Germaine Kornegay March 12th 2020

What do you do?

Everything... As much as humanly possible to fit into a schedule. I have a human services degree that I obtained in 2012 from Western Washington University, but instead, I kept running my own business. Animal House Pet Grooming, which I started 24 years ago now. Humans are ok, but dogs are so much nicer.

I do however volunteer with humans. And I have been for decades. Starting with volunteering for campaigns. Knocking on those doors, making those phone calls and of course voting. I was a Hillary Clinton delegate and a floor whip for her at the 2016 Convention. It was a painful election, beginning to end. Also, I am a foster parent and have been doing this for 10 years. As a board-member, I have a different perspective because of my experience as a foster mom. I've been a board member for about 5 years. I have (and do) served on many boards serving the poor, women and children.

I use my BA in Human Service and minor in Psychology for community service. Not as a way to make a living. As we know with program cuts, unless we are married to a doctor, these days, it is hard to make a living when you truly serve others. I am serving as a city council-woman in my second term and elected as the first person of color EVER in Sedro-Woolley's history. I also serve on Sedro-Woolley's Museum board where I currently am working on racial awareness and sensitivity and multiple other volunteer activities and events. Last year, I joined Washington State Democrats' Executive Board as a Congressional District (2) representative and have been a state committee-member for about a year now. In 2012, I received the CEED Award for my resolution making 3rd degree marital rape a felony. It was signed into law in 2014 by Governor Inslee. I was 2017 SWAN Woman of the Year for community service and featured in Bellingham Alive as Wonder Woman.

Challenging and rewarding as well, I rescue and advocate for large "dangerous" dogs. My favorites to rescue are Pit-bulls and Rottweilers because overall, I advocate and serve those who are considered the underdogs in our society, so it just fits.

Advice/words of wisdom that affected your life you’d like to pass on?

There are many "words" that might make a difference, but the foundation should always be within your confident self. Know that you "got this". It's more than OK to speak up for yourself (even if that means saying "No"), take credit for YOUR ideas, wake up everyday feeling empowered BECAUSE you are a woman. Be a feminist. Feminism is advocating for equal rights between the sexes. NOT objectifying yourself as a woman. Use your mind, confidence, relational skills instead of the obvious. These things will carry you because they are self sustaining. :-)