King County officials have proclaimed Aug. 18, 2026, as Dolores Sibonga Day, recognizing her contributions to civil rights, public service and the Filipino American community.
Sibonga became Washington state’s first Filipino American attorney and later became the first woman to serve as executive of the Washington State Human Rights Commission. She also was the first woman of color elected to the Seattle City Council.
During her public career, Sibonga advocated for affirmative action, workers’ rights, economic development and protections against discrimination.
In 2017, Sibonga and Joan Yoshitomi established the Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship, which provides government work opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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