Job/Passion Project Outside of River City Youth:

Ali is an attorney who specializes in eviction defense and is currently the Eviction Defense Program Manager at The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid. She plays a key role in Washington's appointed counsel program for indigent tenants. Ali is also an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, where she shares her legal expertise with the next generation of attorneys.

Favorite Childhood Activity or Hobby:

As a kid, Ali was all about the water! Whether it was lakeside summer days or sailing adventures, being on the water was her happy place.

Fun or Unusual Talent:

Public speaking has been Ali’s passion since the fifth grade, when she delivered her first speech and got hooked on the art of speaking in front of an audience.

What Inspired You to Join the Board at River City Youth?:

Ali was drawn to River City Youth because of its incredible potential and its vital mission. She wanted to be part of rebuilding and strengthening the organization so it could make the biggest impact possible on the community it serves.

One Goal or Dream for the Organization:

Ali has big dreams for RCY! Her ultimate goal is for the organization to have a permanent, welcoming space in West Central—a place where youth can come together, discover their passions, and grow into the amazing people they’re destined to be.

Favorite Quote/Motto:

"Feel the fear and do it anyways!" Ali believes that fear shouldn’t stop us from going after what we want. It's okay to feel scared—what matters is pushing forward regardless.

What’s your day job (or passion project) outside of River City Youth?

Saramae considers herself blessed to be involved in several roles outside of River City Youth. Saramae runs a family farm with her amazing parents and brother focused on regenerative agriculture. She also manages a team at BECU helping them develop and grow while serving their membership! 

What was your favorite activity or hobby as a kid? 

Saramae has always been obsessed with with travel, reading , and being outside in almost any capacity! 

What’s a fun or unusual talent or skill you have? 

Saramae’s most unusual skill would have to be public speaking! She has participated in over 200 productions/panels and speaking engagements! 

What inspired you to join the board at River City Youth? 

Saramae heard about the program from a former participant and had a great interest due to the amazing and impactful work that was being done over the years and she wanted to see how she could support and help this work to grow and continue its amazing impact! 

What’s one goal or dream you have for the organization in the future? Saramae would love to see the org. have a space to call its own, allowing the community and youth to connect in a more regular and impactful way! 

Favorite quote or motto you live by? 

My favorite quote and motto that Saramae lives by is a traditional quote from her people:

"Honor the sacred. Honor the Earth, our Mother. Honor the Elders. Honor all with whom we share the Earth:-Four-leggeds, two-leggeds, winged ones, Swimmers, crawlers, plant and rock people. Walk in balance and beauty."

What’s your day job (or passion project) outside of River City Youth?
Bakari is an accountant who values the opportunity his career provides to make a meaningful impact in areas that matter to him—like supporting River City Youth and helping young people thrive.

What was your favorite activity or hobby as a kid?
As a kid, Bakari loved spending time at farmers markets. He enjoyed sampling new foods, discovering unique goods, and experiencing the vibrant energy of local vendors—always a fun adventure for his taste buds and curiosity.

What’s a fun or unusual talent or skill you have?
Bakari is a skating enthusiast—whether on ice or at a rink, he’s got some serious skills on skates. It's one of his favorite ways to stay active and have fun!

What inspired you to join the board at River City Youth?
Bakari was inspired by the positive impact River City Youth has on the community. The opportunities and life lessons the organization offers resonate deeply with him, and he wants to help expand its reach so more young people can benefit.

What’s one goal or dream you have for the organization in the future?
Bakari dreams of a time when RCY’s presence is so deeply ingrained in the community that it’s instantly recognizable. He envisions people seeing a group of RCY youth walking by and immediately knowing the positive impact they represent and the sense of purpose they carry with them.

Favorite quote or motto you live by?
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
– Benjamin Franklin

This quote resonates with Bakari because it reflects his belief in the power of active engagement in learning and growth.

What is your favorite food?

Bread and pastries made with local grain because that allows Ali to eat delicious food while supporting local and regional grain farmers.

Why do you serve on the board?

As a former West Central resident, Ali is excited to serve on the board of directors for RCY to support opportunity creation for young people to learn about food access issues and become active members within their neighborhood and greater Spokane communities.

Joel co-founded LINC Foods, a worker- and farmer-owned cooperative food distributor and craft malthouse, followed by co-founding The Grain Shed, a worker- and farmer-owned cooperative bakery and brewery. Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Joel grew up in his family’s rose-growing greenhouse business.

After earning a BA in Theatre and beginning his career as a lighting designer and stage electrician in Los Angeles, Joel returned to Spokane to explore how to most effectively democratize wealth and power in his community. He worked as a legislative aide to the Spokane City Council, a community organizer with the Spokane Alliance, and served as the first Executive Director of River City Youth.

In 2014, Joel earned his Master of Business Administration from Pinchot University, focusing on Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Finance. Most recently, Joel co-founded Spokane Workers Cooperative, a worker-owned holding company and cooperative development catalyst organization.

Angelique serves as the Major Gift and Campaign Director at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County where she gets to build meaningful connections and champion opportunities for kids.

Beyond her work she loves supporting nonprofits as a volunteer and through serving on a few boards in our community.

She also likes to be in the know, keeping her ear to the ground for new opportunities, organizations, needs, and things to celebrate in Spokane.

Favorite Childhood Activity or Hobby: 

As a child Angelique loved reading, playing board games with family, and spending time in the mud and garden, making up dances to songs with friends, anything that let her use her imagination and hands in a creative way.

Fun or Unusual Talent:

Angelique can remember obscure facts from books, movies, or TV show

What Inspired You to Join the Board at River City Youth:

Angelique has known about River City Youth since its inception through her work in the nonprofit world and has watched it grow into something amazing. When the opportunity came to join the board, Angelique knew she wanted to be more involved in supporting and strengthening its mission.

One Goal or Dream for the Organization: 

Her dream is for River City Youth to become a recognizable name throughout Spokane, known as the place where young people are encouraged, supported, and celebrated for who they are and what they can accomplish.

Favorite Quote:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

Emily’s work at Rogers High School is her passion project. Emily has her dream job of being the College and Career Counselor and gets the opportunity to change lives everyday.

Favorite Childhood Activity or Hobby:

 Reading and writing. Emily had a dream of being an author one day.

Fun or Unusual Talent:

 Emily represented Spokane at the 2016 National Poetry Slam.

What Inspired You to Join the Board at River City Youth:

Emily has lived in West Central since 2014 and has a kindred relationship to the organization as she lives in the original Project Hope (RCY’s former name) house. She loves to serve her community, through her work on the neighborhood council, but she wants to get more engaged with the youth. River City Youth is her favorite non-profit working with kids in Spokane.

One Goal or Dream for the Organization:

Emily would love River City Youth to grow beyond West Central and have satellite campuses across the city.

Favorite Quote/Motto:

Education is not a destination.

Job/Passion Project Outside of River City Youth:

Poorvi works at Namati, a nonprofit that helps communities around the world know, use, and shape the law to advance social and environmental justice. She connects grassroots justice defenders so they can learn from one another and deepen their impact. Poorvi is a lawyer by training, and has lived and worked in India, Canada, Kenya and the United States.

Favorite Childhood Activity or Hobby:

Reading. Poorvi’s mom was a librarian, which meant she had an endless supply of books. She still loves to read today, and fiction remains her favorite escape.

Fun or Unusual Talent:

Cooking. Poorvi’s at her happiest when there’s a big pot on the stove and friends gathered around the table to share it.

What Inspired You to Join the Board at River City Youth?

As a new resident of Spokane, Poorvi was inspired by the way RCY builds and strengthens the community. She wanted to be part of that work and contribute to its growth.

One Goal or Dream for the Organization:

For RCY to flourish as a bold and innovative community, serving as a model of what’s possible.

Favorite Quote/Motto:

“Justice is what love looks like in public.” – Cornel West

Day job (or passion project) outside of River City Youth:

Shawna is the WA State Area Director for Compass Career Solutions. She oversee seven offices/programs and Program Directors around the State of WA. They provide supported employment and housing services to individuals (adults and youth) with disabilities and those in crisis.

What she loves most about her job is mentoring and empowering leaders through daily oversight and leadership development to reach their financial and operational program goals.

Favorite activity or hobby as a kid:

Playing sports, mainly softball and riding bikes and 2 stroke dirt bikes.

Fun or unusual talent or skill:

Shawna was a massage therapist for 20 years and can still give an awesome stress reduction or injury treatment massage.

What inspired you to join the board at River City Youth?

Shawna holds the belief that our youth are our best investment. In her day job she has very little opportunity to have an impact on their youth clients, and has found herself feeling a loss in that. She wants to engage in volunteering with RCY because she wants to share skills, wisdom, adventures, food etc. with young people and with the future adults in the workforce and in our communities.

One goal or dream for the organization:

She hopes to learn as much as possible throughout this year and would love to lead a workshop on employment or gardening or cooking!

Favorite Quote/Motto:

“Everything that seems to happen to me, I ask for and receive as I have asked.”