Mary Flowers recently retired from the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) after 31 years of dedicated service. In her final role, she focused on advancing community safety while contributing to various initiatives, including youth empowerment and homelessness reduction. Throughout her tenure, she has supported community-led solutions and participated in racial justice efforts, notably the Undoing Institutional Racism Group, which laid the groundwork for the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Flowers emphasized the importance of partnerships with community organizations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when HSD worked with agencies to expand shelters for homeless individuals. She reflected on the significant changes within HSD since its founding in 1971, highlighting the department’s commitment to addressing systemic challenges facing the community.

In her farewell message, Flowers encouraged her colleagues to persist in their collective change efforts, despite the challenges they may encounter. She expressed gratitude for her time at HSD, reminding others of the power of unity in striving for a vision where all people can thrive. Her parting words emphasized the importance of collaboration, encapsulated in the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”