wellbeing, recognizing the critical importance of prioritizing perinatal health in building family wellness systems. Emily is a strong advocate for maternal health and child welfare prevention, deeply committed to policy and systems change. She actively integrates these efforts into local model implementation in Pierce County, where she facilitates the Family Connects Leadership Council. Emily is a mom of two amazing toddlers, wife to an amazing human, and holds a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. She enjoys camping, hiking, exploring Washington’s small towns, and guzzling all the craft coffee.
Taylor Caragan, MPH
(she/her)
Health Integration Manager, First 5 FUNdamentals
Health Provider Voice Action Team Lead
Taylor firmly believes that her practice is her passion. As Health Integration Manager, working with perinatal, early childhood, and family healthcare providers in Pierce County and across the state, Taylor helps facilitate systems change and resource connection. Taylor received her Bachelors of Science in Public Health, and her Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In her regular life she loves reading, tending to her houseplants, and spending time with her family and animals.
Cathy Brady, MPH
(she/her)
Program Analyst, Tacoma-Pierce Co. Health Department
Data Action Team Lead
Cathy earned her BA in Humanities from Washington State University. She has several years of professional experience in the financial industry, but her passion to help others led her to pursue a Masters of Public Health from Benedictine University. Cathy understands the importance of nurturing family relationships through her lived experience and strongly believes in the value of normalizing the need for parent support and education. In her previous role, she provided support for various programs at the Eastside Family Support Center. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, painting with watercolors, playing chess, and spending time with her husband, sons, and rescue dog.
Timieka Travis
(she/her)
Equity and Community Alignment Manager
Equity Action Team Lead
Timieka Travis leads our Equity Action Team and oversees First 5 FUNdamentals internal equity processes. Timieka also works part-time as the Program Support Specialist for Family Connects with Answers Counseling. While she will be busy juggling her multiple part-time roles (and being mom to a newborn and a toddler!), she is an incredibly gifted advocate for the community.
Sarah Kirschenbaum
(she/her)
Senior Family Resource Navigator 2-1-1
Resource Navigation and Access Team Lead
Sarah Kirschenbaum is the Senior Family Resource Navigator at South Sound 2-1-1, where she is dedicated to serving as a frontline resource for individuals and families. With a deep commitment to community support, Sarah helps connect people with the essential services and resources they need to meet their basic needs. She has her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Pacific Lutheran University.
Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys spending quality time with her family, playing with her cats, and exploring her creative side through crocheting.