Board of Directors 2025 -2026

(she, they, we), is a Queer, AfroMexican, second-generation Washington-born, curvaceous person who bends time and space itself to be involved in the Arts. Avióna utilizes their many art forms to instill inclusivity and accessibility, by creating multidisciplinary art, telling stories surrounding being multiracial, exploring queerness, working through mental illness stress, and navigating drug addiction, homelessness. Avióna is currently the Associate Director of Engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre; as well as an Actor, Dramaturg, Director, Teaching Artist, Playwright, Stage Manager, Student Board Member for Evergreen Land Trust as well as the Vice President of the Seattle-Tacoma Chapter of Pierians, INC

Grew up in the southern part of the island of Puerto Rico. From an early age Rossana developed an interest in biological sciences inspired by the flora and fauna that surrounded her. This interest led her to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey in 2013. In search of more scientific research opportunities, Rossana moves to Seattle, WA where she attends the University of Washington in order to obtain a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, which she obtained in 2019. Since then, Rossana has worked as a scientist at academic institutions and biotechnology companies in Washington State where she resides with her family. Rossana greatly values the physical, mental, and spiritual benefit that comes from maintaining and strengthening connections with the communities with which we identify. One of her passions is dance, especially those of Afro-Caribbean origins, because they are a lens for understanding and preserving the history and culture of the people of the Caribbean and Latin America.

Argentina Smith (Panama) has been a vibrant participant in the Caribbean community for years; Her heritage is Jamaican, Colombian, Irish, and Bajan. She is a Panamanian who has been an organizer and server for a long time. She founded the Bible Way Church hot meal program four days a week in Everett. In addition, she helped plan Seattle’s annual senior dinner, fed the homeless in downtown Seattle one Saturday a month by providing clothing, blankets, and personal items, was a Volunteer Music Assistant at the Jones Clavier Academy of Music and was the principal investigator for the Umoja teaching.

Sandra works to deepen relationships with community-based agencies, schools, healthcare organizations, and government agencies while building trust, transparency, and meaningful engagement with South Snohomish County residents. Through events and conversations, she identifies emerging issues facing our diverse communities and offers classes and other opportunities to support those needs. She’s currently a board member for Leadership of Snohomish County, Movimiento AfroLatino Seattle (MAS), OCOE Community Action Coalition, Latinx/e Health Board, Co-chair of the Community Health Board Coalition and Community Engagement Manager for Verdant Health Commission. She was recognized with the 2015 Health Champion Award from the WA State Public Association, and the 2015 Providence Institute Agency Change Maker Award.

Experience of 8+ years in teaching and curriculum development in English and Brazilian Portuguese as well as 6+ years of childcare and preschool outdoor education. Bilingual educator with over 10 years of experience dedicated to education and advocacy in environmental education, racial justice, and international relations in non-profit, NGO, and federal government settings. Savvy communicator specializing in building positive community relationships, team building, and collaboration as well as event planning and budgeting.Proficient in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Has knowledge in French, Japanese, German and Brazilian Portuguese Sign Languages, with Interpretation and Translation experience in the Embassy of Zimbabwe and Brazil’s Federal Senate.

He was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He has over 30 years of experience in the Bomba genre and has grown up with two of the most important Afro-Puerto Rican family members in the genre: la familia Ayala y La Cepeda. He has over 25 years of experience as an educator and multidisciplinary artist in Puerto Rico and internationally. In the past 15 years he has been an artist in residence focusing on teaching various educational levels. His current focus centers on art and music as a vehicle of liberation and expression. Otoqui is the director of the Hijos de Agueybana group, made up of eight artists committed to preserving their Afro-Caribbean roots. The group has more than 10 years of experience conducting and offering workshops and courses on the historical and cultural importance of the Bomba genre.

Delia Pinto-Santini is a Venezuelan of mixed heritage. She has lived in Seattle for the past 20 years and understands the need for Latino communities to find and share spaces where they can share their common heritage and culture, as a way to lead healthier lives in the United States. She identifies with the struggles of Afro-Latinos through her experience as a low-income Venezuelan and as an immigrant in the United States. Through her participation in spaces such as those created by MÁS, she has experienced the healing powers of the Arts.

Farrah Ka’Healani Rivera is a Perinatal Advocate with an out of hospital in midwifery lens. Her experience serving community began as the eldest child and cousin of her ever growing ohana in Hawai’i. Surrounded by pregnant family members, community and their little babies, Farrah gravitated towards the parental and child connection; grounding her understanding that community involvement is vital to support, raise and love children. Her time in Los Angeles, CA as domestic violence activist, community doula, wombyn circle facilitator added to this gravitation, setting a guiding light in her passion to advocate for pregnant people. Farrah attended and completed her Masters in Midwifery at Bastyr University and has experienced the different birthing environments in Southern California, Hawai’i and Washington. It was during this time, her family shared with her that her great grandmother, great grandfather and great aunt, Salome, Francis and Magdalena Mendoza also delivered babies in their province of Abra, on the island of Luzon. This generational connection fuels her interest in culturally responsive perinatal care for BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities. Farrah’s midwifery and perinatal advocacy work continues as a professor at Bastyr University, Academic Director of Cedar Medicine School of Midwifery, Board member of Center for Indigenous…