alumni My Turn
Take Five with Karinda Washington Still an advocate for Michigan and for EMU
Spend about five minutes talking to Karinda Washington (BS01) and you’ll know why the EMU Black Alumni Chapter is so successful. Washington, president of the EMUBA, has an infectious personality and is best described as a communicator, an event planner, a mentor and an agent for positive change. Her résumé is impressive—found- ing her own company while in her early 20s, running for Detroit City Council, landing her current job as an internal affairs specialist for the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C.—but she derives the most pleasure from volunteer work and bringing people together for a common cause, especially in southeast Michigan. Washington, a Detroit native, learned about volunteerism and social justice at an early age, thanks to parents who were active in non-profit organizations and believed in the power of helping others.
Here are five things we wanted to know: Eastern: How did going to EMU enhance your life?
Washington: The opportunities that Eastern Michigan provided definitely spearheaded my career. I was really able to explore my creative side in event planning, and I still use those skills today. I always talk about my time at EMU because it definitely helped make me who I am. I think the size of the campus helped. When I was look- ing at colleges, I liked some other schools, but if I had gone to them I don’t think I would have been able to plug into resources the way I could at EMU. I mean, with me it was to the point where I’d pass the president on campus and he’d say ‘Hey Karinda.’ He knew my name.
Eastern: Why is volunteerism so important to you?
Washington: It’s an opportunity for me to stay humble. Just know- ing that there are people in need,
38 Eastern | SUMMER 2011 Eastern: Where do you find inspiration?
Washington: I find inspiration in the interactions I have with young people, especially this next generation and the ideas that they have. They inspire me—their dreams, their goals and their aspirations. Working with the EMUBA and being on the scholar- ship committee, I get to see these 18, 19, 20-year-olds, and they’re impressive. My inspiration is definitely seeing them flourish.
Eastern: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Washington: That I inspire others to be better. I’ve received that compliment several times and it always makes me happy. It means that the work I do encourages other people to push them- selves to the limit. So someone is taking notice, and other people are watching what I do and then taking action themselves.
Eastern: If you could spend one day in Ypsilanti, how would you spend it?
Washington: It would have to be a day that there’s a football game, because I represent the Eagles no matter what—win or lose. I’d want to tour campus and just hang out there. I want to see the Village, because that wasn’t fin- ished when I graduated. It would be fun to see how the students live these days. Then I would tailgate and go to the football game. 3
by Darcy Giff ord
yet they still keep working to try to improve their lives, it’s humbling. It keeps me grounded, but it also gives me satisfac- tion at the end of the day to say that I did my part to help. I believe that volunteerism is essentially the core—and it’s rewarding to me.
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