My decision to leave was the result of watching an agency I care about beginning to crumble. DAWN's turnover rate has been high for more than a year. Staff members started to resign from the shelter and Community Advocacy Program last fall, a few months after the board hired Percival as its executive director. When Percival fired the five community advocates two weeks ago, she left only one to do the job of seven. The remaining advocate, who hadn't written to the board, quit last week.
Wood helps the city dole out funds to non-profits.
She wrote the letter because she was concerned about the rash of resignations. She wondered how DAWN could help victims of domestic abuse without staff. I'm just outraged. Wood adds that SeaTac, which currently contracts with DAWN, is now considering funding a different agency. Percival insists that the changes she's made are part of an intentional transition from a small, grassroots group to a large, efficient organization.