Who We Are

After graduating from the University of Puget Sound, Rebecca served as Congressman Adam Smith's Political Director and Communications Director where she developed and maintained critical relationships with local media, business associations, grassroots advocacy organizations, and not-for profit organizations. She also designed and managed the translation of Congressman Smith's website into multiple languages to reflect the diversity of the 9th Congressional District and enhance accessibility for constituents. Rebecca now works for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she supports the Vice President of Government and Community Relations by serving as a liaison to community groups, civic organizations, and local elected officials to promote the Fred Hutch mission of eliminating cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death. In her personal life, she is a member of the Board of Directors for HomeSight. 

Abriel Johnny (she/her) is Cowichan (father's side) and Tlingit (mother's side). She was born and raised in King County. She is the Board of Directors Chair for United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Law and  Policy from University of Washington and a Master's in Political Management from George Washington University. She is a cultural knowledge holder, a teacher, an artist, an athlete, an advocate, political strategist, a healthcare systematic oppression disruptor, and Decolonizer.

In 2020, she was named one of the Gates Foundations 100 local Changemakers Awardees. In 2021, she was awarded the Adaline Garcia Community Service Award as a Future Leader honoree.

She currently works for HealthierHere as a Community and Tribal Engagement Manager with a primary focus on Tribal health. Her work focuses on equity within Healthcare policy and implementation for all communities with a special focus on Urban Indian and Tribal Nation's health. In her personal life, she is an artist of multiple mediums including beadwork and clothing design. Her designs focus on blending and honoring historical cultural traditions with modern fashions.

Jema Turk (she/her) directs the research and evaluation efforts of the national Ryan Residency Training Program at the University of California, San Francisco. She has published multiple quantitative and qualitative studies on family planning and abortion training. She is currently co-leading a prospective cohort study on obstetrician gynecologists and their family planning practice post-residency. She also acts as a Senior Evaluation Consultant for Innovating Education in Reproductive Health (IERH). Prior to UCSF, Jema was the research associate at Stanford University's Clayman Institute for Gender Research, where she oversaw research analyses for a national study on dual-academic career couples.

Jema received her PhD in Social Policy and Master's degree in Women's Studies from Brandeis University, and a Master's in Public Policy from the LBJ School at the University of Texas. Jema is mom to two and lives in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. 

Kyla Evans (she/her) is a clinical social worker at Harborview Medical Center where she provides case management and psychotherapy services to adults with mental health and substance use disorders. Her professional background includes domestic and international advocacy within local and national government, as well program development and management with a focus on women's issues, health equity, and criminal justice. She recently completed consulting work for Duwamish Tribal Services and served as a founding member of a student, staff, and faculty led collective aimed at integrating an abolitionist lens into social work practice at the University of Washington. Kyla served in the United States Peace Corps in Malawi from 2015-2018. During this time, she worked on grassroots projects addressing gender-based violence and health disparities; she also served as a member of a national Ministry of Gender taskforce to create the Government of Malawi's first National Strategy on Ending Child Marriage (launched in 2018).

Kyla holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington (2020) and a Master of Science from the DePaul University School of Public Service (2013).  Kyla graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Eastern Washington University (2010) where she was a co-captain on the women's basketball team. Kyla Evans was born and raised in Brewster, Washington. 

Marcia Wright-Soika (she/her) has served in development, communications, grantmaking, and program management roles for 15 years, starting her career as a journalist and then transitioning to the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Executive Director of FamilyWorks, a Seattle nonprofit that connects neighbors and families to nourishing food, essential resources, and a supportive community. FamilyWorks operates food banks in Wallingford and Greenwood, and a Family Resource Center with a wide array of family-focused programs. 

Marcia previously served as the Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships for Mercy Housing Inc.'s Pacific Northwest region, and led philanthropy, communications, and community partnership efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities and resident services in Washington State.  Prior to moving to Seattle in 2018, she spent more than a decade serving in leadership positions for women and girls' empowerment organizations, first as a development and program associate at the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls in suburban Philadelphia, and later as the Director of Development and Communications at YWCA Delaware.

Marcia's board service and volunteerism have been centered on social and racial justice, creating diversity, and women's leadership. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the City of Seattle Women's Commission, on the executive committee of the Seattle Food Committee (network of 27 Seattle food banks), and on the steering committee of the Seattle Human Services Coalition. Marcia earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University in 2016. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Women's Studies.

Whitney (she/her) is a mother, social worker and pizza enthusiast. She is committed to centering and amplifying the voices, needs and ambitions of our local communities. After a decade in social service settings, Whitney is working to expand her imagination and capacity to engage in social change/social justice work. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her perspective and experiences to advance the work of our Commission and City.