Catching Up With ...
        World champion softball player Bud Turner (June 24)
        U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Ruth Perkins (July 1)
        Seattle Sounders Women soccer player Jocelyn Charette (July 8)
        Teacher (and student) in Africa Libby Magnuson (July 15)
        European basketball pros Brandon Larrieu, Marcus Echols (July 22)

SPU fans: Let us know of other former Falcons we should 'Catch Up With'


SEATTLE – No question about it: There's a lot of everything in New York City.

Business and industry. Glitz and glamour. Yankee Stadium. Grand Central.

Plenty of people.

And plenty of poverty, too.

During her five years of living in Manhattan – indeed, the heartbeat of the city – Sarah Oltmans has seen it – the good and the bad.

While the former Seattle Pacific volleyball player takes some time to enjoy the good parts, she spends most of her time helping to eliminate the bad parts. The latter is through her job with the Robin Hood Foundation.

“We work with about 200 different organizations – education, early childhood programs, health, housing, homelessness – everything that affects poverty in New York City,” said Oltmans, a senior program officer who gives and evaluates grants, and whose areas of specialization are domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and immigrants. “We'll give away $148 million this year.”

The 1997 SPU grad, with a major in history and a minor in geography always figured she'd work with people in some way.

She just didn't think it would be in this way.

“I thought I would be a teacher, and maybe a coach, too,” said Oltmans, who arrived at Seattle Pacific from her hometown of Boulder, Colo., in 1993. “I think that's a common dream.”

In fact, Oltmans, still ranking No. 4 on SPU's all-time volleyball stats list for average blocks per game (1.08) did try her hand at coaching, serving as an assistant to SPU's JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner for two years after her playing career ended. She also worked as assistant in the school's sports information office for a year.

A SPECIAL CALLING – TO SOUTH AFRICA
Still, Oltmans knew something else was out there for her. She went to the University of Washington to obtain her master's in public administration, and enrolled in the Peace Corps Master's International program.

Part of the latter involved two years of Peace Corps service. For Oltmans, that was in South Africa from 2003-05.

“I knew there was a program that focused on non-profits, and my grad school work was focused on non-profits.

“It as an incredible two years.”

Residing in Khubvi (“It was a traditional African village – I lived in a hut.”) and working in the town of Thohoyanbou in the very northern part of the country, Oltmans linked up with two non-profit organizations. One was for victims of rape and domestic violence, the other offered HIV and AIDS education programs for girls and young women.

“You learn a lot about yourself,” Oltmans said. “Being in a different culture, making friends there, making friends with other Peace Corps volunteers – and a bunch of them live in the New York area. You learn about how you can help people.”

TAKING A BITE OUT OF BIG APPLE POVERTY
Into the job market after she returned from South Africa and completed her master's degree, Oltmans started with the Institute of International Education in New York.

But about a year later, in 2007, she went to the Robin Hood Foundation, which puts on some of the highest-profile benefit concerts (past performances have featured the Rolling Stones, Beyonce' and the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and other such events in the New York area.

“That's kind of how we're known,” Oltmans said. “But in reality, we're the largest organization to focus on poverty in New York City.”

Having done this for the past four years, Oltmans knows it's the right fit – and is thankful that it is. While she always had an idea of what she wanted to do, she remembers a time when she didn't know where – or how – she would do it.

“I probably didn't know this type of work existed,” she said. “I definitely saw myself in a field working with people and helping people. But I didn't have any idea that there were foundations.

“Honestly, this is a dream job.”

Though now at the opposite end of the country from SPU, her memories as a Falcon are still close. The one on the volleyball court that stands out was from the end of a long road trip. Playing at Alaska Fairbanks, SPU was down two games to none, but came back to take it in five.

“You would have thought we won a national championship, although clearly, we didn't,” Oltmans said.

For all of the time she put in to help make the Big Apple better, Oltmans allows herself the chance to take advantage of the many opportunities that it offers – especially the plethora of different restaurants.

“I love it – it's a great place,” she said. “There are lots of things to explore, and you can constantly keep yourself learning and trying new things here. It's such a diverse community.

It's a community that has plenty of everything. Sarah Oltmans has seen it. The good and the bad. No doubt she'll keep taking some time to enjoy the good parts.

And keep working to eliminate the bad parts.