Briseldy Hernandez-Ramos

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. 

Daela Taeoalii-Tipton (she/they)

Daela 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. They are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2025-2026 cohort of Puget Sound Sage's Community Leadership Institute and put that learning to use as a member of the 2026 Political Leadership Council. 

Daela's work is deeply informed by their queer Pacific Islander identity. They strive to tell stories of interconnectedness, resilience, and hope 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. 

Davida Sharpe (she/her)

Davida is a professor, mentor, and social justice advocate whose work confronts the intersection of race, gender, and power. She is committed to creating systems where equity, care, and justice are foundational, not optional. As a tenured faculty member, chair of the Cross-Institutional Faculty of Color Mentoring Program, and a community leader engaged in local and regional policy advocacy, Davida brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every table she joins; transforming classrooms, institutions, communities, and systems into spaces of true belonging. Her work authentically bridges education, activism, civics, and healing.

Davida understands that systems change requires institutional leadership, collective care, self-awareness, and political courage. Through teaching, public speaking, policy engagement, and community organizing, she challenges systems to move beyond performative inclusion toward authentic transformation, healing, and collective empowerment. Davida’s leadership is rooted in the belief that policy reflects values. Lead through mentorship, storytelling, and advocacy, reminding us that survival is not the end goal — liberation is.

Kim Zamora Delgado (she/her)

Kim was raised in the mountainous deserts of Arizona after immigrating to the US at the age of four. Growing up in a community where she had to adapt to all sides of the political spectrum, she learned to focus on her passion for creating positive social change through policy and action.  

Kim moved to Seattle after graduating from Claremont McKenna College in 2022, with a bachelors in Environment, Economics, and Politics. Since then, she has pursued careers and personal side quests in environmental policy and advocacy. This passion is rooted in her experience growing up in a low-income, immigrant household where resources were conserved and the outdoors was a place of freedom and peace.  

In the last four years working at a local facilitation and community engagement firm, Kim has witnessed how inclusive processes can make or break a community member's experience with government. She strives to advocate for those who have felt unheard and uplift those who have felt unseen. 

Lakeisha Smith (she/her)

Lakeisha is a community advocate grounded in justice, equity, and collective care. For more than two decades, she has worked alongside individuals and families navigating systems that often fail those most impacted by inequity. Her advocacy focuses on supporting marginalized communities, including BIPOC populations, youth, people living with mental illness, individuals affected by addiction, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people experiencing homelessness.

She actively volunteers with Peer Kent, supporting peer-led and community-driven approaches to healing and stability. She serves as the Executive Director of Administration for the African American Leadership Forum, contributing to leadership development and systems change rooted in Black excellence and collective power. She is also a 2025–2026 Community Leadership Institute Fellow with Puget Sound Sage, deepening her work in movement building, policy advocacy, and community-centered solutions. In addition, she is the founder of the Kent Community Coalition for Change, a grassroots effort dedicated to amplifying community voices, advancing accountability, and creating sustainable pathways to equity and opportunity.

Her work is driven by a belief in people-powered change, dignity for all, and the responsibility to challenge inequitable systems while building something better together.

Patrick Adigweme (He/him)

Patrick is a community leader and elected member of the Clark County Charter Review Commission, representing District 1. In this role, he works to strengthen transparent, accountable, and effective county governance through thoughtful structural review and collaboration.

He also serves as Chair of the City of Vancouver Planning Commission, contributing to policy discussions on growth, land use, and infrastructure. Patrick is known for his balanced, solutions-oriented leadership style and his ability to bring diverse perspectives together around practical outcomes.

Professionally, Patrick serves as a Supply Chain and Information Systems Manager, with experience across the food, energy, medical device, and defense sectors. His work integrating operations and data systems informs his approach to public service: clear processes, strong accountability, and collaborative execution.

PETE REYES (HE/HIM)

Pete Reyes is a healthcare professional and community leader with a strong background in nursing supervision, youth mental health, and wellness advocacy. Currently serving as a nursing supervisor at a youth mental healthcare facility, Pete brings extensive experience supporting young people through recovery, emphasizing the critical role of community connection and access to the outdoors in mental and emotional healing.

In March of 2025, he was appointed to the Board of Park Commissioners, where he served for the remainder of the year. Pete’s commitment to public service is reflected in his work across multiple community-centered organizations. He has volunteered with the Tacoma Nature Center, Second Cycle Community Bike Shop, the Hilltop Action Coalition, and the Tacoma Tree Foundation, where he serves as a tree steward. His leadership is shaped by a belief in the interconnectedness of parks, health, safety, and environmental stewardship, and he is dedicated to creating joyful, safe, and accessible outdoor experiences for all Tacoma residents.

Sibongile Chadyiwa (she/her)

Sibo is a Washington State community leader and policy advocate advancing equity-centered systems change across public health, immigrant access, behavioral health, and climate justice. She serves as Program Manager at Immigrant Guide, where she leads community-driven initiatives that strengthen civic participation, improve service navigation, and expand culturally responsive programming for immigrant and BIPOC communities. She is also CEO of Rose Austin Consulting, supporting nonprofits and public-serving institutions with strategic event planning, grant development, and organizational design.

Sibongile serves on the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission’s Impact Team and King County’s Community Advisory Group for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, advising on equity-focused policy and dismantling structural barriers in public systems. As an alum of the Puget Sound Sage's CLI program, she continues to deepen her commitment to public service and advancing accountable, community-centered governance by participating at the local and state level. Her leadership bridges grassroots communities and government institutions, ensuring lived experience informs public decision-making.

Tatiana Brown (she/her)

Tatiana has been in the Seattle community for the last several years. Moving from Virginia to pursue her graduate studies at UW, she has felt this has been a period of large growth. Both in her community network and in understanding the larger systems we operate in/must disrupt. At the Evans School of Public Policy, Tatiana focuses on social and economic policy – exploring the connections between creating sustainable societies and regenerative economies. At the School of Public Health, Tatiana concentrates in Health Systems and Policy to better understand how social determinants of health impact our health outcomes on the community and population levels. She also helps lead the Campus Sustainability Fund on UW’s campus that engages in Justice-centered sustainability through capital investment and education. ​

Tatiana seeks systems change and local capacity building for solutions to inequity and injustice. She carries theories like Just Transition and Political Determinants of Health into her work. We must invest in the power of communities of color. She feels policy is one of our greatest tools for change and is excited to better understand how to influence it within our community. She aims to model community leaders, co-creating solutions with their community. 

ZAK OTT (he/him)

Zak was born and raised in the Puget Sound region, where an early love of history and politics inspired his commitment to public service. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Western Washington University. He later completed an M.A. in Policy Studies at the University of Washington, building a strong foundation in policy analysis, governance, and civic engagement.  

Zak has worked on local political campaigns as a Campaign Manager, leading strategy, volunteer coordination, and voter outreach. Through this work, he developed a reputation for clear communication, coalition-building, and translating complex policy issues into accessible conversations. Community engagement and facilitation are central to Zak’s work. He has designed and led stakeholder discussions, public meetings, and advisory processes focused on housing, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development. He believes effective policy grows from inclusive dialogue and meaningful public participation.  

Zak serves on the Urbanist Board and on the City of Bothell Climate Action Plan Community Advisory Committee, helping guide the development of community-informed climate policy. Grounded in a commitment to environmental justice and local democracy, Zak is passionate about strengthening civic trust and expanding access to decision-making. He believes durable solutions emerge when communities are meaningfully engaged in shaping the policies that affect their lives.