Red Winged Leaders in the Community

These Red Winged Leaders are all dedicated to serving the community. Our goal is to both recognize and give back to the winning finalist. The Albers School has generously donated a graduate student consulting engagement as a prize for this year’s Red Winged Leadership Award recipient. Working with a faculty-guided student consulting team, the winning finalist will have the opportunity to work with the student consultants on a business project related to his or her business. At the end of the project, the student team will provide their analyses and recommendations to the award recipient in a written report and an in-person presentation.  In addition, cash prizes in the amount of $3000 to the winner and $1000 to each of the other two finalists were awarded, thanks to the generous donation of an anonymous corporate supporter.

2010 Red Winged Award Winners

Rahwa Habte
2010 Red Winged Leadership Award Winner

Rahwa is co-owner of the restaurant Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood. “Hidmo” means “home” and, for many, a sense of home is exactly what Rahwa is cultivating through her restaurant. Rahwa’s mission for the restaurant is not only to foster community, but also to increase the visibility and availability of art, music, media culture and cuisine in the Central District through socially responsible actions. Rahwa loves her neighborhood and is passionate about addressing different social issues affecting it, creating pride, cultivating a safe space and open dialogue for all, and fostering local creativity and talent.

Dylan Higgins
2010 Red Winged Leadership Award Finalist

Dylan Higgins was one of two finalists for the inaugural Red WInged Leadership Award. As CEO and Co-Founder of SaveTogether.org, he hopes to inspire us to save and invest in our futures and the futures of others. Dylan was called to promote saving as a path out of poverty while working in Ghana in the spring of 2008. Upon his return, he resolved to pair his professional skills as a technology executive and a lawyer with his desire to re-introduce the world to the power of responsible savings and investing. In October 2009, SaveTogether.org launched. The website currently features over 30 savers and provides a space for donors to read saver stories and make donations to help those in need reach their savings goals.

Linda Ruthruff
2010 Red Winged Leadership Award Finalist

Linda Ruthruff was also chosen as a finalist for the Red Winged Leadership Award. Linda is Executive Director of Street Bean Espresso, a coffee shop in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle that aims to “equip homeless and street involved youth to leave street life and sex trafficking through supportive employment.” Through Street Bean, Linda has created a meaningful and steady employment opportunity for street youth and provides employees with a renewed sense of purpose and pride. She implements sustainable business practices, serving fair trade coffee, sourcing from local suppliers, providing top notch training, and engaging the local business community.