Meet the Connectors!

Maria Guadalupe *Ramirez*

***RSP Project Manager***
Maria leads a coalition of Duwamish Valley organizations and residents to identify and act on strategies to address displacement, bridging the gap between development partners and local residents. The DV Affordable Housing Coalition has been a strong advocate for affordable housing, the preservation of existing, naturally occurring affordable housing and a new multi purpose building to house several Duwamish Valley CBO’s. Maria contributes project management experience from King County Community and Human services, acquiring new affordable housing funded with local, state and federal funds. Her leadership continues onwards to Reconnect South Park and realizing new community opportunities.

**Charlie Mahoney**

***PhD Student, University of Washington***
Charlie is a learning designer and education researcher who supports Reconnect South Park's youth engagement. He combines a career working with youth in and out of schools along with a passion for making neighborhoods more flourishing places for all to live. He has designed curricula and technologies to help people learn science, history, environmental justice, and sustainable cities. He is a Ph.D. student in Learning Sciences and Human Development at the UW College of Education. In his free time, he loves to volunteer for urban forestry restoration projects and to explore the beauty of Seattle.

Debbie Pessein

***COMMUNITY ORGANIZER & Strategist***
Debbie is a creative strategist working at the intersection of industry, environment, and community transformation, with a focus on reimagining urban industrial landscapes as regenerative, resilient systems. Based in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley, she is a long-time resident of the Georgetown community, where she collaborates with partners to explore how environmental restoration and public health can shape a more regenerative future. Her work blends systems thinking, circular economy, and storytelling to translate complex challenges into place-based strategies. Her practice is grounded in the belief that the future of cities depends on our ability to thoughtfully redesign what already exists. Within the Reconnect South Park team, Debbie focuses on maritime and industrial outreach, youth engagement, and strengthening community connections.

**Nancy Huizar**

***ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST AND FACILITATOR***
Nancy is a longtime South Seattle resident with leadership experience in environmental justice. They hold a degree in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington. Nancy has experience in research, policy, community organizing, and education and outreach. They have led campaigns advocating for a Green New Deal in Seattle, accessible green jobs, and healthy communities for all. They also lead the Juneau Street Resilience Pod, a neighborhood group that helps the families on Beacon Hill stay connected with one another and feel supported, especially during extreme weather events. In their free time, Nancy can be found walking their dog or munching at local eateries and restaurants.

**Cayce James**

***Seattle OPCD Project Manager***
Cayce serves as a Strategic Advisor for the City of Seattle, overseeing the City's involvement in the Reconnect South Park project. She has collaborated with South Park community members and organizations since 2018 on initiatives that enhance environmental quality, expand public space access, and improve neighborhood connectivity. From the inception of Reconnect South Park, she has worked to ensure that community perspectives guide project planning and decision-making.
Cayce has led multiple neighborhood projects, bringing together government agencies and community-based organizations to strengthen infrastructure, increase mobility options, and support local economic opportunities in South Park. She also leads the City’s Outside Citywide initiative, which focuses on expanding access to public spaces across Seattle.

Jorge De La Mora

***Conector Comunitario***
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, and currently living in Seattle, he is passionate about supporting the well-being of communities and creating opportunities for people and neighborhoods to thrive. He believes in the power of collaboration, empathy, and community engagement to drive positive and lasting change. He enjoys working alongside residents, organizations, and community leaders to strengthen connections and help build stronger, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Jackie Mena

***COMMUNITY ORGANIZER & EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT***
Jackie is a community organizer and proud resident of Seattle's Duwamish Valley. Inspired by the resilience and leadership of her neighbors, she works to advance community-led solutions to housing affordability, economic opportunity, and environmental justice. Through her work with initiatives like Reconnect South Park, Abundant Neighborhoods, and the Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, Jackie aims to build community power and expand access to land, capital, and decision-making. She is committed to ensuring that those most impacted by systemic inequities have the resources and influence needed to shape their communities' future.

**Brice Maryman**

***PLA,FASLA,LEED AP | Landscape Architect & Urban Designer***
For two decades, Brice Maryman has designed, written about, and advocated for empathetic, publicly-accessible open spaces in the Puget Sound region and across the United States. He has managed several high-profile projects in the central Puget Sound region including the Pioneer Square East-West Streets Pedestrian Improvements, Van Lierop Park, and Beacon Mountain at Jefferson Park. Through his project work, he manages teams with humor and clarity prioritizing regular communication, identifying pathways around potential obstacles, and helping to define elegant solutions. In 2017, he was awarded a Landscape Architecture Foundation fellowship to explore the intersection of homelessness and public space. He currently serves on the board of Cascade Bicycle Club and is the incoming board president of Washington Bikes.

Nicolas Hideki Morin

***PLA, ASLA | Landscape architect & Community planner***
A West Coast native of French and Japanese American heritage, Nic loves landscape architecture and planning, especially when performed in partnership with the community. His craft is shaped by a lifelong journey of learning, bridging cultures, and celebrating the many layers that connect people to the land. With 28 years of practice and half of his career focused on Duwamish Valley projects, Nic is passionate about building connections and designing environments rooted in natural systems, collective care, respect, resilience, and joy. Known for his collaborative spirit and grounded approach, he has had the honor of guiding dozens of community-driven projects. He believes that openly sharing wisdom through listening, trust-building, and creative problem-solving leads to enduring design solutions that benefit all.

***Gloria Ramirez Santiago***

***Conectora comunitaria***
HE TRABAJADO CON LA COMUNIDAD LATINA E INDIGENA EN BURIEN, WHITE CENTER, RAINIER VALLEY Y EL VALLE DE DUWAMISH. SOY PORTA VOZ DE LA COMUNIDAD. I have been working with the latin and indigenous communities in Burien, White center, rainier valley and the duwamish valley.

***Kim Schwarzkopf***

***RSP Media Team & Filmmaker***
Kim is a Filmmaker, Skateboarder, Mom, and Co-Leader of River City SkatePark (RCSP) located on the corner of Cloverdale and 99N. For two decades, she has been working towards a shared vision of a free and public SkatePark, inspired by local teens and caring neighbors. Kim is proud to be part of a core team that has been organizing, raising funds, throwing events and forging alliances with artists, non-profit organizations, businesses and skateboarders to help build a green, healthy and fun space for all to gather and enjoy. Kim loves connecting with others, sharing stories and learning about our local history and environment and thinks deeply about what it takes to have sustainable peace for all. River City Skateapark is a neighborhood treasure and there is nothing else like it in the world! It’s a free and public skatepark on private land with a unique design based on sacred geometry, we’ve planted trees, made space for a rain garden and a green wall and we have one of the city’a only free grafiti walls!

José Manuel Vasquez

Local Business Connector & Advocate

José is a displaced indigenous immigrant from Mexico raised near the shores of the Duwamish River in South Park, Seattle. After graduating college from the University of Washington – Foster School of Business. José Manuel has spent much of his career leading non-profits and community initiatives across the state and worked as a civil servant helping build bridges and break down barriers for communities most impacted by racial, economic, and environmental inequities. In 2022, he launched Growing Contigo LLC, an economic empowerment and small business consulting firm dedicated to building knowledge, community, and power amongst our local immigrant business communities. He volunteers with Reconnect South Park as a Community Strategic Advisor and Small Business Advocate.

Meet the Connectors!

Let’s Talk…

Duwamish Valley neighbors are centered in shaping SR-99 alternate futures. We want to hear your questions, input, and ideas during the community visioning process!