Daree Blake lifts up fellow parents with her passion | Unsung Hero

Seattle’s Child is proud to partner with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families Strengthening Families Washington to honor outstanding caregivers doing important work on behalf of children.

All month long, we’ll introduce you to Unsung Heroes from around the state: biological parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents. Some volunteer at local schools; some have started nonprofits; some mentor others in their communities. Enjoy their stories.

Daree Blake, Spokane Valley

When I think of an unsung hero I think about someone who goes above and beyond, not for accolades or recognition but for the joy of doing it and their passion for their cause. I cannot think of a better unsung hero than my dear friend, colleague, and community leader Daree Blake.

I first met Daree Blake as a fellow parent at our local ECEAP site. We were both on the Policy Council. She offered a warm, welcoming and comforting presence to the group that encouraged other parents to join, and she has maintained some of those friendships beyond Policy Council for the six years I have known her.

Daree’s community and family engagement does not end with Policy Council. She has gone on to be a Parent Ambassador with WSA, worked on the executive committee for SCAN (Save the Children Action Network), Moms Rising, March of Dimes, her church and other organizations. She has spoken at conferences, rallies. marches and with legislators both at the state and federal level and encouraged other parents that they were capable and powerful to do the same, and they have.

I can think of six parents at least that have gone on to be active advocates in organizations and Parent Ambassadors with her guidance and support. She has a loving way of sharing her lived experience of navigating her own children’s IEPs and personal tragedies that helps other parents realize that they are not alone and that they will always have a safe person to come to. Since we met I have gone from being a parent at ECEAP to being a Family Support Specialist at ECEAP, and while there have been many changes to the program since then, there has been one strong and reliable constant in Daree. She has remained as part of our Policy Council Board even though she no longer has children in our program as a past parent mentor to our current board, supporting them throughout the year.

She has collected community donations to make sure each family in our program (about 400 students) had a holiday meal that wanted/needed one for the last couple years. Her passion is an encouraging force to parents and I have seen her build numerous relationships where she has lifted the parents up and they are in a better place because of her guidance and support. I cannot think of a better example of an unsung hero for our ECEAP Program, our community, and the state than Daree Blake.

Nominator: Kami Smith