About Us
Vision & Core Values

Vision
Seattle Neighborhood Group envisions crime-free communities where people work together to solve problems, children play without fear, and businesses thrive.
Core Values
Seattle Neighborhood Group’s role as a leader in community safety requires all persons involved with Seattle Neighborhood Group to assume the responsibility of maintaining the public’s trust. To fulfill this obligation to the community and ourselves, our Core Values provide the foundation on which we base our actions and decisions.
Integrity
We act with the highest level of accountability, we provide fair, accurate and honest disclosure of information, and we treat all individuals in a fair and responsible manner, inspiring the highest level of trust within our communities.
Inclusiveness
We embrace diversity. We understand that Seattle Neighborhood Group is strong as an organization because of the respect, dignity, and value we give to all individuals, and because we aspire to involve people from all segments of our communities in every aspect of our work.
Teamwork & Communication
We value teamwork. We believe building trust among each other produces the best results. We believe that when we promote and practice effective communication we will build an even stronger team that will make a difference in our community and the people we serve.
Community Collaboration
We successfully impact the challenges facing our communities through our spirit of collaboration. We are successful conveners, bringing together and working with the community to accomplish common goals. We consider the development of volunteer leadership a critical component of service to our communities.

Land & Labor Acknowledgments
We acknowledge our presence on the historically stewarded lands of the Lushootseed (Puget Sound Salish) peoples and recognize the enduring impact of enslaved Africans and their descendants on America's foundation. To learn more about our acknowledgments and efforts, please visit this page.

Executive Director
Aaron Yoon
Born and growing up in Seattle, with frequent time in Suwon, South Korea, Aaron is excited to be sharing his enthusiasm and passion for authentic community building in Seattle.
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Email AaronGraduating from Seattle University in Economics, Aaron's professional career has featured a decade of work in the finance and tech fields. His passion for community outreach then led to a decade of work in nonprofit, primarily centering around employment for homeless young adults and refugees in South Seattle.
In his spare time, Aaron has a passion for stargazing with his telescope and staying active by playing baseball. Aaron also enjoys mountaineering, adventuring with his pup, local performing arts, supporting Seattle sports, and watching songbirds on his patio.

Assistant Director
Aaliyah Boyd-Ivey
Aaliyah serves as the Assistant Director at Seattle Neighborhood Group (SNG), where she supports the organization's mission to build safer, more connected communities through community engagement, crime prevention, and strategic partnerships.
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Email AaliyahIn her role, Aaliyah oversees organizational operations, manages community safety initiatives, coordinates events and conferences, and leads communications efforts, including social media, newsletters, and public outreach. She works closely with community members, government agencies, schools, and nonprofit partners to develop programs that promote safety, youth leadership, and neighborhood resilience.

Community Safety Coordinator
Armando Antonio
Armando brings a diverse background in workplace health and safety, environmental science, and community engagement to his role as Community Safety Coordinator at Seattle Neighborhood Group.
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Email ArmandoAt SNG, Armando leads the Safe Rental Workshop and Business Outreach programs, working closely with underserved residents and business owners to provide safety education, strengthen community partnerships, and promote proactive crime prevention initiatives that help create safer, more resilient neighborhoods.
Armando earned his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Washington and has experience in wetland restoration and stormwater purification. He is passionate about connecting with community members and advancing crime prevention through education, outreach, and collaboration.

Administrative & Project Assistant
Tammi Collins
Tammi Collins serves as the Administrative & Project Assistant at Seattle Neighborhood Group, where she provides administrative support and helps coordinate projects that advance the organization's community safety initiatives.
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Email TammiTammi earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix and brings more than 24 years of experience in administrative support. Throughout her career, she has worked with individuals from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, building strong relationships through collaboration, organization, and exceptional customer service.
Originally from the Midwest, Tammi is proud to call Seattle home and is passionate about supporting the community through her work at SNG. She is dedicated to helping ensure the organization's programs and daily operations run smoothly so staff and community members receive the support they need.
Outside of work, Tammi enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest through hiking, visiting local parks, and experiencing Seattle's vibrant food and music scene.

South Park Public Safety Coordinator
Gerard Miller
Gerard is a passionate advocate for under-resourced communities and has been working for 15+ years on programs that help to address gaps in services.
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Email GerardBorn and raised in Baltimore, they have spent time engaging neighbors at home as well as in New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Gerard has a professional background in community organizing, public and community education, financial literacy, affordable homeownership, and domestic violence counseling. They bring to bear a two-part ethos: “educate to empower” and “everybody eats”. As the SNG’s South Park Public Safety Coordinator, Gerard works with residents and other stakeholders to respond to concerns and help to create a neighborhood that feels safe and enriching for everyone.

Southeast & East African Program Coordinator
Michael Neguse
Michael Neguse builds community everywhere he goes! He focuses on Seattle’s African immigrant communities, bringing elders, children, families, and youth together, bridging the many cultures in this community, and bringing partner organizations and services to them.
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Email MichaelMichael’s favorite work takes place in gardens, always advocating access to the outdoors and nature as the best place for communication and healthy growth. Michael speaks many languages including Amharic, Tigrinya, English, and Arabic.

Project Manager
Cathie Wilmore
Cathie is a creative, innovative, and passionate leader who lives and serves in the Rainier Beach Community. Cathie believes that strong families are the heartbeat of strong communities.
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Email CathieAs Project Manager for Rainier Beach: A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth (RB) at Seattle
Neighborhood Group, Cathie leads community-centered strategies that help create a safer, healthier, more connected, and vibrant Rainier Beach. Since joining SNG in 2020, she has expanded the RB team's capacity by adding a Public Safety Coordinator and an Administrative Assistant, while strengthening partnerships among residents, youth, businesses, community
organizations, and public agencies.
Cathie's approach to community safety goes beyond traditional programming. She created the IMPACT Community Safety Summit and has helped lead signature initiatives including National Night Out and Rainier Beach Light Up the Beach. She has also led the development of community murals at locations including Detective Cookie Chess Park, Rainier Beach Dental, and the Rainier Beach and Henderson fence, using public art and creative place making to
strengthen neighborhood identity, connection, and pride.
Youth engagement is also central to Cathie's work. She has introduced young people to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, giving them opportunities to explore how thoughtful design, public space activation, community engagement, and shared responsibility can contribute to safer neighborhoods. Across these efforts, Cathie is committed to creating opportunities for young people and families to have a voice, help solve problems, andtake an active role in shaping their community.
A graduate of the University of Washington, Cathie earned a Project Management Certificate in 2006. Her work is grounded in a simple belief: community safety grows when we invest in people, strengthen relationships, create opportunity, and build places where everyone feels valued and connected.
"I love serving my community and creating spaces where young people and families feel seen, supported, and empowered to live, learn, and thrive. What inspires me most is watching people discover their strengths, step into their potential, and use what they have learned to strengthen their community and create opportunities for others. This is the vision I carry forward every day: Rainier Beach: IS A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth and FAMILIES to Live, Learn, and
Thrive!"
Administrative Assistant
Taryn Wharwood
Taryn C. Wharwood is a visionary artist, advocate, and cultural leader who recently transitioned her impactful career from Jacksonville, Florida, to Seattle, Washington.
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Email TarynIn Jacksonville, she established herself as a cornerstone of community-centered cultural work, co-founding the city's longest-running open mic and serving on key civic and advocacy boards. Now based in the Pacific Northwest, she channels her extensive experience into working with Seattle nonprofits to advance equity, creative empowerment, and healing-centered programming. Through her international work as a poet, curator, and speaker, Taryn continues to use the arts as a powerful tool for collective liberation and community transformation.
Community Safety Assistant
Ayinalem Admasu
Ayinalem is a finance professional with over 10 years of experience supporting humanitarian
and development programs that serve vulnerable populations.
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Email AyinalemShe holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and a Master's degree in
Business Administration (MBA), a foundation that underpins her strong technical grounding
in financial management and organizational strategy.
She began her career as a Finance Officer in East Africa with Oxfam GB's South Sudanese refugee response program, where she managed financial operations in a complex
humanitarian setting and gained firsthand insight into the needs of displaced communities.
She went on to serve as a Country Finance and Administration Officer with International
Media Support (IMS) and Fojo Media Institute, a role that allowed her to work closely with
vulnerable communities and support efforts to amplify their voices and stories.
Aynalem is currently based in Washington State, where she continues to support programs
serving vulnerable communities with the Seattle Neighborhood Group in an internship
Capacity.
With a decade of experience spanning humanitarian response and media-driven advocacy,
Aynalem brings a rare combination of financial expertise and a genuine understanding of the
communities behind the numbers.
Community Safety Assistant
Blen Teklemariam
Blen Teklemariam serves as the Community Safety Assistant at Seattle Neighborhood Group, where she supports community engagement, outreach, and crime prevention initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods across Seattle.
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Email CathieBlen recently graduated with a degree in Accounting and is passionate about using her skills to support organizations that make a positive impact in the community. Through her work at SNG, she assists with programs and projects that foster meaningful connections, promote community safety, and help advance the organization's mission.
Blen enjoys collaborating with staff, partners, and community members and is excited to continue growing professionally while contributing to initiatives that create safer, more connected neighborhoods.



