Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney

WHEREAS, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney, raised in Wapato, Washington, 1
was the daughter of Mexican migrant farmworkers and spent her early 2
years laboring in the fields of Eastern Washington; and3
WHEREAS, From a young age, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney witnessed the 4
struggles of farmworkers and was inspired by her father's passion for 5
helping others, leading her to a lifelong commitment to social 6
justice and public service; and 7
WHEREAS, In 1967, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney cofounded The Latino 8
Association, which launched volunteer programs providing educational 9
and child care services for migrant children, an effort that later 10
evolved into the Washington Citizens for Migrant Affairs, now known 11
as Inspire, securing federal funding for child care centers across 12
Eastern Washington; and 13
WHEREAS, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney was instrumental in founding 14
the Educational Institute for Rural Families in Pasco, Washington, 15
and the Yakima Valley Farmworkers Health Centers, addressing critical 16
health and education needs in underserved communities; and17
WHEREAS, In 1976, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney transitioned to 18
Seattle to work for the Employment Security Department, where she 19
ultimately served as Assistant Commissioner, advocating for workforce 20
development and employment equity; and 21
WHEREAS, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney served as President of the 22
Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she championed 23
SENATE RESOLUTION
8646
By Senators Valdez, Saldaña, Ramos, Cortes, Alvarado, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Pedersen,
Lovick, Conway, Hansen, and Orwall
p. 1 8646
and advocated for opportunities for small, women, and minority-1
owned businesses; and 2
WHEREAS, In 1997, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney was appointed and 3
subsequently elected to represent Washington's 46th Legislative 4
District in the House of Representatives, serving with 5
distinction for 16 years until 2013; and 6
WHEREAS, During her tenure, Representative Kenney chaired 7
the Community Development and Housing Committee and served on 8
multiple committees addressing education, labor, and economic 9
development, always prioritizing the needs of working families 10
and historically marginalized communities; and 11
WHEREAS, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney was a staunch advocate for 12
expanding access to higher education, sponsoring legislation to 13
allow branch campuses to offer four-year degrees, providing in-14
state tuition for undocumented students, and establishing 15
Opportunity Grants to support low-income students in high-demand 16
fields; and 17
WHEREAS, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney played a pivotal role in 18
the passage of the REAL Hope Act, also known as the Dream Act, 19
and championed the Integrated Basic Education and Skills 20
Training Program, which was nationally recognized as a model for 21
workforce and ESL education; and 22
WHEREAS, Beyond the legislature, Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney 23
continued her service as Vice President of Leadership and 24
Economic Development at Sea Mar Community Health Centers, 25
furthering opportunities for communities across Washington 26
State; and 27
WHEREAS, Her legacy of leadership, resilience, and 28
dedication to equity continues to inspire generations of public 29
servants, advocates, and community leaders; 30
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State 31
Senate recognize and honor Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney for her 32
outstanding contributions to public service, education, health 33
care, and economic development; and 34
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate 35
encourage all residents of Washington State to reflect on the 36
impact of Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney's work and celebrate the 37
lasting contributions she has made to the state and beyond.38
p. 2 8646
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 1
do hereby certify that this is a true and 2
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8646, 3
adopted by the Senate 4
April 10, 2025 5
SARAH BANNISTER 6
Secretary of the Senate 7
p. 3 8646