Our Advisory Board members are nonprofit leaders who are dedicated to youth success and building the youth development field.

Dr. Angela Griffin — Co-Chair (she/her) | Executive Director | Launch

"YDEKC consistently adds knowledge and resources to my toolkit as a transformational leader of children, youth and family engagement efforts. I believe any organization that is committed to ensuring their work is youth-centered and incorporates a racial equity lens needs to be in partnership with YDEKC."

Laurie Black (she/her) — Co-Chair | President & CEO | Boys & Girls Club of King County

"BGCKC is thrilled to be a member of YDECKC and their partner organizations supporting young people throughout King County. Our vision of what we hope that all young people can achieve and mission to serve youth are aligned. We look forward to continuing to work as a team to be the authority in youth development in our community."

Pedro Perez — Past Co-Chair (Pedro) | Executive Director | Geeking Out Kids of Color

"YDEKC is a space that allows the assembly of leaders to learn, teach, and strategize the improvement of youth's lives in our community. Geeking Out Kids of Color not only supports the mission through enrollment and participation but is also supported by YDEKC with county government advocacy and networking provided to us as a non-profit. As co-chair of the board, I help reimagine how youth services can look and feel via my critical race lens when we center kids of color as the starting point of all we do."

Anthony Austin | Executive Director | Southeast Youth and Family Services

Gwen Bagley (she/her) | Chief Youth Development Officer | YMCA of Greater Seattle

"'Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.' This is a quote by Muhammad Ali and one that has resonated with me over the years. Serving on the YDEKC Board provides an opportunity to work collaboratively towards delivering solutions that progress youth and families towards a more equitable and just society."

Ranna Daud (she/her) | Executive Director | After-School All-Stars

I have participated in YDEKC because it brings youth development leaders together to mobilize, advocate, and deepen our shared commitment to youth—particularly from underserved communities in King County. YDEKC brings together diverse leaders with unique perspectives and lived experiences to collectively re-imagine how youth agency, voice and empowerment can be amplified.

Jordan Goldwarg | Executive Director | OneWorld Now!

We know that collaboration and partnership are necessary for helping all youth to thrive; it is too big a task for individual organizations to do it on our own. I love that YDEKC allows organizations to come together to share resources and amplify our voices in service of our youth. And it provides resources that I find invaluable in ensuring that OneWorld Now continues to center BIPOC youth in our work.

Elizabeth Whitford (she/her) | Chief Executive Officer | School's Out Washington 

"As YDEKC, we are able to achieve systematic changes on behalf of youth and youth development organizations in a way that none of us could achieve on our own. Through YDEKC I have found a community connected by shared values. I love the diversity of our membership, and the deep commitment to advancing equity through our own work, and through our collective action."