From Ankita Patel, president of the Washington State Budget and Policy Center board of directors:
I am excited to announce that Eli Taylor Goss (they/he) is the Washington State Budget and Policy Center’s new executive director. Eli joins us from OneAmerica, a statewide immigrant power-building organization, where they spent the last six years as the organization’s policy director – often partnering with the Budget and Policy Center team on shared efforts to advance justice for immigrants and refugees.
Our board and staff were all very impressed by the vision Eli offered for building on our new theory of change to create an equitable tax code and a budget that lifts up everyone in our state. We were also impressed by their focus on relationship-building, and by their recognition that organizations must have strong relationships both internally and externally with coalitions, community leaders, and decision makers to move bold policies forward in trying times.
In addition to his role at OneAmerica, his background also includes working at NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, the Washington Student Association, and the Washington State Labor Council. They have over a decade of experience organizing with grassroots communities, advocacy coalitions, and the legislature.
They’ve contributed to over 25 legislative wins across immigration, reproductive rights, and higher education in Washington state – amid a changing state and federal landscape. As some highlights, they have supported lobbying and advocacy efforts to win: over $340 million for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund; $25 million for resettlement supports for asylum seekers; and permanent grant funding for K-12 dual-language classrooms. In addition, their work has helped: ensure subsidized child care and reproductive health care are accessible to every family regardless of citizenship status; strengthen the Washington Voting Rights Act; and support the Budget and Policy Center’s efforts to pass the Working Families Tax Credit and capital gains tax.
Eli brings a deep understanding of the importance of research, policy, advocacy, strategic communications, and power-building in creating systemic change. His experience growing up in Texas and experience with the safety nets and policies that our organization champions fuel his passion and gives him a profound understanding of the tangible impact these policies can have on individuals’ lives.
As a trans leader, Eli is also driven by the desire to ensure that every person in Washington has access to resources that allow them to thrive and live a dignified life with self-agency and economic security.
Eli will start their role as executive director of the Budget and Policy Center later this month. They will travel to Washington, D.C. the first week of December to attend the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ IMPACT conference – along with Budget and Policy Center colleagues and other economic justice leaders around the nation. They look forward to connecting with our partners and friends widely in the new year.
Our interim executive director, Esther Handy, will continue through December 20 to help onboard Eli and wrap up some internal projects. We are so grateful to Esther – and the whole amazing Budget and Policy Center team – for the many ways they are continuing to advance the organization’s work during this time of transition. On behalf of the board of directors, I continue to be thankful for the strong team we have in place that is rooted in culture, vision, and advocacy.
Eli, welcome to the Washington State Budget and Policy Center! We are ready for this next chapter.