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Meet Kiyomi Arbuckle: Community Services Program Coordinator

Post Date:09/09/2024

Kiyomi Arbuckle Headshot Kiyomi uses her experience in nonprofit work and passion for human services to partner with local organizations and provide supportive services for Hillsboro residents. Her energy, enthusiasm, ideas, and relationship-building skills strengthen the City's homelessness initiatives, advance proactive solutions, and support programs that create opportunities and offer assistance.

Kiyomi is helping to advance Hillsboro’s Year-Round Shelter Project, with construction expected to begin this winter. Visit Engage Hillsboro to learn more & ask questions.

We asked Kiyomi to share what makes her work so meaningful to her and to Hillsboro community members.

Kiyomi, tell us about yourself.

Kiyomi poses with her brother and parents in holiday pijamas I was born and raised in San Jose, California and moved to Portland in June 2024. I graduated from the University of Oregon where I began my studies in Biology because my mom suffers from fibromyalgia, and I was determined to find a cure. As I found my passion for direct service, I quickly changed my focus and instead earned a degree in Family & Human Services and Ethnic Studies. Right after college, I began my career by working in nonprofit with jobs at a women’s rehabilitation facility, homeless shelter, and a home for seniors with developmental disabilities.

Outside of work, I enjoy going to the beach, trying new foods, antiquing, attempting to recreate dishes my dad made me, playing video games, and binge-watching reality tv — ask me about the Real Housewives!

But my all-time favorite thing to do is spend time with my super funny, loving, and over-communicative family. We’re a family of four, including my parents, my older brother, and myself. My dad is a music producer, my mom has worked at the same company since she was 18 years old, and my brother works as a learning specialist. The hardest part about moving to Hillsboro has been not being able to go to their houses and go shopping in their kitchens after they’ve done a big Costco run!

Travelling is a new favorite as well! Last year, I got my first passport and visited another country for the first time. I went to London and Paris with my family, then took a solo trip to Germany to explore and visit a friend from college – I give Germany a 10/10 recommendation and can’t wait to plan my next trip!

What inspired you to work for the City of Hillsboro as Community Services Program Coordinator?

Kiyomi Arbuckle poses with the Eiffel Tower My mother and her family moved to Hillsboro in the 1970s when my grandfather began working for Intel. The family lived here for a few years before they made their next move.

Growing up, my family often visited Oregon and when we drove through Hillsboro, my mom would show me her childhood home and middle school, which doesn’t exist anymore.

When I finally decided it was time to move out of California, I found the Community Services Program Coordinator position. Not only was it my absolute dream job, it happened to be in Hillsboro — which totally freaked my mom out — so of course I had to apply!

It makes me so happy that Hillsboro is addressing the issues of homelessness in the community, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it! I remember going back to re-read the application again and again because I couldn’t believe how perfect it was… I’m so lucky to be a part of this team.

How does your job directly benefit Hillsboro community members?

Every single person in this City deserves equal access to resources and services. Increasing access to a multitude of services will benefit every person in this community.

What is the most inspiring part of your job?

I get to work with so many different departments within the City, but I also get to work with nonprofits and businesses who provide services for our community members. I absolutely love working with our service providers. The hard work they do every single day benefits our community so much. The most inspiring part of all of this is getting to watch our amazing community members benefit from these services.

What goals are you focusing on?

As a City, we’re currently working to build Hillsboro’s first year-round shelter with capacity for 75 guests in congregate sleeping areas and individual pod- shelters. I would love to maintain the City’s livability for everyone and create sustainable solutions to houselessness within the community.

As you reach out to community members for input and feedback, what are you hoping to hear?

I hope to hear honest, real feedback regarding the City’s community services. I would love to hear positive feedback, as well as what we can do to create a greater, more livable community for you.

Tell me, what does your City of Hillsboro look like?

Who inspires you?

My grandparents inspire me. Being from both a Black and Japanese family, all of my grandparents experienced great hardship from racism to being imprisoned in Japanese Internment Camps. I’ve watched all four of my grandparents build lives from nothing and give their families the world. They’ve taught me to strive for my goals and achieve them unapologetically.

Not only do they inspire me for being amazing humans, but they’re all still active and live every single day to the fullest. They remind me every day why working hard is so important — it’s all going to pay off. I’m so fortunate to have all four of them, it’s almost too much wisdom sometimes!

What do you like most about Hillsboro?

After my final in-person interview at the Hillsboro Civic Center, I could still feel my nerves and I was really craving some comfort food. For me, comfort food is Japanese food. I was able to find the Japanese restaurant Syun Izakaya within walking distance, so I went there. I ordered one of my favorite comfort meals — Sake Chazuke. It’s something I would often make in college because it’s just rice and tea. The first bite took me back to my grandma’s kitchen at breakfast on a Saturday morning — it tasted just like hers! That dish is now my all-time favorite thing in Hillsboro.