Community Highlight: Tacoma Public Utilities
Photo by Hollie Coates-Seamster
Emily Woodward is an Engineering Technician with Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) and a dedicated longtime volunteer with Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity. Emily brings a unique perspective to her volunteer work, having played a role in both planning and building Proctor Place, a Tacoma Habitat neighborhood.
“About four years ago, I had a project come up that was assigned to me just because my supervisor knew my involvement with Habitat.”
She described the process of working with the site developers and their plans to map out where a water main needed to go based upon road designs, stormwater drains, and sewer mains.
“It has been really exciting to go to that site now and be like, “Oh my gosh, I got to help draw out some of this stuff,'” Emily said.
TPU employees like Emily access volunteer opportunities through Community Connection, a program that connects them to volunteer and philanthropy opportunities across Pierce County. Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity was one of the volunteer opportunities offered through this program. Emily not only volunteers but is also on the team that organizes Community Connection events.
“It’s fun that I get to lead these Habitat Builds but also get to be out there and get the chance to meet people across the utility, especially people I would never have the chance to meet.”
Emily and her team have enjoyed supporting and being engaged in the Habitat Team and W
omen Builds and have found it to be a great way of building relationships and confidence out in the community.
“In the past, I had always wanted to volunteer, but I am a very nervous and shy person, so I just never put myself out there, but this team gave me that excuse,” Emily said.
She hopes TPU and Tacoma Habitat continue their partnership, and she can engage in the community through Habitat Builds, supporting the mission of affordable housing through fun volunteer opportunities.
“As employees of the City and TPU, I think it’s important for us to go back and serve the community that we are in.”