November Volunteer of the Month: Jason Cooper

Jason and his husband, Qi.

My husband Qi and I, along with our cat Daisy, moved to Issaquah Highlands from Bellevue in 2023. As first-time homeowners, we were excited to find a place that truly felt like home. When we walked through the home for the first time in West Highlands Park, we felt an immediate connection. We even brought lunch to enjoy at a nearby park afterward—trying to imagine what a simple picnic in the neighborhood might feel like, bees enthusiastically investigating our meal included. Those little moments helped us picture a future in Issaquah Highlands. Beyond the house itself, the neighborhood’s thoughtful design, walkability and well-kept surroundings made Issaquah Highlands an easy choice.

Once we settled in, I became curious about the community we had joined. I wanted to understand the city, its services and its neighborhoods, which is how I discovered Issaquah’s Community Emergency Response Team (or simply, Issaquah CERT). The program appealed to my interest in continuous learning and my desire to be involved locally. I first attended a Stop the Bleed class, which led me to complete the CERT Basic Training course in fall 2024 and later CPR/AED certification.

Although CERT was new territory for me, volunteering itself was not. In college and earlier in life, I spent time supporting community technology projects, participating in student government, and helping organize events and causes that mattered to me. While those experiences were different in content, the underlying themes felt familiar: connecting with others, contributing to something larger than myself and finding purpose in being useful. CERT has been a continuation of that pattern—just expressed through a new set of skills and a new way of supporting the people around me.

CERT training was both challenging and rewarding. The final drill, which brought together all the skills we had practiced, left a strong impression. Working with fellow trainees to navigate a simulated emergency—using fire extinguishers, performing medical triage, coordinating over radio and practicing cribbing for rescue—gave me a deeper sense of confidence and reinforced how powerful community preparedness can be. Just as meaningful was meeting neighbors who shared the same motivation to help when needed.

Jason presents about resilient power during the Are You Ready? Workshop Series at Blakely Hall in November.

After completing the program, I was invited to support the Are You Ready? Workshop Series in Issaquah Highlands. So far, I have helped present sessions on Basics of Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Power, and I plan to continue contributing to future workshops. Sharing what I’ve learned—while learning from others along the way—has been a rewarding way to give back.

For anyone considering volunteering or exploring CERT, I encourage you to take that first step. You don’t need to be an expert; you simply need an interest in learning and a willingness to contribute. Through volunteering, I’ve gained valuable skills, met great people and built a stronger sense of connection to the place I now call home. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support our community’s resilience and look forward to continuing to be part of that effort.