Meet us Monday: Effie Stansbery

Dog lover, gardener, humanitarian: Effie Stansbery wears many hats!

At Mercy Corps NW Effie serves as our L.I.F.E. Program Manager, Training & Communications Coordinator, and office jokester. As Training & Communications Coordinator Effie coordinates educational activities (7 business training events per month and 5 consulting sessions), develops seminar topics, manages the events calendar, acquires and schedules consultants, and oversees social media platforms. In the role of L.I.F.E. (Lifelong Information for Entrepreneurs) Program Manager Effie oversees a 32 week course inside Coffee Creek Correctional facility a women’s prison in Oregon. For Effie this work is about giving women access to education they otherwise would not have.

“We believe that knowledge is power and choice is power. It’s not just about starting a business. We’re here to help people feel competent and capable to excel in whatever career they choose.”

While under the umbrella of business education, the L.I.F.E. program provides so much more. It empowers women to live a healthy, well-balanced life. L.I.F.E. covers topics such as communication, healthy relationships, nutrition, renting, and employment. In summary, L.I.F.E. is a mix of life and business skill training focused on equity and empowerment. When asked what makes them most proud to work at MCNW Effie shared,

“I am proud to be a part of any organization that makes anything more equitable and accessible. Our education programs in the prison systems in Seattle and Portland do just that. Mercy Corps NW is impacting change on multiple levels and making education more accessible to people it would never be without this program.”

When not managing the L.I.F.E. program, setting up one of 144 business education events Mercy Corps NW provides a year, or spreading the word on social media platforms Effie enjoys relaxing at home with their partner and two adorable dogs Sola and Tido. Effie also loves visiting Seattle (where they used to live) and eating at Cafe Flora the best vegetarian spot in town. Effie wears many hats at Mercy Corps NW and always does so with a smile and a laugh not far behind. Effie has big plans for MCNW and we can’t wait to see what amazing things the future holds.