Neighborhood and Community Services

Toni Esparza brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in human services, youth development, community safety, and equity-centered systems change. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of policy and program development, direct service, and community partnership, building accountable systems that respond to community needs.

Toni spent 20 years in the nonprofit sector supporting youth and families before serving nearly eight years with the City of Bellevue as an Assistant Director, where she provided strategic leadership for human services, adult misdemeanor probation, and youth development initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology, a master’s degree in educational administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Toni joins the City’s commitment to equity, not as an abstract idea, but as something measurable and real — reflected in how resources are allocated, programs are designed, and partnerships are strengthened. In her role as Director of Neighborhood and Community Services, Toni is committed to collaborative leadership — working with city leadership, across departments, with the talented team in the department, alongside community partners, and in genuine partnership with residents to further strong, accountable systems and compassionate governance, furthering the city’s work to ensure that neighborhoods are places of safety, belonging, and opportunity for all residents.