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Aimee Champion, Attorney
Rooted in Buddhist principles of mindfulness, interdependence, and reducing suffering, Aimee approaches lawyering and nonprofit leadership as both a professional path and a spiritual practice. For over three decades, Aimee has nurtured self-advocacy alongside people living with diversities while navigating social, behavioral and sexual health, end-of-life systems of care, as well as those engaging with governmental departments and regulatory agencies. Her background in operational management, policy advocacy, and trauma-informed support brings clarity, presence, and deep respect for community stories as they unfold. She is honored to help strengthen the heart and economic resilience of Washington’s nonprofit and small-business ecosystem. Aimee enjoys art and personal expression and is usually looking for live performances and new gallery shows to support.
Alex Dorros, Capacity Building Cohort Specialist
Alex Dorros (he/him) was proudly born and raised in Seattle. His background is rooted in empowerment for youth and young adults and storytelling. He spent over 5 years managing academic, leadership and employment programs for the Refugee Women’s Alliance and Rainier Scholars. More recently, Alex had the opportunity to build and manage mutual aid networks, learning how systems of resiliency are built during difficult times. During the pandemic he launched a pop-up restaurant with his family that also provided food assistance in the region. When Alex isn’t cooking for friends and family, you can probably find him in the mountains, the garden, or listening to records.
Amira Qabar, Volunteer Engagement Manager
Amira (she/her) grew up in Washington state and has been working in the non-profit field throughout King County since 2016. Prior to joining Communities Rise, she primarily worked as a youth advocate and prevention educator, spending a majority of her career supporting youth experiencing intimate partner violence and facilitating presentations around healthy relationships. Amira is passionate about using her skills to support the many amazing non-profits and small businesses in our community and believes that we are stronger together! Outside of work, she enjoys mountain biking, playing video games, reading, and searching for the best matcha latte west of the Cascades.
Harrison Hopkins, Co-Executive Director, Legal Services
Harrison Hopkins (he/him) began his nonprofit career in transit camps on the Greek islands, supporting people fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan. There he learned that communities know what they need, and the best partners simply help them pursue it. He spent six years with Doctors Without Borders International in Geneva, working with its international board on governance, organizational evolution, and how power is shared. He continues that work as an elected board member of Doctors Without Borders Canada. Most recently he was Programs and Operations Director of a US nonprofit supporting survivors of human trafficking, where he saw first-hand the difference legal services make. Harrison now calls Washington home and is excited to learn from the nonprofits and small businesses Communities Rise serves. Outside of work, he hikes, dances west coast swing, and cooks with his new community.
Khyree Smith, Capacity Building Program Manager
Khyree Smith (he/they) is an Educator, Facilitator, and lifelong Seattleite who has worked in various roles within the Austin Foundation, OneWorld Now and Seattle University. Khyree has been fortunate to provide services for 1000s of youth and young adults throughout King County, often known commonly as “Coach Khyree”. Khyree believes in doing work “for the sake of the children”, holding the importance that any work you do should be in efforts to make a safe, happy and flourishing world for youth to grow up in, and to continue to live in as adults.
Livio De La Cruz, Attorney
Livio De La Cruz (he/him) is a nonprofit attorney who brings several years of experience building, growing, and supporting grassroots, nonprofit organizations. Originally born in the Dominican Republic, Livio grew up in New York and Arizona before moving to Seattle in 2014. Before law school, Livio was a talented software engineer who worked for independent videogame studios, virtual reality startups, and Microsoft. His interest in the law began when he became deeply involved with several local police accountability activist groups. Livio became a lawyer in order to deepen and amplify his contributions to these and other social movements. He quickly developed an interest and specialty in advising organizational clients on transactional legal matters—an unusual choice for a public-interest attorney. This specialization was directly informed by his real-world, first-hand experience in founding and working within grassroots nonprofits. When he’s not working or volunteering, Livio can often be found nerding out about game design, film, TV, music, and other works of art.
Melissa Vue, Paralegal
Melissa Vue (she/her), is a dedicated advocate for social justice, equity, and immigrant rights. Originally born in Mexico, Melissa grew up in Washington state, where she cultivated her passion for helping others. Before joining Communities Rise, she served as a DOJ Accredited Representative at the NW Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), a nonprofit organization that represents low-income immigrants with their immigration matters. Melissa’s commitment to social justice extends beyond her professional life. As the founder of her family’s small restaurant, she has firsthand experience navigating the challenges that all small business owners encounter. This entrepreneurial journey has given her a unique perspective on the importance of community support and resilience. In her free time, Melissa loves spending time with her family, enjoying outdoor activities such as fishing, crabbing, and clamming.
Shalom Cook, Co-Executive Director, Capacity Building
Shalom Cook is a distinguished educator, life coach, healer, activist, and artist with over 25 years of exemplary experience in the non-profit sector. She comes to Communities Rise after serving nonprofits in development, human services, social justice, and community organizing, making significant contributions as founding member of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and Co-founder of the Diversity & Equity YMCA leadership team, as an International Trainer in Violence Prevention, and much more. Shalom advocates for the belief that indigenous wisdom serves as a remedy for the world’s afflictions, and is committed to holistic and transformative service that aims to guide humanity towards profound and abundant love, firmly grounded in equity and justice for the planet and the life it supports.
Silver Lee, Capacity Building Program Manager
Silver was born and raised in King County and is an advocate for anti-displacement and anti-gentrification in the CID and surrounding south Seattle area. Prior to Communities Rise they worked in capacity building for healthcare workers through interprofessional collaboration and they have a strong background in the affordable housing and homelessness sphere. Silver has a master’s in social work and a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Washington. Silver is motivated to engage in supporting nonprofits and community-based agencies through their work. In their free time, Silver enjoys paddleboarding and berry picking.
Zach Knowlton, Operations and Database Manager
Zach Knowlton (he/him) has been lucky to be with Communities Rise since 2022. He’s spent his career working with nonprofits in a variety of ways to help them get their important programmatic work done, from operations to partnership management. He gets his joy in helping ensure his colleagues can do their work and fixing stuff that breaks. You’ll probably never find someone more excited to complete an insurance renewal! Originally from Syracuse, NY, and after bouncing around the east coast for several years, he’s loved getting to know Seattle through the amazing network of people connected to Communities Rise (sometimes selfishly just so he knows where all the best bánh mì spots are!), and outside of work you can find him exploring the city on foot, in the pit at a punk show, or watching way too much TV.