in memory of mariano matias mendoza

We honor the memory of one of our community leaders who was taken from us too soon due to COVID-19.

Our Family Services Director, shares this: “Mariano Matias Mendoza immigrated to the US from Guatemala decades ago. He became fluent in English, his third language along with his native Mayan language Mam, and Spanish. He became a point-person and influencer among his fellow immigrants in Bremerton and beyond, and helped connect many people to housing, employment, healthcare and legal assistance. He was particularly instrumental in building trust between KIAC and our Guatemalan neighbors and he interacted frequently with KIAC’s co-founder, Martitha May.
I got to know him over the past few years because he often worked as a driver and translator, bringing people to appointments and connecting them to services they might not have known about. He supported others even as he sought a better life for himself and his family. He is greatly missed by those who knew him and those whom he impacted.” The Kitsap Sun published this article about Mariano and his legacy: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/08/08/bremerton-covid-coronavirus-deaths-leader-guatemalan-community/3324940001/