MEET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UBAX GARDHEERE!
Ubax is an accomplished professional who currently holds the positions of Director of Fund Development for the Cultural Space Agency and Managing Director for Savannah Community Consultants. With a strong background in community development and equitable practices, she previously served as the Equitable Development Initiative Division Director in the City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development. In this role, she oversaw the EDI fund, investing in community-based organizations focused on anti-displacement strategies and economic development in Seattle. Ubax successfully allocated $100 million to community based organizations and leveraged an additional $300 million from other City of Seattle Departments for BIPOC equitable development projects. Notably, she played a crucial role in transferring City-owned property to three Black-led organizations in the Central district during the racial reckoning in 2020. Ubax's values are deeply rooted in social justice and transformative practice. She is committed to prioritizing equity and authentically listening to the community, reflecting her extensive experience in community development and building inclusive visions with Seattle's communities of color. Her involvement extends to various initiatives, including the Housing Affordability Livability Agenda Committee, where she actively contributed to advancing equitable transit-oriented development priorities, land use policy, affordable housing policy, and community-based participatory planning. Additionally, she served as a Governance Group Member for Communities of Opportunity, focusing on equitable health, housing, and economic opportunity across King County. Ubax also played a role in addressing housing challenges as a board member of the Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH), a partnership aimed at preserving and increasing housing supply for low- and moderate-income households in the region. Ubax's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems and E-Commerce from Washington State University, providing her with a strong foundation in technology and its application to management practices. She further enhanced her skills through a Fundraising Certificate from the University of Washington, equipping her with essential knowledge and strategies for successful fundraising. Committed to public service and community development, she pursued a Master's degree in Public Administration from Seattle University. This advanced degree equipped her with comprehensive knowledge of public administration principles, policy analysis, and leadership, enabling her to navigate complex roles and make a substantial impact in her field. With her academic achievements and wealth of practical experience, Ubax stands as a formidable leader in the realm of equitable economic development and equitable practices. Despite her professional achievements, she remains a proud single parent to three energetic children, who inspire her and keep her actively engaged in both her personal and professional life.
MEET OUR BOARD
ZAK IDAN
Zak is the first Somali American, Muslim man elected to office in Washington state. With over 15 years of experience in equitable community development, Zak is committed to immigrant and refugee rights, urban planning, and civic engagement. He currently serves as a Project Control Engineer with King County and brings his expertise in community-focused initiatives to the board.
EBONY ARUNGA
Born in Kenya and raised in Seattle’s Central District, Ebony is an arts manager and advocate. She has managed projects such as the Seattle Artist Relief Fund and currently serves as Interim Executive Director at LANGSTON. Ebony is a leader in Black arts and culture, committed to uplifting Seattle's diverse creative community.
RANDY ENGSTROM
Randy has over 20 years of experience in advocating for cultural and community development. He is Co-Founder and Principal of Third Way Creative, a consulting studio focused on cultural policy and racial equity. Randy has served as Director of the Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Seattle, leading significant initiatives in arts education, cultural space affordability, and racial equity.
BO ZHANG
Bo is humbled by her body and its unfathomable connection to the lands that have nurtured and loved her. She practices surrendering the brain supremacy that once guided her in dominant culture, allowing instead the surprising, often irrational directions that arise from her body to guide her path forward. She finds fulfillment in feeling and metabolizing emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and pleasure—emotions that dominant culture once taught her to suppress.
Bo is a fierce advocate for liberation on the other side of the fear of fully experiencing emotions, even as she navigates her own fears. She is drawn to wild, open spaces, where her body can receive and metabolize the collective pain of the land—pain that, she believes, must be addressed for true collective healing to occur.
Currently, Bo works as a connective somatic medicine weaver, combining the body’s energy currents with the healing power of darkness. Through re-wombing ourselves in dark, sacred spaces, Bo advocates for embracing the unknown as a political and healing act.
RAWAN HASAN
Rawan is an accomplished urban designer and planner with a commitment to social justice and community development. As an Associate Planner at the Office of Planning and Community Development, Rawan brings essential skills in urban planning and design to CSU’s strategic initiatives, helping to guide equitable development efforts.