Executive Director
El Sánchez
they/them/elle
El@pizzaklatch.org / (360) 339-7574 ext. 105
About
El Sánchez is a queer/transgender/nonbinary and Indigenous/Chicanx community activist who joined PK in 2018 as a staff Facilitator. Formerly a stand-up comedian for over a decade, they applied for a staff position at PK after being booked to perform comedy at a Pizza Klatch fundraiser. Although El grew up all over Washington state, from a small farming community in Lewis County to the Quinault Tribal Nation on the Olympic Peninsula, they have always considered Olympia home.
A graduate of The Evergreen State College in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree focused on constitutional law, tribal law, and social sciences, El has been a featured performer and speaker at LGBTQ+ comedy shows, Pride events, and LGBTQ+ focused panels and discussions throughout the country. They have been excited to utilize both their QTPOC lived experience and their background in LGBTQ+ community organizing to benefit queer and trans youth, especially those in small rural communities like the ones they grew up in.
El currently resides in Olympia where they split their time between their daughter, 15 plants on the brink of death and their black cat Ahbahdeen the Key (named by her 7 year old).
Programming Manager
Shannon Murphree
she/they
Shannon@pizzaklatch.org / (360) 339-7574 ext. 106
About
Shannon is a white, lesbian former high school teacher who grew up in rural New York State and moved to Washington in 2016 to teach in Mason County. She graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a BA in English Education, and from the University of Colorado at Denver with an MA in Rhetoric and Teaching Writing. Fifteen years in the classroom gave her an abiding determination to empower young people to think, speak and write with their truth and power.
Shannon spends her time entertaining her giant dogs, creating weird art, and playing in the garden. She lives in Olympia with her partner and daughter.
Facilitator/Advocate
Lauren Miller
she/her
Lauren@pizzaklatch.org / (360) 339-7574 ext. 107
ABOUT
Lauren is a gender non-conforming woman and a lesbian. She has lived in the Thurston county area her whole life. Pizza Klatch was recommended as a volunteer opportunity by her therapist at the time. And, how life changing it was! Helping others helped Lauren overcome a depressive slump, so she is eager to give back in any way she can. Lauren volunteered at Tenino High School for almost 3 years before getting hired at Pizza Klatch.
Lauren recently moved into an apartment in Olympia with her long-term partner, Jaden, just 2 weeks after being hired! When not entertaining their 2 adopted cats and rescue crested gecko, Lauren is playing video games, preparing for her next D&D session, and probably researching some random, obscure rabbit hole online.