Meet your allies

Essek was originally born in Seattle and grew up as a military child, living on nearly every coast in the United States. Their journey has taken them from Palmer, Alaska to Charleston, South Carolina to Puerto Rico, giving them a wide view of people and places across the country. They made Spokane their home in 2019 and see themselves staying well into the future.

Essek happens to be one of Triumph Services’ very first clients, which makes their connection to the organization especially meaningful. With Triumph’s support, they landed a job as an alteration specialist at a local bridal shop, a role they absolutely loved until the shop eventually closed.

The support and guidance they received from Triumph made a lasting impact on their life. For the first time, they felt genuinely seen, heard, and supported in a workplace journey that matched their strengths and passions. Triumph helped them discover a role in where they felt valued and excited to show up every day, which became a turning point in their confidence and sense of direction. Because of that experience, they felt inspired to pursue work in social services so they could return the favor and help others find jobs that bring them joy, dignity, and a genuine sense of belonging.

Essek shares their home with two beloved pet pigeons named Gandalf and Bridges. They are also a skilled seamster and a digital artist who primarily draws characters from James Cameron's "Avatar" and feminine presenting figures. In their free time they enjoy gaming, watching movies that feature puppetry with a particular soft spot for John Carpenter’s “The Thing”, and hunting down fun facts and dad jokes from every corner of the world.

A quote they hold close comes from Peter Cullen during his interview to voice Optimus Prime. “Be strong enough to be gentle.”