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Photo by Sunny Martini.

Community Partnership Committees

About the Committees

In 2022, Friends developed two committees, the Pulling Together Committee (PTC) and the Community Connections Committee (C3). These committees are comprised of Indigenous and BIPOC community leaders, creatives, organizers, and individuals, respectively. In 2024, we launched a third, Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), representing experts with lived and professional experience working with disability communities. These citizen advisory committees play a vital role to ensure Waterfront Park is a vibrant and inclusive community space for building connections, meaningful experiences, and fostering belonging.

Friends recognizes there is a critical need for centering community voices in our strategic visioning and planning processes. This emphasis is vital to ensuring that all communities, particularly those that have been historically excluded, have access to enjoyable cultural and recreational opportunities that Waterfront Park has to offer. The committees have been instrumental in our community engagement endeavors, serving as a cornerstone in our efforts to learn and foster a shared ethos of belonging and inclusivity.

Learn more about what the committee experience is like by checking out these interviews featuring some of our outgoing committee members.

Watch Our CPC Interviews

Canoe Landing at Salmon Homecoming 2022. Photo by Raven's Tale Studio.

Pulling Together Committee (PTC)

The Pulling Together Committee brings together local Tribal members and Indigenous representatives from North America and the Pacific Islands. Their work focuses on centering Indigenous voices, values, and worldviews along Waterfront Park.

Community Connections Committee (C3)

The Community Connections Committee includes community leaders, advocates, and creatives from Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region who represent diverse cultures and perspectives, particularily from under-resourced communities and those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. The committee works to advance social and racial equity and inclusion across Waterfront Park programming.

Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)

Comprised of individuals with disabilities and advocates, the Accessibility Advisory Committee provides insight from a user’s perspective that draws on lived, personal, and professional experience. Members offer guidance on a wide range of accessibility topics that positively impact Waterfront Park and our free programs to be more accessible to everyone.

Membership Benefits and Incentives

Members are compensated $75 for every 60-minute meeting and $100 for every 90–120-minute meeting.

Friends provides public transit or parking reimbursements, food and beverages, and other accommodation and access needs as requested to committee members. Our office building is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator on-site.

There is street parking and several garages/lot parking at:

Members will have the opportunity to network with all committee members and share initiatives, events, and other news during meetings

Members will have direct communication with various department members at Friends to provide their recommendations for ongoing projects

I wanted to be a part of this committee because I respect and appreciate what they are trying to do for the community. I will always be a supporter of inclusivity, access for all, and awareness. Everyone should feel welcome in their community and I believe the C3 meetings help us understand how that can be done with diligence and effectiveness. Velma Chaney C3 Member
The Pulling Together committee is in Partnership with Friends of the Waterfront and Potlatch Fund and is conducting important work with thoughtfulness and excellence! Keep up the fabulous community engagement! Gunalcheesh! Ellany Kayce PTC Member
Being on a committee with Friends has been an amazing experience, where I have gotten the chance to work and meet with many dedicated individuals with different abilities and goals. Getting the chance to contribute directly to projects that affect the entire waterfront has been a true honor, and I am extermely grateful to have gotten to use my experiences to create a direct impact on those who visit the Waterfront. Colin Yuen AAC Member
It is such an honor to share space and ideas with a crew of brilliant, passionate, and dope folks. I love learning from my fellow committee members in an environment that celebrates who we are as individuals and representatives of our respective organizations and communities. 10/10! Taelore Rhoden C3 Member
Serving on PTC isn't just about being at the table; it's about ensuring that table was built by us, for us, with our stories and sovereignty at the center. What has meant the most is witnessing Friends' genuine committment to moving beyond performative inclusion to authentic partnership. Sage Ke'alohilani Quiamno PTC Member
I joined Community Connections Committee because of what this committee stands for—equity, care, and cultural & historic preservation. With Friends & C3, their values are always aligned with action. I love yall! Tracey Wong C3 Member

2026 PTC Members

Darin Averill

Navajo Nation, Park Experience Assistant, Friends of Waterfront Park

Hello, I’m Darin Averill I belong to the Navajo Nation tribe. I enjoy cooking and the outdoors. I’ve lived here in Washington my whole life. I’m excited to be a part of this committee and further involved in the indigenous community in the area.

Karama Blackhorn

Kahosadi, Rogue River Shasta, Culture Diversity & Equity Senior Manager, Seattle Aquarium, Owner, Education is Ceremony

Culture Diversity & Equity Senior Manager, Seattle Aquarium, Owner, Education is Ceremony

Emma Charles

Cowichan, Klallam, Duwamish, Student of Land Stewardship, University of British Columbia

I am an Indigenous Land Stewardship student on traditional and unceded Musqueam land at the University of British Columbia. I am from Seattle, Washington, and am Duwamish, Cowichan, and Klallam. I graduated high school last year with my AA degree from South Seattle College, and I hope to attend law school after getting my undergraduate degree.

Deborah Guerrero MSW

Tlingit, Secretary, Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission Board

Deborah Guerrero, worked as an Indian Child Social Worker for local tribes for 23 years.  In retirement she has continued to serve her Indigenous community, through advocacy efforts with Murdered Missing Indigenous People, and Human Trafficking work.  The Red Road of Life is her Spiritual path and she serves her Indigenous relatives through traditional ceremonial practices in many circles.  She is a drummer and singer as well as ceremonial practitioner.  She is involved in several Indigenous organizations.

Carolyn Hartness

Eastern Band Cherokee/Norwegian, Contractor and Trainer, Seventh Generation

Carolyn Hartness, Eastern Band Cherokee/Norwegian, is a consultant committed to a life of service assisting individuals, families, communities and organizations and Tribes to create holistic, collaborative, evidence and spiritually based wellness for themselves, and future generations.  She has and currently facilitates many gatherings and circles, including Talking/Listening Circles and Restorative Justice Circles, to bring healing to individuals, including veterans, incarcerated individuals, families, Tribal people, communities and providers through honest, open and transformative sharing.  Carolyn is currently working with the Department of Commerce’s Washington Statewide Reentry Council, visiting prisons and conducting talking/listening circles.  She worked with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s Welcome Home Reentry Program as an Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Consultant from 2006-2023.

Kerri Hill

Metís/Cherokee

Maloa Jenkins

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Grants Manager, Chief Seattle Club

Maloa Jenkins is a proud Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma member and a registered artist within her Nation. She lives in Seattle, WA, where she works with Chief Seattle Club and Rise Above. As the Grants Manager for Chief Seattle Club, Maloa is committed to advancing their mission of providing sacred spaces to nurture, affirm, and strengthen the spirit of urban Native people.Maloa’s work emphasizes the message that Indigenous people are not relics of the past but thriving, dynamic communities with rich traditions and contemporary contributions. She is passionate about educating Seattle’s waterfront on Indigenous traditions and fostering spaces that promote equity and inclusivity.Maloa’s perspective is deeply shaped by her family’s history, particularly her grandfather, a boarding school survivor who endured immense hardships for speaking his Choctaw language. Inspired by her ancestors’ strength, she is dedicated to creating spaces that celebrate Native cultures, promote healing, and empower Indigenous voices. Maloa is honored to join the Pulling Together Committee, where she aims to ensure Seattle’s waterfront reflects the diversity, vitality, and enduring presence of its Indigenous heritage.

Karen Johnson

Squamish, British Columbia Canada, Indipino of Bainbridge Island

I was born and raised on Bainbridge Island WA. My father was from Bacnoton Philippines and my mother was from Vancouver Island, Canada.  I worked at the UW School of Social Work Admissions for over 30 years.  I retired in 2017 and I am enjoying life as I have started making ribbon skirts in my spare time and my sister and I make high school graduation stashes for students of color.

Mercedes Luna

Tlingit, Associate Director of Advancement, University of Washington 

In her work as a fundraiser, Mercedes is passionate about changing the field of philanthropy to create a more equitable and just future for the next generation. She most recently served as Director of Individual Giving at the Wing Luke Museum. In her role, she worked alongside Executive leadership to strategize, develop, and grow the museum’s donor program. She oversaw the implementation of the museum’s overall donor and community-centered fundraising and membership strategy, major gifts and stewardship, portfolio management, and fundraising events.

As a fourth-generation Seattleite, Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese), Filipino American, and enrolled member of the Tlingit tribe, her mixed heritage fuels her, and she is proud to volunteer and support her local communities and cultural preservation efforts. Mercedes serves on the Executive Board of Trustees of Look, Listen + Learn TV and is a member of the Washington Women’s Foundation.

Sage Ke'alohilani Quiamno

Pacific Islander, Global Inclusion Executive, Angel Investor, Waikinikona Hawaiian Civic and Wa'a (Paddle) Club

Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno (she/her/’oia) is a Native Hawaiian (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi) leader and community builder who has called Seattle home for over a decade. As a respected DEI strategist and founder, she brings expertise in equity-centered leadership, having guided Fortune 500 companies and startups in building inclusive cultures. Her deep connection to both her Indigenous Hawaiian heritage and the Pacific Northwest informs her approach to community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Jordan Remington

Quileute, Public Programs Manager and Curator of Indigenous Programs, Friends of Waterfront Seattle

Public Programs Manager and Curator of Indigenous Programs, Friends of Waterfront Park

Jayden Robles

Chumash/Cahuilla/Ohlone, Program Manager, 4Culture

Jay is Šmuwič (Barbareño) Chumash and a descendant of the Cahuilla and Ohlone peoples of California. On their father’s side they are California Native and Okinawan, and on their mother’s side they’re of danish and english descent. Jay is a storyteller, multi-media artist, grantmaking professional, and community organizer, known for incorporating Indigenous futurist thought and generating healing restorative justice within Two-Spirit, Trans, and Queer BIPOC and Native communities. Born and raised in King county, Jay is currently living on Duwamish, Muckleshoot, and Snoqualmie lands.Jay received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Washington University, where they studied settler and diasporic societies, art, and religion through media (film, art, social etc), merging intersectional frameworks of critical Indigenous, race, disability, and queer studies. They embody multiplicities and their art and community work transcend the contemporary colonial form to encourage us all to remember something powerful and collectively familiar, our Indigenous ways of knowing, being. Fueled by Two-Spirit grounded normativity and honoring the gifts from our ancestors, Jay’s goal is to tell the stories of Two-Spirit lifeways and contribute to the improved holistic health and wellbeing of Native peoples

2026 C3 Members

Jacqueline "Auntie" Smith Armstrong

Board Vice Chair, Africatown Community Land Trust, Supporter of Arte Noir, Wa Na Wari

Ms. Jacqueline is a lifelong resident of Seattle’s historic Central District.  Born of parents from Louisiana, she still lives in the home they purchased in 1947.  Her & her husband lovingly renovated the home a decade ago preserving the Family Legacy.  Beyond her personal life, she is a passionate advocate for housing justice and land equity, serving as Board Vice Chair of Africatown Community Land Trust.  She envisions her home to be repurposed into a community art cultural space after her lifetime.Ms. Jacqueline worked tirelessly for over 25 years in Workforce Development.  Her favorite mantra is “I’m retired but not tired”.

Salenna Green

Owner, Salenna Green SPC (SGSPC)

Salenna Green (she/they)  is an organizer, creative, speaker, healer and leader. Salenna has a  degree in Community Psychology and a background in nonprofit leadership and program development. Salenna is carving her own lane in the healing industry. The Hot Girl’s Healing podcast and The Self Love Workshop are just a couple of ways Salenna contributes to uplifting and holding truly safe space for their community. They enjoy creating art, reading, leisure and travel in their free time.

Ashraf Hasham

Partnerships, Education, and Grants Manager, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Board Member, Washington Ensemble Theatre

Ashraf oversees the City of Seattle’s investments in artists, cultural organizations, arts education, and the creative economy in his role as Partnerships, Education, and Grants manager at the Office of Arts & Culture. He comes to this role from The Vera Project, a nationally-renowned, youth-led, all-ages music venue and DIY arts space, where he served as its Executive Director. Prior to that, he worked at Chicago’s largest arts education provider, Urban Gateways, and Seattle’s TeenTix, a revolutionary arts access and youth empowerment organization, in which he was a youth participant back in the day.

Ashraf co-hosts “Why Change? A Podcast for the Creative Generation,” interviewing practitioners, teaching artists, and organizational leaders dedicated to bettering themselves and the youth they work with. Ashraf serves on Americans for the Arts (AFTA)’s Arts Education Advisory Council, Friends of Waterfront Seattle’s Community Connections Committee, and on the board of Washington Ensemble Theatre. He previously served on the Seattle Arts Commission, and is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Tomorrow.

Ashraf can be seen in the wild on various dance floors as well as at arts events, thrift stores, and live music venues around town. Ashraf also speaks Urdu.

Margo Jones

Board Chair of Africatown Community Land Trust, CEO of A Personal Point of View, LLC

I’m a Seattle Native that is a legacy home and business owner in Seattle’s historic Central District. I’ve been the Board Chair Woman of ACLT for 9 years and I also work as Community Mentor/ Leader.My Passion for Seattle and our Community keeps me rooted in partnerships like this with Friends of the Waterfront so we may continue to keep the heritage of legacy built by our ancestors alive and thriving here in our region.

Carolina Lope

AV Support Technician, Seattle Aquarium

Mexicana in Seattle, breaking barriers and creating community.

Luis Lopez

Admin & Program Coordinator, The Residency

Luis Lopez is a Mexican-American trumpeter, artist, and community advocate who has cut his teeth in the Seattle music scene for the past 10+ years. He’s part of the modern era of working-class musicians who aim to uplift their community through art. This is reflected in his ongoing work at The Residency, aimed at fostering the next generation of hip hop leaders and cultural changemakers.Luis currently performs and tours alongside his bands: TMB Brass (New Orleans Second Line) and The Cumbieros (Latin Dance).

Israr Rukun

Student, University of Washington

I am a freshman studying computer science at UW Seattle, dedicated to bringing more diversity and bridging educational gaps in the tech community.

Sina Sam

Co-Founder, Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG)

Born in a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border, Sina Sam is a proud 1.5 generation Khmer American, refugee, and daughter of Cambodian Genocide survivors. She was raised in Seattle and educated at Seattle Colleges, UW and WSU. Appointed as the first Cambodian woman Commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) of Washington State, Sina led CAPAA’s civil rights and immigration work as Committee Chair. Passionate about immigrants’ rights and issues disproportionately impacting underserved communities, she is a longstanding community advocate and organizer.Previously based between eastern WA and Washington DC, Sina is now back in Seattle and excited to reconnect with community! Involved in local events all year around, she encourages residents and visitors alike to get out to enjoy the Seattle Waterfront. Sina says, “Conservation and revitalization efforts underway are immense, especially remarkable are the efforts to reconnect and uplift Pacific NW communities, and the ways of life that have been historically excluded from major city developments. With continued shared visioning, stewardship and partnership, our uniquely beautiful Coast Salish Sea can truly be a place of welcome, deep connection and enjoyment for all; A special place for many more generations to come. Grab a friend and come checkout all the new views, programming and progress!

2026 AAC Members

Ada Michele Alston

Founder, Seed2Fork Farm School, The NW African-American Museum Rainer Beach Farm & Wetlands 5th Ave Theater Raising Star Project American Diabetes Association Tilth Alliance NW Tribal Emergency Management council

At 14, I started working in my uncle’s business, where I learned customer service, a firm handshake, and networking skills. During my Master’s and Doctoral studies, I broke ground as a Black woman in Systems Thinking, pioneering corporate roles and working on impactful projects, including delivering emergency vehicles to Africa with Boeing leadership. My 25-year corporate career allowed me to work with renowned experts like Dr. Edward Deming and Dr. Ron Heifetz.After retiring, I returned to service. Our farm now focuses on social justice, supporting marginalized communities, and promoting prevention gardening for Type 2 diabetes.

Katy Jach

Teacher

Katy Jach is a Teacher of students with blindness and low vision at the Olympic Educational Service District, serving students in King, Mason, and Kitsap counties. With five years of experience in this role, she is deeply committed to accessibility and advocacy for her students and their families. Katy’s passion extends beyond the classroom, as she volunteers for the Pacific Northwest Association for Blind Athletes and participates in the Teachers of Tomorrow program through the National Federation of the Blind. She also enjoys her commute via ferry from downtown Seattle to the peninsula, savoring the scenic views along the Seattle waterfront area.

Gina Karaba

Owner, Karaba Glass Art, Pike Place Market PDA, Council PDA constituency

I am a 19 yr legacy art vendor at the Pike Place Market.  I was on the stake holder committee for the waterfront development connecting and overlook walk with the Pike Place Marketfrom 2007 to 2017.I was a caretaker for a family member with severe disabilities and major injuries and this opened my eyes to the difficulties facing accessibility in public spaces.This family member is also LGBTQIA and a drag performer.  They had major obstacles performing because of spaces that had zero accessibility for wheelchairs.

Andrea Kovich

Senior Accessibility Specialist, Studio Pacifica

Andrea Kovich has over 15 years of experience in the architecture field, with over a decade of that as an Accessibility Specialist with Studio Pacifica. She reviews construction drawing sets for compliance with federal and state accessibility codes—including the ADA Standards, IBC, and ICC A117.1—and other applicable guidelines, such as the Fair Housing Act and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. She also does facility assessments for Arts & Cultural projects. Andrea is a certified ADA Coordinator and an ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner.

Kathryn Palomino

Member

I was born and spent most of my life in New York. I moved to Seattle in 2021 and have fallen in love with the All that it has to offer. I enjoyed taking care of children and I’m upward certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon. I have one son who is now 21 years old and in the University of Washington. Socially I enjoy traveling and water activities.

Elizabeth Ralston

Consultant , Elizabeth Ralston Consulting LLC

Elizabeth Ralston is a consultant who guides organizations in the strategic development of an accessibility roadmap, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. She has over 25 years of experience working with nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions.She has a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a certificate of Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington.Elizabeth’s expertise is in maximizing organizations’ success through program development, strategic communications, and event implementation, all with an eye on accessibility. She is a published writer, engaging educator, and a seasoned storyteller committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.Elizabeth is also the Founder of the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, a grassroots effort to help arts and cultural organizations improve accessibility for their audiences. Her creation of the Consortium emerged from deep listening to the arts and disability communities about the gaps in accessibility. She brings a unique perspective to her work,through her lived experience with a disability. As a deaf woman who uses cochlear implants to hear, Elizabeth faces accessibility challenges every day. Her hearing loss never stopped her from achieving her life goals. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi, Africa, she saw first-hand the powerful impact a person can have on others’ lives. She has devoted her life to public service ever since.

Moira Tamayo

Senior Marketing Manager, Seattle Aquarium

Moira was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has lived in Caracas, New York, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Miami and Cincinnati before relocating to Seattle in 2017. For 30 years she marketed payment systems at Western Union, WorldPay, Amazon, and others. Moira received an MA in Biology in 2021 and started working as the Sr. Marketing Manager at the Seattle Aquarium in 2022. She was tasked with writing an accessibility plan for the Aquarium and attended the Kennedy Center’s LEAD (Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability) conference. Moira believes that we are all either disabled or temporarily abled, and that we all need to be able to participate fully in the vibrant life of the Seattle waterfront.

Teresa Thuman

Founder, Co-Artistic Director | Sound Theatre Company

Bio coming soon

Jacquelyn Van Patten

Special Education Teacher

Jacquie is a lifelong Seattleite with a deep love for her city’s history, culture, and natural beauty. As a Special Education Teacher she is passionate about fostering connection and creating welcoming spaces that celebrate diversity and disability. Jacquie’s lived experience as a disabled person and her background in disability justice inform her approach to accessibility and inclusion, both in her professional work and community advocacy.She has led empowerment and inclusion projects like redesigning her classroom ceiling using trauma-informed design principles and advocating for greater visibility and support for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is excited to bring her creativity and dedication to equity to the Waterfront Advisory Committee, contributing to thoughtful placemaking that invites all Seattleites to feel a sense of belonging.

Colin Yuen

Student, University of Washington, Paraprofessional, Issaquah School District

I’m a lifelong Washington native and have always loved the natural beauty that surrounds us here! I’m currently studying Business Administration at the University of Washington, which has further sparked my passion for creating positive change in for our community. As a paraprofessional in the Issaquah School District, I’ve had the opportunity to work with students on the autism spectrum. This experience has inspired me to help make the Seattle Waterfront Park’s programs more accessible and enjoyable for youth of all ages. I’m excited to continue finding new ways to make a meaningful impact and create opportunities that benefit everyone in our community!

Past Committee Members

Find out who’s been on our committees since their inaugural year in 2022! We are so grateful to these incredible individuals who have been integral to shaping our work and who will have a lasting impact on Waterfront Park.

See past Community Partnership Committee members