JC Ephraim, Director of Nonprofit, Seeks to Heal and Empower Black and African Community of King County.
- tiaontourbusiness
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
JC Ephraim wants everyone to believe they can achieve the best for themselves.
A psychotherapist focused on serving the African American and African public, he has been a public servant for King country for over 50 years as the director of a nonprofit, Sisters In Common. He has worked tirelessly, despite being in active, late-stage cancer, toward completing their mission, working toward the healing and empowerment for communities in crisis.
The health care system in King County in Washington state is full of inequality. Black people have higher chances of health issues due to more pollution and receive worse care because of bias. Black mothers have a higher mortality rate than the county average according to the King County government website, and heart disease in the Black community is 50% more prevalent in King County. The infant mortality rate for Black children is twice as high than Whites, and only 40% of black children are ready for kindergarten.
“When the water is dirty, the fish get sick."
Ephraim was serving as executive director of a nonprofit that served Black and Latino youth with substance disorders (BLADE). At the time, most youth health centers did not accept children with discipline issues, especially those of color. Sisters In Common founding president, Barbara Butler, reached out to him to help with finance and engagement. Started by African American women, Sisters In Common also focused on underrepresented youth, serving the Black, Eritrean, and Somali community in King County. Soon Butler found they needed more help to keep youth from relapsing. Ephraim stepped in as director on April 1, 1998, where he remains today. “When the water is dirty, the fish get sick, ” was Ephraim’s belief so he added services focused on family preservation.
Family has always been important to Ephraim. One of seven, his childhood was full of adversity and challenge. His parents divorced when he was young and his mother became a missionary, making the church a large influence on his family. They grew up in South-Central Los Angeles before his mother moved the family to the country to get away from political riots. Yet, Ephraim faced challenges everywhere.
Ephraim was one of 75 Black students in the entire school district and often faced discrimination. The bigotry reached its limit during a student body election. For their senior class election, the community of Black students enrolled their candidates. They had people planning to run for Class President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Excitingly, the majority of nominees won their elections, however the school administration would not accept the results, citing a “50%” rule. This rule, stating that the candidate must receive 50% or more of the votes, had never previously been enforced. The students decided they would run again with no complaint, but would protest if the election results were cancelled again. The school held a second election and their representatives ran again.
They won by a landslide, with every candidate getting well over the required amount of votes to win. Despite this, the administration still refused to confirm the vote, leading the Black students to walk out in protest. Many White students joined them, which seemed to surprise the school, as they hadn’t dealt with anything like this before. Together, the students staged a sit-in in front of the administration office.
“They’re not going to kill my baby.”
Ephraim was considered one of the leaders of the protest by the admins and they demanded he tell the students protesting to go back to class. All he had for them was a simple response, “I didn’t tell them to come out here.” The protest was primarily peaceful, but due to frustration, a few members had ended up pushing those who did not participate in the demonstration. Tensions escalated and several parents of White students issued threats to some of the protesting students’ lives, as well as Ephraim’s. He was forced into a discipline hearing, but the school could not find any grounds to suspend or expel him. Ephraim was still labeled “persona non grata” (unwelcome). Out of concern for his safety, his mother moved them back to Los Angeles, into a predominantly African American community. He remembers his mother’s words, “they’re not going to kill my baby.” Ephraim has remained a strong civil rights activist, and the hurdles in his life have only made him work harder to complete his goals. Now that he was no longer being targeted, he was able to complete his studies and join a university.
All Ephraim’s brothers became ordained ministers with his mom wanting him to follow the same path. Instead, he became one of three black people to join the medical program at UCLA. He interned in General Services, learning what makes a hospital function before being drafted in the Vietnam War. Ephraim served two years in hospital care before creating his own private practice. A successful businessman, he stayed busy around the Northwest, including opening the first limousine service in Eastern Washington. His dedication to his family is what made his visits to Washington permanent.
Ephraim moved in with his sister in Washington on Feb. 15, 1983, once he learned she was having marital issues and stayed until her divorce finalized. “He is the type of man to drop everything for you in a crisis,” says Ephraim’s assistant Nizala Mwamba-Smith. “He is also going to be there for you at every accomplishment with the biggest smile.”
Dr. Gayle Robinson is a consultant from Mary Mahoney, an organization for Black nurses. Her family originally started as clients and explained that he has been involved in their family for over 30 years, with constant check-ins.
Ephraim appreciates that everyone in his life can depend on him. He explained how this is a commitment and the nonprofit doesn't just give you a contract for a set amount of time. “People don’t heal on that kind of schedule. I can’t give you someone’s child and they make a connection with you, and then after connecting with you, after six weeks, you’re gone.” He has had employees that moved on from Sisters In Common, but still occasionally check in on their clients. Ephraim remembers his mother telling him, “Well you’re not ordained, but you’re doing God’s work.”
If there was one thing that always needed to be done, it was work. Ephraim has worked with the worst and the best of humanity. He is always surprised that he never gets used to it. Self care isn’t just for his clients, Ephraim has always been an active participant in counseling for his own life experiences. “My job is to do the work, the outcome is up to God,” he stated.
Religion remained a constant in Ephraim’s life. He has given it up to God and his care team for the reason he is alive today. Ephraim has a rare form of cancer, cutaneous cell lymphoma, a disease that affects his white blood cells and makes him extremely susceptible to sickness. According to the Cleveland Clinic, life expectancy at late stages is low, yet Ephraim has survived his 24th year in active cancer. “I’m not in remission. It’s just managed,” he said in an interview with the Cutaneous Foundation in 2015. He has managed to stay healthy and covid-free despite all the chaos of the health care industry in the past few years.
“My hope is that we go out of business because our mission is healing and empowerment for our individuals and communities in crisis."
Sisters In Common has worked hard to maintain close relationships with their partners, including the UW post-covid recovery clinic. He has seen thousands of health care professionals leave the field, as well as patients struggle, due to long covid and other illnesses. This is why despite trying to retire three times in the past 10 years, he is still working hard to finish the mission at Sisters In Common.
People might be surprised if you ask Ephraim what his goal is for Sisters In Common. “My hope is that we go out of business because our mission is healing and empowerment for our individuals and communities in crisis,” he stated. “To stay in existence means you have to have people suffering. So I push for that. “
JC Ephraim says he heals his community by building relationships. He believes in the mission at Sister’s In Common and gives his best to every individual he comes across. He has worked hard for the African and African American communities and his dedication has left a lasting impact on those around him. One can only hope to leave the same legacy as JC Ephraim and Sisters In Common.
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