Welcome to Seattle, Franceska!
By Mykell Dampier-Daniels
Our former Yakima Engagement Specialist, Franceska Hinkamp, has made the big move to Seattle and is now the Engagement Specialist for the Seattle and Everett Chapters! The Mockingbird Society is definitely not new to Franceska.
Last year at the annual Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit, Franceska was an ally for the Yakima chapter. Prior to last year's Summit, Franceska worked in Yakima, Washington as an Employment Advisor for Catholic Family and Child Service's (CFCS) Foster Teen Program. While she was there, Franceska provided employment services to youth ages 14-23. While in this position at CFCS she heard about The Mockingbird Society. A lot of the youth on her caseload were also Mockingbird participants and she was invited to chapter meetings and youth development trainings. After a couple of months of watching the youth develop proposals for change, she then was invited to the Summit as an ally. When Franceska went to the Summit she said, "It was like magic. I felt empowered from the fact that such powerful, intelligent, and creative youth changed the many misconceptions and imperfections of the system." Shortly thereafter, she was hired on as the Yakima Engagement Specialist. When the opportunity to work at Mockingbird's headquarters full-time arose, Franceska thought the opportunity was right in line with her career goals. With her never-giving-up motto, "you have to work hard, to play hard," she applied and received the position.
Even though Franceska is new to the area she is definitely not new to working with young people or being an advocate. Franceska has had lots of experience working with youth. In high school she was a peer tutor and mentor working with youth with learning difficulties. Franceska says this is where she practiced the skill of showing some else their own potential and that was when she decided that was what she wanted to do for her lifetime. After high school, she attended the University of San Francisco where she majored in Sociology and Media studies.
In her free time, Franceska enjoys practicing yoga and listening to live music. She is also vegan and an animal lover. The Mockingbird Team is happy to have Franceska at headquarters and enjoys her outgoing spirit in the office!