Meet Our Commissioners

Marisol Beas
Get-Engaged Appointee
Marisol is a recent Master of Public Administration graduate from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. She has been a long-time advocate for community engagement and participation. Marisol brings her expertise in community-based participatory action research, policy advocacy, and stakeholder collaboration to the Commission, aiming to enhance civic participation and advance social justice within the city.

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.

Martha Lucas
Mayoral Appointee
Martha was born in Ethiopia and moved to Seattle at the age of 2. Martha is a proud double Husky and long-time resident of the Wedgwood neighborhood with a background in healthcare management, public health, education, insurance, caregiving, and 25+ years of community service. Martha is an experienced local insurance broker in car, home, business, life, disability, and Medicare. Currently, Martha is a 2020 Community Leadership Institute Fellow and is enjoying learning how to balance the growth in her financial services and insurance practice, Tigray Women's Advisory Council member, and Co-Chairship/Grants Manager position for the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders.

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.

Nausheen Rajan
Mayoral Appointee
Nausheen (she/her) has spent her professional career to fostering inclusive economic development in her communities. Over three years ago, Nausheen co-founded an initiative to increase generational voter participation and civic engagement in her Muslim community by training over 150 community members how to organize. The initiative was able to reach close to 10,000 individuals. While in graduate school, Nausheen served on the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Council to empower the voices of first-generation students and was Co-Chair of Students and Alumni for Color. She is deeply passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the table to foster positive change. Nausheen completed her Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University. She lives in South Lake Union, and enjoys reading, volunteering in her community, and is always down to get Salt & Straw ice cream.

Mike Seo
City Council Appointee
I am Mike Seo, living in Ballard. Daily and nightly basis I bike or bus (sometimes light rail too!) around Seattle and talk to anybody anytime in any neighborhood to see what is up. I would like to help Seattleites get more involved in community actions. I believe in people’s collective power. This city should not be run and driven by just a few politicians, (self claimed) community visionaries and influencers.

I started my career as a local newspaper reporter in NYC. I learned how to communicate with all walks of life and how to give them voices. I then went to a grad school and studied readily applicable urban planning & community development theories and practices. After that, I worked for a community development finance institution, where I helped a series of innovative community & economic development projects. Then I moved to a labor union to learn more about economic justice and community organizing. I was doing collective bargainings for our union members. I am now working for a nationwide cooperative developer & investor, helping community members start their own food, housing, and worker co-ops. 

Marcus White
Commission-selected Appointee
Marcus White grew up in the Atlanta Area and has lived in Seattle for over 2 years. With a background in the accounting profession, Marcus wants to use an organized, disciplined approach to help temper the chaotic, frenetic nature of our beloved city and its governmental affairs. He has resided all over Seattle (Capitol Hill, Central District, and Queen Anne). He is becoming increasingly aware of the acute challenges the city faces such as the permanent housing crisis and racial equity and inclusion and wants to help ease the tension and augment the city’s commendable qualities.

Neighborhoods

Jenifer Chao, Director
Address: 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor, Seattle, WA , 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA, 98124-4649
Phone: (206) 684-0464
Fax: (206) 233-5142
seattleneighborhoods@seattle.gov

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