By Kennedy Byrne
Terri Cole is fiercely passionate about racial equity. It’s palpable not only in the way she speaks but also in the work she does. Terri dedicates her Microsoft skill set to United Indians of All Tribes, partnering to bolster and increase its capabilities in order to further its mission.
United Indians of All Tribes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to provide educational, cultural and social services that reconnect indigenous people in the Puget Sound area. The organization’s services include early childhood support, parent involvement, foster care support, employment support, homelessness prevention, youth homes, elder’s programs and more. Its home is a beautiful cultural center called Daybreak Star, located in Discovery Park in Seattle. United Indians also has an art gallery, two beautiful gifts shops and an online store that feature contemporary and traditional native art.
Terri got involved with United Indians when she joined Social Venture Partners after she retired from Microsoft in 2017. She was eager to start a new chapter and support causes close to her heart. She immediately fell in love with United Indians.
During her 17 years at Microsoft, Terri served multiple roles including Integrations management director, director of operations planning and launch services, group program manager, and international product manager. After retiring, Terri completed an eight-month long nonprofit management certification program through the University of Washington, thus preparing herself to leap into the nonprofit sector, ready to make a change.
Terri was named lead partner for United Indians of All Tribes through Social Venture Partners. She quickly became dedicated to advocating for the native people and building a trust that she believes was broken long ago.
In 1970,
Indians in Seattle confronted police at Fort Lawton, which is now the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, to reclaim their land when Fort Lawton was due to be decommissioned. Native activists camped out on the grounds in a series of protests over several weeks, with forcible removals and arrests. They were eventually successful. They planned to have a celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of "The Take-Over" this year, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Terri listened to stories of those whose families took part in "The Take-Over" of the land. She was heartbroken and angry, but also deeply inspired by the leaders who fought back. She refers to them as the real heroes of this story.
Not being from the Indigenous community, Terri took it as her responsibility to educate herself, as she was unaware of many of the stories in history that they told her about. Terri strives to learn more each day and become a better ally.
“I said to them you know what, I do not know what that is. It sounds like it's pretty important for me to know, but I'm not going ask you to educate me. And I went and I did the work,” said Terri, “I’m humbled every day there.”
When Terri first joined the partnership with United Indians, she came in ready to make a road map for where the organization needed to go. She was in “Microsoft mode.” She was going at full speed until she realized it wasn’t the reality, and that she was another person with privilege and business knowledge coming in without awareness of the organization’s needs.
“I just threw it all out, and I just started meeting with people. I met with people more intentionally and asked, so where do you want to go? What's getting in your way?” said Terri. Through her conversations, she discovered the need for smaller foundational projects and volunteers. She redirected her skills to best fit the needs of the community.
When the pandemic hit and everything went virtual, Terri started Excel trainings with some of the United Indians community leaders, trying to share her expertise to assist with virtual events and daily functions. Terri does whatever she can, big or small, to help equip the organization and its’ members to flourish.
Terri learned her awareness for racial injustices at a young age. She was raised by parents who taught her never to gloss over or look away from injustices. She recalled going away to camp as a young girl and realizing she had more than all the other kids there. She came home and had a new outlook on all that she had, in contradiction to what she originally believed to be true about her own life.
Terri raised her children the same way. Now, she even does podcast-type discussion sessions with her adult children because they wanted to learn more from her. She guides them in conversation about various topics. Session topics include the history of policing, systematic wealth and more.
Terri is a person who goes above and beyond for the betterment of others and not herself. She feels as though she owes it others to make the world an equal place for everyone.
She was named Microsoft Alumni Network’s 2020 AlumniHERO of the Year and has earned a $25,000 grant for United Indians of All Tribes. Still, through all her efforts, Terri insists she’s not the superstar.
“I am not the hero here, I have an intergenerational, abundance of privilege shoved my way, regardless of the hardships in my life, it doesn't matter,” said Terri, of why being called a hero makes her uncomfortable. She is constantly humbled and amazed by the work done within United Indians.
During the pandemic, United Indians has had to shift operations. Community members started delivering hot meals to the elders who would normally visit Daybreak Star. They also started delivering weekly medicine bags, serving more than 175 families per week. Terri said these examples are why she is in awe of the people of United Indians. They realize their community needs and make it happen.
Terri strategizes and communicates within the organization to help it reach its full potential. Her background in project management, strategic advising, community outreach, and fundraising has been crucial in adjusting during the pandemic.
“It's just been the most humbling, challenging, rewarding, invigorating journey I've been on,” said Terri.