Meet Kaylia!

Kaylia started at Rainier Athletes four years ago and quickly became a central connector on our team.

Her impact is felt by all stakeholders in the RA community as she bounces from staff one-on-ones to school check-ins and mentor trainings. As our Community Team Manager, Kaylia witnesses firsthand that RA's mentoring movement changes lives every day.

How did you first get involved in RA?

When I saw the role at RA, I thought it was a joke because it sounded so perfect for me…it was serendipitous. I was interested in working with kids, grew up being passionate about sports, and wanted to work in operations. My thought process was that if they don’t hire me, I’ll become a volunteer mentor because the mission resonated with me so much.

I got the job! After a couple years as Operations Coordinator, I became the Community Team Manager. Every day looks different. I support our Community Team as they in turn support students, families, and mentors. I also work on recruiting mentors and getting them up and running in the program. Are you or someone you know interested in mentoring? Send them my way!  

What makes you look forward to going to work?

My favorite part of the job is getting to make genuine connections and working with a variety of people with different backgrounds and life experiences. Students, families, mentors, partners, and especially our staff…we are a human connection organization.

The most rewarding part of my job is when somebody trusts me enough to share something vulnerable that’s going on in their life. Having that trust is a big honor, and I hold these moments close to my heart.

I also love the culture of our staff and the supportive environment which makes me feel valued. We lead with compassion and grace - nobody’s perfect, everybody’s human. 

What is RA’s superpower?

We are a people-first organization. It’s about how we as a community can support each other. The connections we’re making are extremely intentional and genuine. I really feel like we’re a whole community making a difference.

What is your superpower?

I understand the little details AND the big picture. I have a bird’s eye view of what needs to happen, but I can also see all the puzzle pieces that impact relationships and processes. 

What is your most powerful RA moment?

I’ve had so many powerful moments! The experience I’ll share today happened early on in my almost four years at RA, and shaped my interactions with students since it first happened! 

A student I was mentoring was struggling in almost all of their classes. After seeking some advice, one of my own role models asked me to consider what success looked like for this particular student. They challenged me to think beyond the perceived success of high grades. Success for this student might be something different. After sitting with this idea, working with this student totally reframed my definition of “success.” I realized this student learning to advocate for themselves was the true success far beyond any grade. We worked on this for months…how do you know what you need? How do you have the courage to ask for what you need? How can you communicate and share information about you that affects you everyday? Going through this process also taught me that it’s the student’s choice to follow through. I can offer support and guidance, but ultimately the student gets to make their own decision and is responsible for their actions.

That student ended up communicating to their teachers something personal about themselves that would help better engage with their teachers. It took time to build up to that. This student was not only proud of themself for advocating, but also was affirmed as they received positive responses. Later, this same student shared with me how they were taking action and advocating for themselves in a variety of other situations! They were making choices that set them up for their own definition of success and showed me the impact of supporting students on their own unique paths.

What inspires you? 

I’m always really inspired when someone is open to trying new things or has the courage to put themselves out there - like being vulnerable in a mentor/mentee relationship! I’m also inspired by reading Identity Statements. They’re so cool because they’re an invitation for someone to get to know the student in their own words.

And our team inspires me..the heart everybody has and the way that we all work together and support the community is something truly special. 

What are you like outside of RA?

I’m one of 10 kids and the importance of family is a top value of mine. I love cooking, eating, and gathering with people around the table.

I also love sports! As a kid I was always climbing on things and running around. My mom said I had “baby muscles.” Sports taught me so much about teamwork, discipline, and how hard work can come to fruition over a season. Volleyball is my main thing now, but I love to jump into other activities like soccer at RA’s annual Turkey Cup. Plus I’m a huge Seahawks fan!

I actually met my husband playing volleyball. We’ve been married for three years now. He and I went through the green card application process and after multiple years of waiting he was approved for his green card at the beginning of 2022! Being able to witness someone getting approved and then going back to visit their home country (Mexico in this case!) was really amazing - especially when it’s someone you love!