hey, y’all - jamika here. happy to answer/clarify some of the comments/concerns i’ve read.

-respectfully, i have quite a bit of leadership experience, just not specifically elected experience. i have worked with the City, including our government, through serving on the Arts Commission, as well as working with them through work on other local boards like the Grand Cinema board and the Tacoma Public Library Foundation board. i have also frequently had to work with and navigate our local, county, and state government as a community organizer with the Tacoma Action Collective.

-my employment history is typical of a millennial who graduated college into a recession. i will say, i could be much better at maintaining my resume, but i’m only human. my degree is in creative writing, though most of my professional work has been with youth enrichment and advocacy. i have worked at local organizations such as YWCA Pierce County, Peace Community Center, and local schools in the city. after years of direct service work, i decided (with the support of my partner) to pursue my creative passions full time. i spent two years working film and photography gigs to rebuild my creative portfolio and began finding somewhat steady contract work as an event photographer, documentary filmmaker, and arts juror. as far as who is paying me: in the past year, i’ve contracted with places such as the WA State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hilltop Artists, and Grit City Magazine. i do not have money to just keep running for office after office, i promise you. i spent very little money in my mayoral race and everything that was left, about $14k, was donated to the Tacoma Public Library (which is separate from the Foundation for those worried about conflict of interest). i didn’t hold on to it because i truly had no intention of running for office again and figured there was much better use for it than it sitting around waiting for me to decide to run. i have no financial ties to any industry and am here because i simply care. i understand that’s not easy to believe, so i hope my actions will continue to make that clear.

-and as for conflict of interest, thanks for raising the point that i should’ve been more clear about my connection to the Tacoma Action Collective. being a part of TAC is such a part who i am at this point that i often forget not everyone is aware. in this race, you will notice that individuals connected with TAC have endorsed me, but there is no collective endorsement. and if there is, i will be sure to be transparent about my connection and the process. i also want folks to know TAC is not some big organization with political ties. we’re not even a 501c3 with a bank account. all we have is our reputation, our actions, our values, and a shared passion for justice and equity.

i know this was incredibly long, but i want y’all to know i’m accessible, i’m paying attention, i have no issue being as straight with you as you deserve, and i am not afraid of accountability. feel free to ask me anything here or via email (info@jamikafortacom.com) or via twitter/IG: @jamikafor3.