Meet the Commissioners

Indra M. Trujillo, Chair

Ms. Trujillo is training manager for the Northwest Institute for Children and Families where she manages federal and state-wide training programs and provides on-site training for child welfare workers and other social service providers working with women and children. She has spent over ten years in the field of child welfare with a focus on referral, advocacy and education for women and children and on domestic violence education and intervention.

Anita Sinha

Ms. Sinha is an attorney with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project where she represents victims of trafficking and works with unaccompanied juveniles. She has experience as a collaborator and an advocate for immigrant rights and domestic violence survivors. As a recent law school graduate of South Asian background she has a passion for gender equality and the rights of immigrants.

Darlene Lee

Ms. Lee has a Master's Degree in Social Work, Multi-Ethnic Practice. She is currently the director of the Seattle chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and leads the Asian Heritage constituency in NCBI International. She is committed to building bridges between all women in order to end sexism and its impact on women. In addition to her experience in the area of anti-oppression training, Ms. Lee has worked with Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. Most recently, she worked with SafeFutures Youth Center to expand services to the Mien community.

Elice Swanson

Ms. Swanson owns and operates the Imagination NW Primary Preschool in the University district. She has a passion for cultural relativism, social justice and children. As a young mother she founded a Human Rights Commission in a small town that was known as a "sundown town." Ms. Swanson is a small business owner who understands the many difficulties women encounter in business and brings the perspective of older women to the Commission.

Jennifer Brower

Ms Brower has a Master's Degree in Social Work, Multi Ethnic Practice. She is a mental health therapist and case manager at Seattle Mental Health, Community Support Services program. She has been a volunteer with the Asian Pacific Islander Family Safety Center and an active member of the Washington State Trafficking Task Force. She is also a member of the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition and the Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington (AAAW). Ms Brower is serving a one year term as a "Get Engaged: City Boards and Commissions" member on the Seattle Women's Commission.

Diane Powers

Ms. Powers is the Regional Director of Homeless Services for the YWCA of Seattle-King County- Snohomish County and a member of the Senior Management Team. She has played an important role in creating an Evening Referral Center for Homeless Women and for implementing a twenty four hour shelter for women. Ms. Powers has devoted over ten years to staff training, program and project management and building partnerships and community relations that impact low income women.

Lisa M. Taylor

Ms. Taylor is currently Program Manager for the Youth Opportunity (Education/Training) Program for Youth at the YWCA in Seattle. She is an educator, working with college students, teen parents, young adults and homeless youth. She has served on the Board of Directors for Country Doctor Community Health Centers, and on the advisory boards of Leaders in Progress and Powerful Voices. Ms. Taylor brings a wealth of passion and experience about the importance of reaching women in young adulthood and teaching them how their current decisions impact their futures.

Linda Mitchell

Ms. Mitchell is an independent marketing and political consultant. She spent 13 years in product marketing at Microsoft and has served on several nonprofit boards. She has served as Chair of the Board of the Women's Funding Alliance, is a Founding Member of the board of the Center for Women and Democracy at the University of Washington, a member of the steering committee of the Women's Political Caucus, and the Chair of May's List, a bipartisan political network. She has worked on several political campaigns in various capacities.

Lisa Beyl

Ms. Beyl brings to the commission her commitment to social justice and her passion for speaking up on behalf of women's rights. She is currently the Legal and Legislative Assistant at the Northwest Women's Law Center where she coordinates outreach and assists in legislation and litigation aimed at advancing women's legal rights. Previously, she provided information and referrals to the community on a wide range of social and legal services as the Complaint Counselor at the ACLU-WA. Lisa is a recent graduate of Whitman College with a degree in Politics and a strong focus on gender analysis and women's issues.

Nicole Hoyes

Ms. Hoyes is currently the Multicultural Outreach and Retention Coordinator at Everett Community College. She brings a passion for racial justice, access to higher education, and a living wage for women in Seattle. She has experience working with college students, middle school students and with domestic violence survivors on self-empowerment skills; and as a researcher for the Center for Women's Welfare.

Vivian Kinsey

Ms. Kinsey is the Human Resources Generalist for Pitney Bowes Management Services. A graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, she hold's professional certifications in training and human resource law and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. A strong believer in women's self-empowerment and improvement, Ms. Kinsey has been active in the Seattle community by serving as an employer advisory board member for Business Employment Solutions and participating on the Puget Sound Diversity Taskforce. She is currently active with the Jubilee Women's Center and is an Executive Board member with the Seattle Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

How to Become a Commissioner

Announcement of Vacancies

The Seattle Women's Commission accepts applications throughout the year.  April - June is the time of the year for filling seats on the Seattle Women's Commission vacated by the Commissioners whose terms will end in July.  There may also be vacancies at other times during the year.  Terms are for 2 years.  All appointments are subject to confirmation by the Seattle City Council.

The Seattle Women's Commission is a 20-member board that advises the Mayor and City Council on issues of concern to women.  The Commission recommends policies and legislation regarding these issues to City officials and departments.  The Commission encourages understanding between the women's community and the greater Seattle community.

Participation on the Seattle Women's Commission requires a minimum time commitment of 8 -10 hours per month, plus attendance at monthly meetings, held the third Monday evening of each month.   Commissioners carry out the Commission workplan, and analyze and provide written and verbal input to Mayor and City Council about policies and plans.  Commission member serve without compensation.

Interested applicants must reside within the City of Seattle. If you would like to be considered, please send a letter of interest and a current resume to:

Seattle Women's Commission
Nomination Committee
700 Third Avenue, Suite 250
Seattle, WA 98104-1849

The Seattle Women's Commission is committed to representing the diversity of the Seattle community.  Persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, and persons of color are encouraged to apply.

For more information, please call Kristin Distelhorst at the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (206) 684-4537 or e-mail.