Team

Secretary

Joy is Washington Conservation Action’s Political & Civic Engagement Director. Known as “Ms. Joy” by students in her community, she is a mother, housing and health care advocate, and, prior to joining WCA, a substitute teacher in the West Sound (Gig Harbor) region where she has lived for over twenty years. She is a fierce activist for women, children, education, homelessness, housing, health-care, equity and diversity. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in Business Administration and currently sits on a number of boards and advisory councils. Joy loves a good red wine, scrapbooking with friends and fly fishing in her spare time.

Director

Ankita is dedicated to elevating the social, political and economic status of BIPOC communities by engaging in public policy and advocacy, supporting grassroots organizing, and redistributing power and money to build a more just, equitable and reflective democracy. With 15 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, she has leveraged over $25 million in private and public funding to launch community organizing programs, to build community-led civic infrastructures, and to bring community services to rural migrant farmworker communities. At the foundation of her professional and educational experiences, she is deeply rooted in her identity and positioning in the United States as an Indian-Zambian immigrant woman in the conversation for our collective liberation with a deep sense of honor, joy, humor and belonging. Ankita was a former Commissioner of the City of Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Commission, is a current board member at Budget and Policy Center. Prior to her current role as the Senior Manager of Public Policy & Advocacy at Philanthropy Northwest she spent a decade working at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Director

Crystal is the Principal of Fincher Consulting, LLC, a full service political consulting firm. Crystal has helped local, legislative and statewide candidate campaigns, levies, and initiatives win in Washington, California, Nevada. Fincher Consulting has helped advocacy organizations and local political organizations develop and deploy successful strategies to increase community representation, inclusion, engagement and turnout, particularly in underrepresented areas and among infrequent voters. Additionally, Crystal is the Political Director for Persist PAC, a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, and hosts Hacks & Wonks on KVRU FM and KODX FM (also available in your favorite podcast player). Crystal's background in economic development and civic policy has informed her political career. Crystal served on the City of Kent Land Use & Planning Board as the first African-American and youngest member in its history. Crystal has served as a Deputy on the Washington Roundtable, on the boards of the Kent Youth and Family Services, the Northwest Association of Financial Professionals, and Tabor 100 as the Economic Development Chair. She resides in Kent, WA.

Director

Emily is a progressive advocate with a background in program management, candidate recruiting and training, fundraising, and political strategy. The Washington State Director for Vote Run Lead, she helps recruit and train women to run for office and manage campaigns. Prior to her current role she was Executive Director of Emerge Washington, an organization she helped establish in 2017 and subsequently served as the Chair of its Board of Directors. Her track record includes successful campaign management and civic engagement leadership, including work as a Team Lead with Common Power in 2020. She serves as a Precinct Committee Officer for the 43rd Legislative District, is a Board Member of Win With Women, and was President of the McGilvra Elementary PTA. Emily resides in Seattle with her family.

Director

Maria, MBA, is the Founder and Executive Director of ELLA, a Chicana-led social justice organization that trains mujeres to become key decision-making leaders in their communities. She was born and raised in the Yakima Valley. Her love of her lower valley communities is why she aggressively works to dismantle the oppressive systems that continue to exploit and harm Latin@s and the environment, and level the playing field. In Maria’s early college years as a Mechista, she helped organize the win and implementation of a Chican@ Studies program at Yakima Valley College. She was the first Executive Director to stream online the esteemed Radio KDNA for listeners in any part of the world. She helped create and launch Good Fruit Grower en Español, the first national Spanish-language tree-fruit horticulture and safety periodical targeted to the biggest and most important stakeholder in the agricultural industry, Latin@ farmworkers. Maria is also the proud mom of two sons, Mateo and Andrew. When she isn’t taking care of ELLA business, she spends her time with her family, hanging out, cooking and having entertaining conversations and debates.

Director

Zeke is President of the Empire Health Foundation (EHF) a 501(c)(3) health conversion foundation and its affiliate (c)(4) entity, the Empire Health Community Advocacy Fund. Founded in 2008 and serving communities in seven counties and three Tribes in eastern Washington, Empire Health Foundation stewards philanthropic assets totaling approximately $100 million. Zeke has been focused on improving the systems that support individuals, families, and communities, particularly focusing on the needs of those whom these systems least often address.

Ruth likes nothing better than to dive down rabbit holes to learn new things, and use that learning to shake up the status quo. She had a short tech career before shifting to volunteer work with a variety of nonprofits. Her eventual realization that government is the most impactful nonprofit turned her focus towards political advocacy, which led to Ruth being one of 8 co-founders of the Progress Alliance in 2005. She’s very excited to rejoin the board and battle the status quo. Ruth once ran for office (she lost) and currently serves on the boards of The Urbanist and Eastside Urbanism. In her spare time she likes to read, garden, and foster kittens.

Item descriptionSam grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has done volunteer work on numerous political campaigns, both national and local, and continually works to ground his practice in accountable relationships with community organizations. He recently completed a Master’s of Jurisprudence at UW Law, focusing on the intersection of technology, social justice, and equity. Sam McVeety's paid work is at Google’s Seattle office. He also writes Decompiling Oppression, a bi-weekly exploration of liberation, identity, and justice.