Mike Anderson, Board Vice Chair

When our son Kevin was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome at Stanford, our world changed in an instant, but a deeper realization unfolded over time.

As he grew, my wife and I began to understand that the greatest challenge wouldn’t just be education or support services, it would be something more fundamental: What would be his place in the world?

One moment has stayed with me.

As a young man, he expressed in his own way a simple desire—to have a job. Not just something to do, but a place to go, a team to be part of, a reason to contribute. Like any of us, he wants to be needed.

And yet, finding consistent, meaningful employment has been difficult.

That tension—between his desire to contribute and the limited opportunities available—is what makes Northwest Center’s mission so deeply personal to me.

Northwest Center doesn’t just talk about inclusion—it builds it. It creates real opportunities for people to work, to grow, and to experience the dignity that comes from being part of something larger than themselves.

I joined this Board because I believe in that work—not abstractly, but personally. I see my son in the mission every day. And I know there are countless families asking the same question we’ve asked: Will there be a place for them?

Being part of Northwest Center is, for me, a way to help answer that question with a confident and hopeful “yes.” It’s an honor to serve alongside all of you in that effort.