ABOUT Isaac
“I am a scholar, student and advocate of love. I approach all of my life with a love ethic knowing that love is the key to liberation and freedom. I see the care of the community and the sharing of knowledge as tools I use for justice. Utilizing these tools, I trust and center honesty with clients I serve to create the chemical reaction we need to make the changes necessary to make this world fit for everyone to thrive in.”
Isaac Andrew Sanders received their BA from the University of Tulsa, their MSW from the University of Kansas, and is a current PhD student at the University of Washington School of Social Work. Sanders grew up as a military brat with firm familial roots in Kansas & Oklahoma. They have followed in their grandmother's footsteps, supporting the community through acts of service and education. An afro-indigenous two spirit non-binary person, belonging to the Muskogee tribe, Sanders' work is influenced by their lived experience and devotion to equity.
Sanders' research area of focus is in homelessness, its disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC young people, and ways to bring systems of care into the 21st century. Sanders has worked, primarily, in the youth homelessness field. Sanders has led multiple counties in Washington to functionally reduce their active youth homeless population. An expert in positive youth development strategy, Sanders has worked with youth and young adults to impact governmental and local change through empowering young adults to advocate for change while demanding providers listen.
Sanders has also co-authored two published articles, one being academic poems, focusing on the experiences of rural trans/gender non-conforming youth. Most recently, Sanders has maintained a statewide black indigenous people of color (BIPOC) caucus group for youth homelessness workers in Washington. They also have served as the board chair on two queer orgs consulting organizational change and program development. Sanders has facilitated justice based training and seminars including restorative justice, anti-black frameworks, and much more.
Sanders enjoys anime, has a 2 year old dog named Megumi, is a bell hooks fanatic, and is excited to bring all of themselves into their work. You can check out their CV here
