February is Black History Month Black - an important time that promotes, honors and seeks to educate others on the rich history of African Americans, while commemorating the numerous achievements that helped build and continue to shape this nation.
We are celebrating this month while we continue on our journey toward becoming a more just, equal and more inclusive Sound Transit.
Our Blacks Empowering Success in Transit (BEST) employee resource group has planned an incredible schedule of events throughout the month - from raising the Pan-African flag outside Union Station to virtual events for beignet baking and soul line dancing.
Assistant Civil Engineer Christopher Adams joined BEST shortly after starting his career at Sound Transit a year and a half ago. He joined the agency shortly after graduating from the University of Washington.
Adams is this month's Inside Sound Transit feature, where we introduce you to the people working to make it easier to get to where you live, work and play!
He said he joined BEST to continue getting the value he received from being part of student groups geared towards setting up Black people for success, and to have more interaction with Black colleagues.
"Even though I had high hopes for BEST, I did not imagine that it would be so impactful to me and a space where I have started to become more comfortable being myself at work," he said. "I am grateful to be a part of the BEST community."
Inclusion and respect are some of Sound Transit's core values - not just for our employees, but for our passengers as well.
Q: What do you tell your friends you do for work?
A: I work as a Civil Engineer at Sound Transit, and help identify what rights we need for the construction and existence of Sound Transit projects on public and private property, especially on WSDOT property.
Q: What’s your passion outside of your job?
A: At an early age, my parents instilled in me the importance of helping others. So many people have positively impacted me and helped me throughout my life, and I want to do the same for other people. On top of helping others, spending time with family and friends, and traveling, I love to dance. This may come as a surprise to those who are not close to me (because it definitely does not show in most public settings), but one of my brothers likes to say that I cannot take two steps without dancing.
Q: How do you get to work?
A: Prior to the pandemic, I would walk to the nearby bus stop and take a short bus ride to work.
Q: What three things would you take with you to a desert island (besides food and water)?
A: A guide on how to survive and escape a desert island, a survival kit and a toothbrush.