Identity Unboxed

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Rickey Hall was appointed as the eighth vice president for minority affairs and diversity and the university diversity officer at the University of Washington effective Aug. 1, 2016. Hall leads the university’s equity, diversity, inclusion, and be...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations.  Biography: David is the former Executive Director of Freedom Project. David became Freedom Project’s Executive Director in 2018 when the organization had a handful of staff, a $200,000 budget, and 50 volunteers supporting NVC workshops inside prisons. As a...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: David is the former Executive Director of Freedom Project. David became Freedom Project’s Executive Director in 2018 when the organization had a handful of staff, a $200,000 budget, and 50 volunteers supporting NVC workshops inside prisons. As a r...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Elizabeth Wako, M.D., MBA, is president and CEO of Swedish Health Services, which is an affiliate of the Providence family of organizations and the largest nonprofit health system serving the Seatle metropolitan area. In this role, Dr. Wako overse...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Crystal Hall has been a faculty member at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance since 2008. Her research explores ways of incorporating insights from behavioral science into policy design and implementation, w...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: As a father, civically active community member, researcher, and educator, Dr. Stephan Blanford leads a team of committed staff, volunteers, and more than 7,000 members, fiercely advocating for improved outcomes for all of Washington's children...

Welcome to the second season of Identity Unboxed! This interview with Megan Matthews (Director of the Washington State Office of Equity) was filmed live at Town Hall Seattle. Thank you to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network for hosting this event. Biography: Megan Matthews is the Assistant Director of Shared Power Design with the Office of Equity, pursuing equi...

Thank you for listening to Season 1 of Identity Unboxed. For our final episode, please enjoy this compilation of all of our guests answering the question “What does Blackness mean to you?” As a central topic in each interview, we aimed to show that there is no single way to be Black. Our guests redefinitions are personal to them and relate to our collective story of healing, love, and overcoming a...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Bio: A key component of the University of Washington football team for the past four years and part of the 2024 NFL Draft Class, Senior and Wide Receiver, Jalen McMillan, excelled at the Division 1 Level. From Fresno California, Jalen set his sights on the U...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations.  Bio: Samuel Ariyibi, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, relocated to the United States in 2021 to pursue his academic and career goals in real estate. Currently a dedicated junior at the University of Washington, majoring in Real Estate, Samuel is also an active m...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Bio: Samuel Ariyibi, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, relocated to the United States in 2021 to pursue his academic and career goals in real estate. Currently a dedicated junior at the University of Washington, majoring in Real Estate, Samuel is also an active me...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations.  Biography: Avery Barnes is an entrepreneur, curator, and community advocate. Avery owns and operates TASWIRA, Seattle’s only African art gallery and event space in the heart of Pioneer Square. Established in 2022, TASWIRA has become a neighborhood staple an...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Avery Barnes is an entrepreneur, curator, and community advocate. Avery owns and operates TASWIRA, Seattle’s only African art gallery and event space in the heart of Pioneer Square. Established in 2022, TASWIRA has become a neighborhood staple and...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Born and raised in Seattle’s Central District, Erika White, owner and general manager of Fat’s Chicken and Waffles, is passionate about great food and service. “People come for the food, but they also come back for the vibe.” One to always follow...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Born and raised in Seattle’s Central District, Erika White, owner and general manager of Fat’s Chicken and Waffles, is passionate about great food and service. “People come for the food, but they also come back for the vibe.” One to always follow...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Crystal Langhorne is the Director of Force4Change, the Seattle Storm’s social justice platform. Crystal’s passion for social justice is the driving force that helps her create an impact in the community. Prior to working at the Storm’s front offic...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Crystal Langhorne is the Director of Force4Change, the Seattle Storm’s social justice platform. Crystal’s passion for social justice is the driving force that helps her create an impact in the community. Prior to working at the Storm’s front offic...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. On this episode of Identity Unboxed, we dive into our journey with this project and the growth it has produced. We also explore our collaborative dynamic and the changes that Gen Z desires to see in workplace culture.

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Rico Quirindongo, AIA, has been working for 27 years to revitalize and reimagine Seattle's historic landmarks and neighborhoods. He is the Director of the City of Seattle's Office of Planning and Community Development. Rico believes that t...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Rico Quirindongo, AIA, has been working for 27 years to revitalize and reimagine Seattle's historic landmarks and neighborhoods. He is the Director of the City of Seattle's Office of Planning and Community Development. Rico believes that t...

Nancy Joseph, Director of Editorial Content at the University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences, has an in-depth interview with Identity Unboxed co-hosts for a February feature in the college's newsletter Perspectives.

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Efrem Fesaha is a first-generation Eritrean American who graduated from Washington State University with his B.A. and is currently a candidate for a Master's in Business Administration at Seattle University. Before establishing Boon Boona Coff...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: Efrem Fesaha is a first-generation Eritrean American who graduated from Washington State University with his B.A. and is currently a candidate for a Master's in Business Administration at Seattle University. Before establishing Boon Boona Coff...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: As a seasoned executive leader with 20+ years of experience managing comprehensive programs, creating opportunities that add meaning to people's lives drives Paul Lwali. Paul has a track record of fiscal management, overseeing multi-million-dollar...

Thank you for listening to Identity Unboxed – a space curated to amplify Black voices and foster authenticity through engaging conversations. Biography: As a seasoned executive leader with 20+ years of experience managing comprehensive programs, creating opportunities that add meaning to people's lives drives Paul Lwali. Paul has a track record of fiscal management, overseeing multi-million-do...