Sharlett Mena

Sharlett Mena is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, a public servant, and a community organizer.

Sharlett is a leader in the Washington State Department of Ecology where she works with governments and stakeholders to protect clean air and water, implement climate action, and advance environmental justice. Prior to joining Ecology, Sharlett worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Washington State Senate, and for Washington Governor Jay Inslee.  She has a decade of experience advancing policy to help working families at various levels of government.

Outside of work, Sharlett is an active community organizer, leading actions for immigration reform and to advance voting rights. In August of 2021, she co-created Voter Turnup, a movement led by people of color to engage and empower each other through voter registration, cultural expression, and civic engagement.

Sharlett is an elected Precinct Committee Officer for the 29th Legislative District Democrats and a Board Member of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council. She also serves on the Boards of Fuse Washington, Progreso, and the Planned Parenthood Votes Washington Political Action Committee. Sharlett is also appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve on the Governor’s Pandemic After Action Review Task Force as a representative of the immigrant community.

Sharlett was born and raised in the Tri-Cities, Washington. She is a first generation Mexican-American and the first in her family to graduate from college. Her parents were farm worker and met cutting meat at a plant near the Tri-Cities. Sharlett’s upbringing in a working-class family informs her perspective and drives her work to empower working families through policy and change.