Abigail Altaminrano was born and raised in the small town of Madera, California, and is a proud second-generation Chicana. She moved to Washington in 2014 for school at Gonzaga University, where she received her B.A. in Sociology and minored in Women & Gender Studies and Criminal Justice. There, she found her passion in fighting for social justice, creating spaces for BIPOC students, and cultivating discourse around the need for change. She moved to Seattle in 2018 to attend the University of Washington to receive her M.A. in Cultural Studies, where she was a Latinx Scholars Fellowship and Race & Equity Fellowship recipient. 

As Director of Advocacy at Families of Color Seattle (FOCS), Abbie leads their advocacy team to connect with coalitions and mobilize families through civic campaigns and policy advocacy. With over five years of experience in grassroots organizing, her work centers on building community power and creating culturally responsive systems that uplift BIPOC voices. Much of her career has been focused on intentional work in creating equitable spaces and opportunities for first-generation, BIPOC & LGBTQ+ students, including her AmeriCorps service with the UW Dream Project, mentoring first-generation students, and working with Seattle Promise and TRiO to support students furthest from educational justice. 

Outside her advocacy work, Abbie greatly enjoys writing poetry, cycling, reading, visiting family, traveling, and being a cat mom! 

Elena Arakaki (she/her) grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA in a cohousing community that shaped her perspective on the relationship between people and place. Being raised in a multigenerational community taught her the importance of collective care, the sharing of resources, and cultivating a sense of belonging. Her commitment to creating healthy, safe, and inclusive communities inspired her to pursue master’s degrees in urban planning and public health. 
 
Elena currently works at Friends of Little Sài Gòn as the Policy & Planning Manager, where she supports equitable development, anti-displacement efforts, and community safety in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood. Working at the community level has emphasized how much more there is to learn about local politics and processes to be an effective advocate. She recognizes that many upstream flaws in our society have led to poor health outcomes, such as insufficient housing, the criminalization of poverty, food insecurity, environmental health concerns, and policies that prioritize profit over human wellbeing. She looks forward to learning and growing with the CLI cohort to push back against these systemic issues and advocate for thriving neighborhoods. 
 
Playing music is one of her outlets for both creativity and stress, and Elena finds joy in performing with the Anzanga Marimba Ensemble around the region. She also enjoys spending time with her partner and two cats, as well as sipping tea at all hours of the day. 

Remin Basha was born in Haifa, Palestine and came to the US as a baby, growing up in Firestone, Colorado. She was raised by a strong single mama who has been an example of intelligence, ingenuity, and resilience.

Remin is passionate about food from every direction. She is currently working as a farmer with Black Farmers Collective (BFC) in Woodinville, Washington. BFC is an organization that acquires and stewards land for BIPOC farmers, educates on the truths of our food system, and creates Black liberation via food sovereignty. Through this work, she strives to aid in the fight against food injustice in communities of color and ensure immigrant families have access to fresh cultural ingredients. She believes food is a human right and that everyone deserves access to good food that will nourish our bodies and hearts regardless of social discriminators. Growing up largely away from a prominent Arab community, Remin connects back to her people through cooking and eating Palestinian food. For communities of color, our food is so much more than sustenance; it is the story of our land, a way to track our history, a medium that brings us together.

Remin believes in the power, knowledge, and unity of our communities to drive change. She is excited to learn about the inner workings of our local systems, bringing this information back to her communities to help facilitate growth towards a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Off the farm, you can find her messily creating in the kitchen, screaming at a concert, or regrettably cold plunging in Washington waters.

Free Palestine until we can say it backwards

Amira Beasley was born and raised in Ohio, where she earned her bachelor's degrees in international studies and Latin American Studies from Miami University. In 2019, she relocated to Seattle and quickly developed a deep appreciation for the city and its communities. 

She currently serves as a Capital Project Manager with King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division, where she leads large-scale infrastructure projects with focuses on equity, sustainability, and community impact. 

Before joining King County, Amira worked at the Port of Seattle, managing contracts for equity-driven initiatives aimed at expanding access to funding for community-led projects in historically underserved neighborhoods. She also led internal workforce equity efforts at the Port, including the development of virtual job fairs designed to support BIPOC employee advancement and increase access to career pathways with clear growth opportunities. 

Furthermore, Amira is a recent graduate of United Way’s Project LEAD and a member of the Seattle chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA). 

John Benrick Diaz is currently a Sophomore at the University of Washington, studying Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP) with a focus on environmental social justice and community empowerment. He is a dedicated and passionate leader with a background in project management, collaborative decision-making, event coordination, and community engagement. John is deeply committed to advocating for just, equitable, and accessible systems and programs that uplift all communities. 
 
At UW, John has taken initiative in various leadership roles, including serving as the lead of his major’s Outreach & Admissions Committee, where he facilitated the admissions process for the upcoming cohort. He also contributed to the UW Office of Sustainability’s EarthWeek Committee, where he organized and led two events exploring the intersection of sustainability with urban design and planning, highlighting the vital connection between environmental justice and city development. John continues to channel his passion for climate justice, youth empowerment, and sustainable community development through his involvement with organizations that engage young leaders in advocacy work. He's excited for his journey at Sage Leaders to inspire the next generation of changemakers to push for bold action and equitable policy at the local and national level. 

In his free time, you can find him out in the wilderness exploring nature, drawing fantasy maps, or reading a sci-fi book at a park!  

Kyle Blendheim (He/Him/His) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, by his mother and grandmother. Kyle is of native Hawaiian descent and is a strong advocate of affordable homeownership and the fight against displacement, having many family members affected by the rising cost of living in Hawaii. Kyle received a bachelor's degree in strategic communication from Washington State University in 2020. He currently works as the Community Engagement and Communications Specialist at Skyway Coalition, a nonprofit organization that focuses on community advocacy, economic development, and affordable homeownership within the unincorporated Skyway neighborhood in South Seattle.  

In his free time, Kyle enjoys photography, working on his car and going on walks with his wife Phaedra. 

Ariana Dionisio was born and raised in Seattle. Ariana is a dedicated freshwater scientist and community advocate. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Western Washington University and her M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Connecticut. With a passion for making science and data accessible, Ariana currently applies her expertise in stormwater management at the City of Mukilteo's Public Works department. She believes that the most valuable education happens not in a classroom, but through community work and observing the natural world. 

Ariana's commitment to public service is deeply rooted in her lifelong involvement with the local Filipino community, where she embraces values of collective practice and mutual support. She draws on this experience to focus on the practical application of science and data to serve everyday communities. 

Briseldy Herandez-Ramos is a 19-year-old senior at the University of Washington on the pre-law track. Originally from East Wenatchee, WA, Briseldy has been a Seattle resident for nearly a year, where she’s involved in over six cohorts, multiple political leadership councils, and holds a variety of leadership roles that push for social and economic change. This includes being a council member for Sage Leader’s Political Leadership Council, a rising intern at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, an Organizing intern at Rural People’s Voice, a field manager at Environment Washington, an active member for Washington State’s Public Health Association, being awarded the Seattle Poetry Fellowship and selected for the Washington Youth Arts Leadership program and finally, a published author.  

At all of these different organizations/non-profits, Briseldy has made a profound impact on the lives of many. Specifically, with in-depth canvassing experience at Rural People’s Voice, she helped stop the repeal of I-2109 and I-2117 (Capital Gains Tax and the Climate Commitment Act) that provided immense support for working families, students, and children.  

Briseldy has been a writer since she first learned to read. Focusing on creative nonfiction, she writes about immigrant injustices stemming from her own, and continues pushing for social change! She grew up in an agricultural setting where the value of learning was instilled at a young age. As a first-generation student, Briseldy is deeply inspired by her brother, Kevin, who, alongside her, continues paving the way for those who once stood in fear.

Kele Isibor is a first-generation American from Nigeria who grew up in Houston, Texas. She is passionate about advancing racial justice, civic engagement, and progressive policies. In 2023, Kele moved to King County and began working as the office manager for the Washington State Democrats. In her role, she leverages her project management and organizational skills to help elect Democrats to public office statewide. Kele previously worked at a progressive political consultancy, where she supported projects that educated youth about people-powered movements and mobilized resources to increase the number of Black women in the Washington State legislature. 
 
She earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from Texas State University, and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College. As a graduate student, Kele worked on projects addressing racial disparities in key quality-of-life indicators. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring cultural exhibits, community events, and reading. Kele is looking forward to a career and life that is at the intersection of civics, policy, multimedia, and social impact.  

Mamadou Jawo was born and raised in The Gambia. Mamadou moved to the United States in his Junior year of high school. Deeply passionate about social justice and civil rights, Mamadou is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals. In his current role as a Civil Rights Investigator with the City of Seattle, he works to enforce local and federal anti-discrimination laws and advance equity. Mamadou holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Edgewood University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He enjoys spending time with his wife and family, playing soccer, and exploring the outdoors. 

Xiuyu Li (she/her) was born in Jiangnan, China, and became the first person in her family to attend college.  Guided by a strong belief in the power of education to transform lives, she pursued higher learning with determination and purpose. Her deep passion for both education and the arts led her to a distinguished career as a tenured associate professor of music and award-winning choral conductor, where she mentored thousands of students and led choirs to international recognition.  

Since immigrating to the United States, Xiuyu has dedicated herself to community building and advocacy. As Outreach Coordinator at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma, she supports immigrant and refugee communities—especially small business owners and seniors—across diverse AAPI groups. With the support and encouragement of community leaders, she was proud to found the Chinese Senior Community at APCC and the nonprofit Helping Hands of Chinese Communities, helping individuals access vital resources, cultural programs, and business support through a multilingual and equity-centered lens. 

She finds joy in exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, especially stand-up paddleboarding, cooking for friends, playing pickleball, and foraging for mushrooms in the Seattle area. 

Marqué Love (she/her/they) is a philomath, driven by her curiosity and passion for knowledge and connection. She is a native-born Washingtonian who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington, where she specialized in Political Science and International Studies. She also loves communications and worked as a speech consultant in the UW Comms department, where she was able to help students hone their verbal and written communication skills. During this time, in the pursuit of her passion for ecological preservation and sustainability she co-created an accredited university course tailored around sustainable community and business practices using experiential, hands-on learning systems. 

She currently works as a Political Organizer and spends her days: researching emergent news and legislation from the local and federal landscapes, writing action newsletters, organizing community events and collaborating with partner organizations and local activists. She also works as the coalition manager of two WA-based coalitions, including the Washington Voting Justice Coalition, where she fights for all Washingtonians to have a voice in our government. Her daily work centers around voting rights, immigrant justice and developing opposition strategies. 

In her personal life, she dedicates much of her time towards championing women and all marginalized peoples, and helping her community address the ideational influences of colonialism and patriarchy. Marqué is deeply passionate about her relationships, traveling the world, dancing, longboarding, reading, food, and continuing to evolve her relationship with herself. 

Zak Ott (He/Him) was born and raised in the Puget Sound area. He brings an interest in local politics and environmental justice. He grew up with a love of history and politics driving him to pursue a career in public service.  

He graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A in Political Science and later achieved a M.A in Policy Studies from the University of Washington.  

Both during and after college, Zak has pursued his passion in public service. He’s worked on local political campaigns as a Campaign Manager. He’s also served on local advisory committees relating to climate change and urbanism. Currently an Associate at Triangle Associates, Zak’s projects at Triangle span a range of topics from land use to transportation, to energy infrastructure, and other issues that impact our built environment. Zak is passionate about using community engagement to further conversations about complex issues.  

Treveon Parish (He/Him) Is an African-American Youth Grassroots organizer and a Public Servant. Currently working at the King County Executive Climate Office (ECO) and having a background as a Youth activist, Treveon has a dynamic combination of activism leadership and governance, evident in their continued passion for bettering equality across all demographics in Washington State.  

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Treveon has a long history of volunteering to do Youth Civic Engagement, Outreach and local political Education work. Through his Volunteer Work, Treveon has been able to reach Youth in low-income and diverse communities across Washington State through volunteering, organizing campaign movements and canvassing to teach young people about the importance of local politics, social justice and how to be more involved in their respective communities.  

Treveon has also collaborated as a youth board member on the City of Tacoma Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Board to improve public works projects across Tacoma, specifically dealing with Bicycle, Street, Pedestrian and Transportation infrastructure. Treveon also works with King County Metro, on their South link Connections Mobility board task force set up to improve transportation in South King County, as well as providing guidance towards proposed changes and outreach to the affected communities. 

Through this combination of advocacy and collaboration with government, Treveon has gone on to work as a King County NextGen Intern in the King County Executive Climate Office (ECO) focusing on the Jumpstart program, a workforce initiative designed to diversify the workforce by helping Young adults start their career in clean energy trades such as HVAC, Solar and project management for the betterment of our climate and a more sustainable future. 

Brenda Pham (she/her) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, where her identity as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants deeply shaped her commitment to social and environmental justice. 

She earned her BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 2023, with concentrations in Finance and Supply Chain Management. While in college, she founded ReuMo, an environmental start-up addressing environmental inequities in the King County area, which she later launched as a nonprofit sponsored by the Seattle Parks Foundation. Brenda has a deep background in her field, having worked as a Supply Chain Fellow for PepsiCo and the U.S. Department of Defense Air Force, as well as an Area Manager at Amazon. She was actively involved in the NextGen Civic Leaders Program at UW, which fosters student engagement in public service and presently serves her community through teaching/volunteer work at her local temple, participating in the ACRS civic program, and PeaceTrees Vietnam Youth Heritage Circle. 

She is focused on addressing environmental inequities towards lower-income and marginalized communities—those most affected by adverse climate change, yet often provided the least adequate resources. Brenda is committed to leveraging her experience in business and nonprofit leadership to advance both environmental and social equity.  

Lakeisha Smith (she/her) was born in Germany and raised in North Seattle and Southern California. Surrounded by strong female activists and advocates within her own family, Lakeisha learned the importance of serving the community. With focus on equity for BIPOC, basic rights for LGBTQIA, Youth and Teen focused mentoring, rehabilitation programs for addiction, and mental health resources for all, Lakeisha believes change happens when boots are on the ground.

After attending college in Florida, Lakeisha chose a career in dental healthcare for over two decades. In this capacity is where she witnesses the injustices of healthcare inequality and systematic discrimination. Choosing to fight the systems and educate underserved communities to advocate for better healthcare, Lakeisha worked for HIV/AIDS dental clinics and dental groups only seeing patients with Medicaid/Medicare insurance. Besides providing dental services, Lakeisha also assisted in helping immigrants and those experiencing scarcity be linked to social services needed to the betterment of life.

In 2024, Lakeisha moved back to WA after twenty one years living in FL. Currently residing in Kent, Lakeisha has made the choice to advocate for change in Kent. She works with African American Leadership Forum (AALF), formed a non-profit to continue to serve marginalized communities, and volunteers to help unhoused, addicts and those suffering from mental illness

Daela Taeoalii-Tipton (she/they) grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and has been calling Seattle home since 2024. They have a background in communications and organizing across various social-environmental movements, including working to end gerrymandering in Virginia, connecting reproductive and environmental justice in Utah, and supporting the advancement of clean energy and fossil fuel accountability globally. Their work is deeply informed by their queer Pacific Islander identity.  

They strive to tell stories of interconnectedness, resilience and hope in order to advance social and environmental justice. A degree in Earth Systems also shapes their systems-based approach to strategic problem solving. A particular passion for fighting climate change originates in their childhood love and fascination with nature, as well as their ‘aiga living on the frontlines of climate change in Samoa and Tonga. Some of their favorite activities in King County include outrigger canoe paddling with Wakinikona Hawaiian Club and volunteering with UTOPIA Washington. 

Tae Yamasaki (they/she) is a dedicated mental health advocate who proudly identifies as multiracial and is committed to amplifying the voices of the global majority. Drawing from their own lived experiences with mental health, neurodivergence and poverty, Tae has found a sustainable path towards housing and food security. They use their experience to engage in meaningful work as an adult mental health case manager working with underserved, food insecure, low-income, and vulnerable populations. Their first-hand knowledge of these challenges deeply informs their passion. Their mission has been centered around advocating for equity, dismantling mental health stigma and empowering underserved communities.

They currently work at Downtown Emergency Services Center, in the SAGE (Support Advocacy Growth and Employment) program in Seattle and reside in the Central District. They utilize their lived experience in navigating community resources to support clients in their own journeys towards sustaining wellness and support fellow case managers in doing the same with empathy and care. With joyous resistance against the capitalist society within which we survive, they organize potlucks and affinity group dinner parties to create joyous occasions that strengthen relationships.

They earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with select course study in neuroscience. Tae's professional aspirations include advocating for accessible mental health resources, housing affordability programs, food security and education resources

Kamryn Yanchick (she/her) is a proud citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Muscogee Nation originally from Oklahoma City. Kamryn is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her BA in Political Science and BA in Native American Studies with an emphasis in tribal governance and policy. Kamryn is passionate about furthering Native empowerment in the political process and advocating for the rights of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal nations. Kamryn currently works as the Political Navigator with Native Action Network, where she supports leadership development and advocacy training programs for Native women.  

Kamryn joined NAN after completing the Wilma Mankiller Fellowship with the National Congress of American Indians, where she worked on advancing civic engagement and voting rights advocacy across Indian Country. Kamryn also serves as a Precinct Committee Officer in the 36th LD, sits on the Seattle Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Board, and serves on the Native Contraceptive Access Collaborative, a subgroup of the Free the Pill coalition. For fun, Kamryn loves trying new plant-based food, dancing, enjoying live music, finding a cozy spot to read, and laughing with friends and family.