Who We Are

Updated September 16, 2024

As Seattle's population changes, the City needs to continually revisit and expand its public engagement efforts to ensure growing demographic groups are represented in the City's decision-making processes and that barriers discouraging people from participating are eliminated.

In July 2016, Executive Order 2016-06 was signed reaffirming the City's commitment to advance effective implementation of equitable and inclusive engagement strategies across all City departments. In the 2017-2018 Budget, legislation was passed that addresses the Mayor's outreach and engagement principles, outlines a new citywide framework for community engagement, and creates a Community Involvement Commission. 

Ahoua Koné
Mayoral Appointee

Ahoua Koné (she/her) is a public health practitioner and a licensed attorney. She is currently a faculty member and co-Chair of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at the University of Washington School of Public Health (SPH). She is an alum of the University of Washington SPH and Seattle University School of Law.  Ahoua is a first-generation immigrant from the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa) with a lived experience of nearly 4 decades in the US. She is a proud mother of two young men and an auntie and grandmother to many extended family members. Professionally, Ahoua has developed and led large public health projects in Africa (Ivory Coast and Mozambique), China (Guangzhou) and the Seattle-King County area. She is a founding member and was a partner of the Seattle Immigration and Family Law Group. Through her lived experiences, Ahoua has cultivated a deep commitment to activism to promote social justice and confront racism. She has been extensively involved with community organizations and commissions including Yesler Terrace Health Clinic, Seattle Human Rights Commission, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, City of Seattle Police Chief Search Committee, Somali Family Task Force, Institute of Research and Actions in Africa, Women in Global Health-Seattle Chapter, Grandmothers for Race and Class Equality, and the African Leaders Health Board. With community engagement, she strives to help amplify the voices and needs of marginalized individuals and communities. She looks forward to contributing to this Commission to further its mission.

Rachelle Olden
Mayoral Appointee

Rachelle Olden is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse background in marketing, tech, international development, and social advocacy. As a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Google, she leads the Tech Equity Collective, an initiative focused on advancing Black innovation in tech.

Her journey began as a first-generation college student, growing up as the oldest of four siblings in a single-parent home in both Brooklyn, New York, and Columbia, South Carolina. Rachelle has traveled to over 54 countries, gaining invaluable perspectives along the way. Her career started with the U.S. Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and continued with impactful roles at the U.N. World Food Programme in Liberia and World Vision International in Latin America. She has also worked with the Clinton Foundation, the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she focused on addressing social issues and promoting equity.

With an MBA from Duke University, Rachelle transitioned to Microsoft, where she managed global industry partnerships. In 2023, she was honored to be named one of Puget Sound's 40 under 40 and featured in ESSENCE magazine's inaugural Power 40 list. Outside of her professional life, Rachelle is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys teaching at shelters for homeless women. 

Heidi Morisset
Mayoral Appointee

Heidi was raised in Seattle where she learned to be grateful for the variety of life Seattle offers. While she took time away from the City for higher education, Seattle’s enticement has her currently residing in the serene Maple Leaf neighborhood. As a member of a local native Tribe, Heidi cherishes both her roots and the greater heritage of these lands. Heidi's educational background in psychology, sports management, and mental health counseling has aided her professional and personal growth by providing insight into human behavior and an insatiable thirst for curiosity.

Heidi has worked at several Seattle based companies and finds her passion through making connections in the communities and with the people around her. In her off time, you can find her frequenting Seattle's sporting events, at various parks with her puppy, and adventuring in the local waterways. As a young indigenous person, Heidi hopes to emphasize these perspectives within the City. Her goal as a member of the Community Involvement Commission is to make civic engagement exciting and easily attainable to all populations and people of Seattle.

Julio Perez
City Council Appointee
Julio Perez is a passionate advocate from Washington State who promotes community engagement and social equity. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics from Western Washington University. While at the university, he interned for six months at a local nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable populations. Julio has been a Seattle resident for three years and works as a transportation advocate at a nonprofit organization. In this role, he collaborates with local partners to address mobility challenges and ensure equitable access to transportation services.

Julio is not only dedicated to his professional responsibilities, but he is also actively involved in community service. He spends his time volunteering with organizations that support unhoused individuals in Seattle. Julio is passionate about supporting underserved populations and believes everyone deserves a voice and equal opportunities. He is committed to positively impacting our community through his selfless service.

Hunter Camfield
Council Appointed

Hunter is a dedicated member of Seattle's recovery community and a proud University of Washington graduate, where he earned a degree in computer science in 2019. Originally from Ohio, Hunter moved to Washington at the age of 18, following in the footsteps of his family, who have deep roots in Seattle. He has called Seattle home for the past 10 years, contributing to the community through various roles. With 13 years of experience in the recovery community, Hunter has been committed to supporting young men in achieving and sustaining sobriety. As an organizer, he has played a key role in creating events that foster connection and support within the recovery community.

Prior to his college education, Hunter worked as a caregiver and at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), where he developed a strong sense of compassion and dedication to service. Hunter is passionate about leveraging his personal experiences and professional skills to advocate for the recovery community and beyond. Hunter is deeply invested in the well-being and growth of the city. He is committed to making a positive impact through his work on the city council, ensuring that all voices are heard and supported in Seattle's diverse and vibrant community.

Elise Herwig
Mayoral Appointee

Elise has lived in Seattle for the last 7 years and calls South Seattle home. She is passionate about the transformative power of community and believes that our local communities are where people have the greatest power to engage and create change. She has a Master's in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a professional background in nonprofits and philanthropy. Her work has focused on stakeholder partnerships, collaborative solution design, capacity building, evaluation, and continuous improvement. She has additional training in community engagement and collaboration through the Tamarack Institute, as well as knowledge gained from trial, error, and learning in practice. In her free time, Elise loves to eat, cook, and try new restaurants (she firmly believes that all good community engagement events should include food).

Betsy Baffa
City Council Appointee

Betselot “Betsy” Baffa is a public health professional and community advocate who currently serves as the WA Cares Program and Contract Manager at Snohomish County. She has experience in the nonprofit sector, serving youth and adults from underserved communities through programs that advance health equity, culturally responsive care, community engagement as well as higher education. Betsy earned her Master of Science in Community Health and Social Justice from the University of Washington Bothell School of Nursing and Health Studies and lives in Seattle’s University District neighborhood. She is passionate about advancing equity, strengthening community connections, and uplifting diverse voices through her service on the Community Involvement Commission.

Gabriel de los Angeles
City Council Appointee

Gabriel de los Angeles is son of Chief Andy de los Angeles of the Snoqualmie Tribe. Chief Andy was recognized by the City of Seattle with Chief Andy day, Feb 15, for the immense history of Native community work and work with all levels of government. A Lake City resident, Gabriel is also the Board President of the Indian Parent Advisory Committee with Seattle Public Schools. He is also educated as a PhC in Education Psychology, specializing in Learning Science and Human Development, at the University of Washington's College of Education. He is mentored in that work by Dr. Megan Bang (Ojibwe). Gabriel is also a story telling teacher, mentored by Roger Fernandes (S'klallam). You can find him in Seattle working on increasing Native American Education for all as well as telling traditional Native stories in classrooms and other places.

Jalen Smith
Mayoral Appointee

Jalen Smith (pronouns: they/them/any/all) was born and raised in rural Arkansas and will tell anyone they meet their favorite soul food dishes before they tell you their name. Jalen has lived in Seattle almost ten years where they have completed their Master of Education degree from Seattle University and have worked as a higher education professional at the University of Washington across many intercollegiate areas. In working within education administration at the UW School of Public Health, Jalen took the charge of student recruitment and admissions coordination to heart—understanding that community diversity begins with a kind smile and a warm 'hello.' Jalen is currently wrapping up their final year in the University of Washington's Clinical Social Work program with a Master of Social Work degree, where they have taken a vested interest in geriatric social work and supporting community joy and connection for our very diverse group of older adults. Jalen has a smorgasbord of hobbies and interests, from binge-watching the latest shows, to supporting various mutual aid and community volunteer efforts in North Seattle. Always say hi!

Tim Turner
City Council Appointee

Timothy Turner has called Seattle's Queen Anne and Capitol Hill neighborhoods home for the past three years. Timothy is a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and a minor in Sociology. He has cultivated a diverse career dedicated to community service, including roles as a mental health caseworker, English teacher, and children’s social services specialist serving the Deaf community of central Ohio. Timothy now serves as a Resource Coordinator working in Seattle’s low-income public housing communities, where he is passionate about connecting residents to vital community services. He is committed to actively networking with local social service organizations and entities to promote and amplify their work in the areas of social justice, mental & public health, disability advocacy, and other critical social services.

Haley McColgan
City Council Appointee

A long-time Seattle resident, Haley currently lives in Ballard and has called this city home for most of their life. Haley works in the tech sector at a startup dedicated to building climate resilience software for city and state governments. Outside of work, she is eager to find meaningful ways to help shape Seattle’s future and ensure all residents have a voice in their city’s decision-making.

Nada Ramadan
Get Engaged Appointee

Nada moved to Washington State in August of 2021. Her love for the outdoors and adventure made her fall in love with the region. Her favorite part is living in the middle of the city and feeling like being in a forest cabin the whole time. While Nada's background is in education, she has always been an advocate of community engagement. She is very passionate about creating inclusive cultural programs that bring people together from across the world. She's coordinated international festivals, managed community programs, and spoken at events attended by hundreds of people. Nada is excited to serve the city with the Community Involvement Commission.

Chelsea Affleck
City Council Appointee

Chelsea Affleck is a community advocate who believes that strong, connected neighborhoods are the foundation of a healthy, thriving city. She is curious about how communities define health and belonging, create spaces for well-being and shared power, and use inclusive engagement to shape neighborhoods, programs, and public spaces, strengthening both health and democracy.

In Seattle, Chelsea has collaborated with Community Health Centers, local nonprofits, and philanthropic networks to advance equity and civic participation. Whether mentoring emerging healthcare leaders, supporting community-driven grantmaking, or volunteering at large-scale public health events, Chelsea seeks out opportunities to listen deeply, build trust, and bring people together across differences. Outside of work, she can be found organizing neighborhood gatherings, volunteering with local nonprofits, and exploring Seattle’s green spaces with an eye toward how they can foster connection, healing, and joy. She views community involvement as both a practice and a shared responsibility, one that grows our collective resilience and ensures that all voices shape the future we share.