Stories of Hope Speakers
Senator Manka Dhingra, Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate
Manka Dhingra is Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate. She brings two decades of experience as a prosecutor and behavioral health expert to her role as chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. She also serves on the Health & Long-Term Care Committee and the Ways & Means Committee.
During her time in the Senate, Senator Dhingra founded the Senate Behavioral Health Subcommittee and helped pass legislation and funding to transform the Washington state behavioral health system, reorienting it around prevention as well as improving crisis response. She is one of the state’s key proponents of expanding the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and she continues to strive to ensure that Washingtonians with behavioral health needs get the treatment they need and deserve.
Dhingra has been a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office since 2000. As Chair of the Therapeutic Alternative Unit, she helped develop and oversee the Regional Mental Health Court, the Veterans Court, and the Community Assessment and Referral for Diversion program. As a mental health and crisis intervention expert, she has also been an instructor at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement officers to reduce the risk of tragedy and improve the response to people in crisis.
Padrica Hoffman, Executive Director
As the Executive Director of Plymouth Healing Communities, Padrica Hoffman leads a dynamic team of professionals who provide housing and companionship to those in Seattle suffering from chronic homelessness and mental illness. With over a decade of experience as a professional leader driven to advocate for those less fortunate, she has earned the reputation of being a visionary, an authentic listener, and an agile innovator. Padrica realizes that true joy in life comes from serving and believing in something greater than yourself.
Robie Flannagan, Board President
Robie was born and raised in Texas and relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2000, where it immediately felt like home. As a current Resident On-Site Manager for a property management company, a Certified Peer Counselor at Harborview, and former Volunteer Companion at Plymouth House of Healing, Robie embodies the values of Plymouth Healing Communities. She stepped into the Board President role at Plymouth Healing Communities in 2023 to support the new leadership and direction of the organization. Robie is also a loving mom, wife, stepmom, Nana, and USMC Veteran.
Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown, Plymouth Church UCC Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Kelle J. Brown is the senior pastor of Plymouth Church United Church of Christ in downtown Seattle. She is a vocal presence for justice in Seattle and beyond. Kelle is a tri-chair of the Poor People's Campaign and invites those she meets to follow Howard Thurman's sage wisdom: "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
