Sara Boyle is one of 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s Emerging Leaders award.

Sara Boyle is one of 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s Emerging Leaders award.

Her effort to help others began with a few words in Spanish

Sara Boyle knows the value of language and is helping others take charge of their community.

This is one of 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s Emerging Leaders award, which seeks to highlight and celebrate people who are doing good work in Snohomish County. The winner will be named at an event on April 11. Meet the other finalists.

Name: Sara Boyle

Age: 28

Profession: Director, Connect Casino Road

Sara Boyle’s effort to string together a few sentences changed her view of the world.

Twelve years ago, Boyle, who was volunteering at a Lynnwood food bank, summoned the courage to use her high school Spanish and asked a visitor whether she preferred carrots or potatoes.

Her questions prompted smiles and a conversation.

“It really brought the value of language to me. Instead of seeing it as another high school credit, it put a face on it,” said Boyle, then a junior at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo.

Boyle is now director of Connect Casino Road, a collaboration of more than 15 community partners. Some are faith-based, some center around schools and nonprofits, and some are grassroots.

She’s in charge of managing a $700,000 grant under the oversight of the Community Foundation of Snohomish County, a nonprofit that promotes charitable giving.

About 20,000 people — many of them young families — live in the area bounded by Casino Road, Airport Road and Evergreen Way.

One-quarter of the population lives in poverty. At 36 percent, the poverty rate for children is more than double the countywide rate.

For decades, there’s been talk about a community center.

Boyle is working toward that goal and others.

Last year, she brought together more than 150 community members to complete a design process for the new center.

It will occupy a four-building complex next to the Everett Fred Meyer store on Evergreen Way.

“Now we’re entering the permitting phase to do the remodel and starting a capital campaign,” she said.

She sits on the Everett police chief’s Community Advisory Board.

She mentors a group of Latina mothers who are developing their own non-profit group, Madres de Casino Road.

“I’m passionate about trying to make this world a better place,” she wrote in her nomination form. “I strive to become a leader that focuses on providing others around me with opportunities to grow and learn both personally and professionally.”

She also understands that leadership sometimes means letting go of the reins.

“Several months ago the collaborative group I was leading — the Casino Road Initiative — merged with another collaborative group also doing the work on Casino Road. The merger meant letting go of the name, governance structure and strategic plan that we had spent a year and a half developing,” Boyle said.

“It meant welcoming in new partners and co-developing a new way of being and doing this work together. This was not the easy choice, but it was the right choice. I knew that this move would increase our ability to impact families living on Casino Road,” she said.

Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods

Talk to us

More in Herald Business Journal

A man walks by Pfizer headquarters, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in New York. Pfizer will spend about $43 billion to buy Seagen and broaden its reach into cancer treatments, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan, File)
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to acquire Bothell-based Seagen

Pfizer announced Monday it plans to acquire Seagen in an all-cash deal for $43 billion.

Lacie Marsh-Carroll stirs wax before pouring candles in her garage at her home on March 17, 2018 in Lake Stevens. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)
Women business owners in Snohomish, Island counties make their mark

In honor of Women’s History Month, we spotlight three local business owners.

x
Edmonds International Women’s Day takes place Saturday

The Edmonds gathering celebrates women and diversity with this year’s theme, “EmbraceEquity.”

Owner and CEO Lacie Carroll holds a “Warr;or” candle at the Malicious Women Candle Co workspace in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. The business is women run and owned. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Malicious Women Co: She turned Crock-Pot candles into a sassy venture

Lacie Marsh-Carroll is rekindling her Snohomish candle company with new designs and products.

Kelly Matthews, 36, left, Tonka, 6, center, and Nichole Matthews, 36, pose for a photo in their home in Lynnwood, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.  The twin sisters work as freelance comic book artists and illustrators. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Drawing interest: Twin sisters never gave up on making their mark

Lynnwood sisters, Kelly and Nichole Matthews, got their big break a decade ago and now draw comics full time.

Willow Mietus, 50, poses for a photo at her home in Coupeville, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Mietus bought a former Frito-Lay truck to sell her dyed yarn out of. She calls it "The Wool Wagon." (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Wool Wagon to hit the streets of Whidbey Island

A self-described “professional yarn temptress” from Coupeville is setting up shop in a modified truck.

IonQ will open a new quantum computing manufacturing and research center at 3755 Monte Villa Parkway in Bothell. (Photo courtesy of IonQ)
Quantum computing firm IonQ to open Bothell R&D center

IonQ says quantum computing systems are key to addressing climate change, energy and transportation.

Nathanael Engen, founder of Black Forest Mushrooms, sits in the lobby of Think Tank Cowork with his 9-year-old dog, Bruce Wayne, on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Growing green mushrooms in downtown Everett

The founder of Black Forest Mushrooms plans to grow gourmet mushrooms locally, reducing their carbon footprint.

Barb Lamoureux, 78, poses for a photo at her office at 1904 Wetmore Ave in Everett, Washington on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Lamoureux, who founded Lamoureux Real Estate in 2004, is retiring after 33 years. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Barb Lamoureux, ‘North Everett’s Real Estate Agent’ retires

A longtime supporter of Housing Hope, Lamoureux helped launch the Windermere Foundation Golf Tournament.

Bothell
AGC Biologics in Bothell to produce new diabetes treatment

The contract drug manufacturer paired with drug developer Provention Bio to bring the new therapy to market.

The Walmart Store on 11400 Highway 99 on March 21, 2023 in in Everett, Washington. The retail giant will close the store on April 21, 2023. (Janice Podsada / The Herald)
Walmart announces Everett store on Highway 99 will close on April 21

The Arkansas-based retail giant said the 20-year-old Walmart location was “underperforming financially.”

Everett Memorial Stadium and Funko Field on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state

The proposed Senate capital budget contains critical seed money for the city-led project likely to get matched by the House.