Panel Homelessness in Tacoma

Pamela Duncan began work as the President and CEO of Metropolitan Development Council in 2018. Pam brought more than 30 years of professional and personal work in community building and economic development, as well as education and grant making in the nonprofit and public sectors to her role with MDC. Pam is passionate about the promotion of equity and dismantling institutional and individual racism. She is also deeply committed to the well-being of young people and elevating the voices of our marginalized and vulnerable community members.

Gerrit Nyland is the Director of Client Information Systems SW at Catholic Community Services, co-chairs the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness, is a member of the Pierce County Coordinated Transportation Coalition, co-chairs the City of Tacoma Transportation Commission, is a board member with Communities in Schools Tacoma, and is a board member with the Northwest Furniture Bank. He has a BA in History and a Masters of Librarianship, and enjoys backpacking, cooking, sailing, and anything involving trains.

Duke Paulson is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission. He came to the mission with over 25 years of experience in raising awareness and building communities through his leadership roles at organizations including MultiCare Health Systems, Helping Hand House and Metropolitan Development Council.
Duke has a passion for building community and serving the most vulnerable among us. He and his lovely wife Amy have four beautiful children (2 boys and 2 girls). They live and work here in Pierce County and attend Anchor Church in Tacoma.

James Pogue has a Master's in Science of Clinical Counseling from Post University.  He has worked as a Mental Health Professional for over 12 years and is currently the Director of Homeless Services at Comprehensive Life Resources.  His two primary programs include a youth and young adult shelter as well as the largest homeless street outreach team that covers the entire county.  James currently co-chairs both the Pierce County Continuum of Care and the Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness.  He is a passionate advocate who believes that all individuals deserves a safe place to call home.