Seattle University alumnus Steve Brooks, ’98, ’19, ELP, vice president of business development at UMC, is driving an innovative solution to help at-risk communities stay healthy during the pandemic, while keeping employees in the workforce. “… It’s upon the business leaders in our community to really come up and create the social justice solutions that the community needs,” says Brooks.

Based in Mukilteo, Wash., UMC is a mechanical contracting company that plans, builds and manages buildings, facilities and construction projects. When COVID-19 devastated its typical operations, Brooks and the leadership team decided to modify their business offerings.

As frequent handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Brooks and his team decided that instead of creating building infrastructure, they would design and manufacture portable handwashing stations. This pivot has allowed UMC to sustain more than 30 full-time jobs while continuing to serve an emergent community need.

The prototype was originally designed for use at UMC construction sites to promote a safer, healthier workplace and includes elements such as a six-foot space between basins to follow social distancing requirements. The idea has since gained traction. 

"What we can do as a company is to help alleviate some of the barriers that these communities might have."

“Medical facilities called us, Boeing called us … and friends we knew who ran homeless shelters,” Brooks says. “They told us that this population didn’t really have access to an opportunity to wash their hands and to keep clean, because those experiencing homelessness often use public facilities that are now closed. We’ve built a handful of units that are small and more compact … to provide additional opportunities for them.”

Brooks has been inspired by Seattle U’s Jesuit mission, particularly its focus on social justice and care for the whole person. “[The mobile sink] helps us in construction, but situations like this are hitting the marginalized much harder than the rest of us,” he says. “What we can do as a company is to help alleviate some of the barriers that these communities might have.”