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New Whatcom leader Miriam Karamoko: ‘Entire community is ready for something different’

They will serve as Racial Equity Commission ‘road map leader’

By Cocoa Laney Lifestyle Editor

Miriam Karamoko is relatively new to Whatcom County, but is poised to become a familiar face. In August 2024, the Seattle transplant and Western Washington University graduate was named inaugural executive director of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC).

WREC is a quasi-governmental entity established in 2022 to “gather, review, and evaluate data and to make recommendations on eliminating racial inequities, in all its forms, throughout Whatcom County.” Under Karamoko’s guidance, it will serve as an advisory board for institutions including local governments and schools.

As Karamoko, who uses they/them pronouns, gets to know the community, they’re “saying yes to everything” — whether that be speaking to local organizations or attending events. For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they’re hosting a discussion with Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship on Jan. 17 then presenting at WWU’s MLK Day celebration on Jan. 18. 

In a predominantly white county, racial disparities “hide within our community’s averages and systems,” the website states, from health outcomes to early childhood education. WREC aims to “turn the curve” on these inequities — and by extension, improve the lives of about 15% of Whatcom County’s population.

“As long as we have allies that continue to challenge us, and push us to do better, and support us,” Karamoko said, “I think something really wonderful is going to come from the commission.”

Karamoko’s background

A native of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, Karamoko, was drawn to racial equity work in part because of the lasting effects of colonization. Early encounters with racism — including being “slowly ushered” out of a store to accommodate white French shoppers — at first provoked curiosity: “Why is the world the way that it is? Why am I feeling so dejected and rejected? What did I do?”

At age 14, Karamoko immigrated to Tacoma, a community they still love deeply. But despite the city’s diversity, Karamoko struggled to feel fully accepted and seen. Their curiosity morphed into anger: “This is not right. We all deserve so much better. We can all do so much better.” 

Karamoko went on to earn a degree in psychology, researching intergroup relations and racism, and social justice. Working at Western’s Center for Education, Equity and Diversity, they finally “found their people” — plus a profound sense of healing. 

To this day, their role requires “[finding] ways to do this work that still brings life and joy, while also making social change,” Karamoko said. “It’s not easy. It doesn’t always feel great — but that’s ultimately what I feel like I’m called to do.”


From 2019–2024, Karamoko worked as the community engagement manager at the Community Center for Education Results (CCER) in South Seattle, facilitating the Community Leadership Team. This team functioned as an advisory body for the Road Map Project, an initiative to “boost student success from early learning to college and career” in seven King County school districts.

During this time Karamoko also received a prestigious, yearlong Nexus Fellowship with The Equity Lab. The fellowship caters to senior social change leaders and equips them with “the highest leverage tools to transform communities, organizations and systems to advance equity, justice and liberation.”

Miriam Karamoko, far left, at the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama as part of their Nexus fellowship. (Photo courtesy of Miriam Karamoko)

Work with WREC

Karamoko’s role at WREC is new, but communities in Whatcom County have been organizing since George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Development of a racial equity commission was approved by the Whatcom County Council in 2021, and WREC was officially established in October 2022. These efforts were also instrumental in affirming racism as a public health crisis in November 2020. 

“One of [WREC’s] taglines is ‘from protest to policy,’ which is really wonderful,” Karamoko said. “This commission is a result of community coming together, making decisions together — and then also holding Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham as partners, and accountable to this kind of work.” 

WREC is under the fiscal umbrella of the Chuckanut Health Foundation and funded by an interlocal agreement between the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Karamoko’s role will be that of a “road map leader,” guiding the 30-odd members in making consensus-based decisions.

“Everyone has to say yes in order for us to move forward, which is a lot harder,” Karamoko said. “[But] it really allows us to sit down and talk to each other, versus moving very quickly with the majority — which is, I think, one of the tenets of racial equity.”

Right now Karamoko is focused on building connections with commissioners, local leaders and the community. In their first three months, they spent nearly 90 hours speaking with commissioners one-on-one.

“I think this community realizes and recognizes that the systems are not working — or, maybe they are working how they were intended to work — but something needs to change.”

Miriam Karamoko

Using data from these conversations, the commission defined 12 specific “areas of interest” for WREC’s work: economic mobility, justice system, education, mental health, racism (systemic and structural), health, environmental justice, food security, housing, substance use, immigration and county participatory processes.

These interviews add to existing research by WREC, namely a qualitative study conducted from May 2021–22. It consisted of 32 focus groups and more than 60 hours of conversations, culminating in a 42-page report on Whatcom County’s diverse communities.

All this paints a detailed picture of equity gaps in Whatcom County — but in 2025, Karamoko said the commission will dig further into solutions. Karamoko is currently drafting a strategic communications plan, and the commission will collectively outline “concrete next steps” at an upcoming retreat. 

“This entire community is ready for something different,” Karamoko said. “I think this community realizes and recognizes that the systems are not working — or, maybe they are working how they were intended to work — but something needs to change.”

Miriam Karamoko, right, chats with Sharayah Lane about her book at the Bellingham Public Schools’ event, Centering Black Excellence, on Jan. 14. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)

New year, new approach

In establishing WREC’s next steps, Karamoko said “one of the biggest challenges is that people ultimately want something different, but they’re resistant to change, because what’s already here is familiar.” Still, Karamoko is heartened by the group’s desire to prioritize collectivism.

“That’s ultimately the goal of wanting a culture shift within Whatcom County, where it’s not individuals,” they said. “We want you to care and to love your neighbors fully — because that’s what everyone deserves.”

Those looking to get involved more directly with WREC can attend the organization’s monthly hybrid meetings. Karamoko said the organization is establishing committees and work groups, both of which will be open to the community. Those interested in volunteering can email WREC directly at wrec@chuckanuthealthfoundation.com.

Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.

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