Hunter D. Henderson 4 Position #6
About Me
Hunter Henderson was born on Hilltop at Tacoma General in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 1988. Hunter enrolled in language pre-school at the age of 3 to learn how to talk. Afterwards, he attended Stanley Elementary and participated in their language pathology program there. Hunter was never a fast learner but made up for it with tenacity and desire to understand more.
After graduating, Hunter attended Hilltop Heritage where he began to play cello and learned to blow glass. Hunter became a Hilltop Artist in Residence Production Team Member. He continued the cello and glassblowing throughout his attendance of Henry Foss High School.
In high school Hunter was a leader in the AFJROTC program and after school he participated in DeMolay. Both organizations planted seeds of passion for public service, community organization. His time spent taught him skills like public speaking, time management, and compassion.
Hunter is a first-generation college graduate. His parents could not afford to help him pay tuition so Hunter depended on scholarships. Hunter was able to attend college because he earned the Achiever's Scholarship by the College Success Foundation. A scholarship to give opportunities to students from marginalized communities a chance.
Hunter graduated as a non-traditional student from UWT in 2013 majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in both Restoration Ecology and Hispanic Studies.
After graduation he was unable to find work in the field of ecology. Hunter went back for a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Environmental Policy.
After graduation with his MPA, he served Pierce County Parks and Recreation as an AmeriCorps member. During his service term, he helped Tacoma Tree Foundation distribute over 2,000 trees and shrubs to over 30 zip-codes in Pierce, Thurston, and King Counties. He also established a Western bluebird monitoring program in Pierce County Parks.
Throughout his entire school experience Hunter worked full-time. He worked in warehouses, office administration, but primarily in the service industry as a line cook.
During Hunter's AmeriCorps service term he accepted a position with The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as a Transportation Planner and joined the ProTec17 Union.
Hunter works on the Olympic Region Fish Passage Pre-Design team. Hunter works on fish passage projects in 7 counties.
Hunter has studied the environment his whole life and cares deeply about environmental justice. Studying history and coming from a redlined neighborhood he understands the long-term harm that can come from mismanagement and not having your community valued.
In his work Hunter corresponds with the Washington State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Sovereign Indigenous Tribes, who since time in memorial have stewarded our lands, and depend on the salmon. Different tribes have interest in different areas and operate in their own ways. In his daily work Hunter has helped the effort to restore thousands of acres of prime habitat for salmonid species which are essential for the Pacific Northwest ecosystem - and our identity.
While not working Hunter is a board member on 2 non-profit boards:
Parks Tacoma -Nature and Environmental Council and College Success Foundation Tacoma Alumni Board.
Hunter is the current Worshipful Master of Fairweather #82 (president) whose lodge focuses on community support and philanthropy to local non-profits in the area.
When not providing organizational support, Hunter enjoys foraging for wild edibles and hiking with his wife and five shepski dogs. He enjoys cooking and creating dishes from the food he forages.
Hunter is not a career politician - nor does he aspire to be one. He is just a regular guy who wants to help his community. He is not bought out by special interests, nor will he sell out to them. All he wants is a better Tacoma for everyone.