About Lyle quasim

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Lyle Quasim’s story reads like the blueprint for transformative Black leadership – a man forged in the fires of civil rights, nurtured by the grit and labor of his ancestors, and steadfast in his pursuit of justice for the people. Born Lyle Rogers in 1943 on the South Side of Chicago, Quasim carries with him the echoes of the Pullman porters and the cadence of Black socialism passed down from his mother, Ophelia. His roots stretch deep into the soil of organized struggle – the kind that builds movements and demands recognition for the overlooked and underserved.

Quasim’s journey didn’t begin with grand titles or accolades; it started with community, sacrifice, and the unrelenting belief that Black liberation is not a dream but a duty. In 1966, he donned an Air Force uniform, serving as a medic during Vietnam – a war abroad that mirrored battles for equality at home. When the war ended, he planted himself in Tacoma, Washington, channeling his energy into education, earning degrees in sociology and public service. But Quasim wasn’t interested in accolades; he was about action.

As the Director of Washington’s psychiatric hospitals and later as the state’s Mental Health Director, Quasim reimagined mental health care, not as a cold bureaucracy but as a lifeline for those living on the margins. Then, with sleeves rolled up, he took the streets. His leadership of the Safe Streets Campaign wasn’t just about policy; it was about meeting people where they lived – confronting gang violence, fostering hope, and transforming communities one block at a time.

Quasim’s rise to Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services – the first African American to do so – shattered glass ceilings and redefined what was possible for Black leadership in the Pacific Northwest. His appointment was more than just a title; it was a nod to the community, signaling that one of their own held the power to shape the systems that governed their lives.

Through every role – as chief of staff for Pierce County or president of Bates Technical College – Quasim anchored himself to the collective good. And at the heart of his work lies the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective – a sanctuary of Black thought, power, and unity that he co-founded and nurtured since the 1970s.

Quasim stands as both historian and futurist – reminding us that the work isn’t finished. His accolades, from national awards to board appointments, reflect a life of service, but if you ask him, the true reward is in the hands he’s shaken, the policies he’s influenced, and the communities he’s helped to uplift.

Lyle Quasim is not just a leader; he is a living testament to the resilience, brilliance, and indomitable spirit of Black advocacy.