About GOKiC
Technology. Identity. Liberation.
It’s who we are.
Geeking Out Kids of Color (GOKiC) was founded in Seattle in 2016 by a group of friends who believed technology could be a powerful tool for creating more equitable opportunities for young people. What began as a shared vision has grown into a community-centered organization dedicated to empowering BIPOC youth through culturally responsive STEM education, mentorship, and leadership development.
We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to see themselves as a creator, innovator, and leader. Our integrated curriculum combines computer science, engineering, robotics, and emerging technologies with conversations about identity, racial justice, gender equity, and the social impact of technology. By connecting technical skills with real-world issues, we help students build confidence, think critically, and create technology that reflects and serves their communities.
At GOKiC, we're committed to closing the digital opportunity gap by making STEM education accessible, culturally relevant, and rooted in equity. We equip young people with the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they need to shape a more just and inclusive future.
Strategic Plan
Vision
We work towards the liberation of BIPOC youth from systemic racism and sexism so they can live, love, and enjoy life as they please and stay in balance with the world.
Mission
Our mission is the liberation of BIPOC youth through technology and mentorship, by developing decolonized tech education programs to nurture community leaders of change.
Values
We intentionally work to:
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Center BIPOC cultures and communities
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Foster long-lasting relationships
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Utilize a decolonized approach
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Create innovative tech education to support problem-solving
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Design for equitable experiences
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Seek out and implement youths' and elders' ideas
Meet the Team
The majority of the GOKiC teaching and volunteer staff look like the students we teach. This allows us to connect with the kids in our programs more easily and authentically, and it’s another part of what makes our programming different.
Leading our efforts is a board helmed by People of Color. Our leadership brings diversity of thought and experience to our organization. We are proud to have Women of Color, members of the LGBTQ community, first generation immigrants, and youth, students, and college graduates on our team.
Founders and Board Members
Pedro Perez
Executive Director
As a critical race theorist, Pedro intersects his technical skills with anti-racist and anti-sexist theory and builds new tech ed curriculums for kids. His family ties are from Texas, Tepehuanes in Durango, Mexico and Yakima, Washington. He is also a cultural bearer of indigenous two-spirit folk dance and knowledge that he shares with his community.
Felip Ballesteros
Board Member
Felip works in the space between marketing, tech, and social justice, serving as a strategist for a multicultural marketing firm in Chicago - Purple Group. He’s a global street food connoisseur and a Pokémon Go Level 40 Trainer. Son of a Mexican, labor activist, he sees geeking out on tech as a form of economic and creative protest. Best way to cut a mango: Bite it. Skin and all.
Janell Jordan
Board President
Janell is driven by their background in youth development work and believes in the essential need of fostering healing spaces for people to build connection, emotional intelligence, and social awareness. Skilled in the research and facilitation of trauma-informed competency workshops through a critical race theory lens, Janell is passionate about nurturing spaces of equity within systems and empowering marginalized voices.
Fernando Sanchez
Board Member
A proud immigrant from Monterrey, México and coding activist, Fernando is passionate about intersecting computer science and social justice. He is currently a Principal engineer manager at Microsoft building technology in the cloud. He also believes in the power of tech for good and during his free time he is finding ways to use Artificial Intelligence to fight racism and sexism.
Education & Curriculum
Shawn Lee
Educator
New Futures Collaborative
Shawn grew up in Renton, WA and graduated with a BS in Computer Science at Seattle University.
Shawn values sustainable design, community building, creative expression, and social justice.
During his free time, Shawn enjoys volunteering with his local animal shelter, learning game design, cooking, and gardening.
Sarah Epley
Program Coordinator
Collective Youth
Sarah grew up in the greater Seattle area and attended Chapman University in Southern California, where she studied business administration, environmental science, and music technology. Outside of classes, she took on a variety of leadership positions within campus organizations, nonprofits, and jobs to foster inclusivity, communication, togetherness, and organization.
With a passion for making positive change, she is excited to encourage STEM education, social activism, and inclusion with GOKiC. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, baking, painting, and writing music. She adores all animals and values sustainability for a cleaner future.
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Max Trosman
Summer Educator
BIPOC-led Programs
Max is a recent transplant to Seattle from Illinois. She graduated with a BA in English from Bard College, and taught high school math with Americorps for two years in Brighton Park, Chicago.
She likes books, traveling, and the great outdoors. She will be working as co-lead at the TAF Bethaday Learning Space this summer.
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Khrishar Williams
Educator
BIPOC-led Programs
Khrishar "Mr. K" Williams is a Lead Educator at GOKiC, born and raised in South Seattle. His love for the Pacific Northwest and its diverse communities inspires the way he connects with students and brings learning to life.
With a background in Digital Audio Engineering, Mr. K enjoys blending technology and creativity through activities like podcasting, graphic design, coding, stop-motion animation, and AI. His goal is to create a classroom where students feel confident, curious, and excited to learn.
Outside of work, Khrishar enjoys photography, music, fitness, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
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Crystal Reyes
Program Coordinator/Educator
Collective Youth
Crystal Reyes is a software engineer and computer science educator dedicated to making technology accessible and impactful for diverse communities. She earned her B.S. in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Science from the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School, building a foundation in software engineering, data systems, and human-centered technology. Crystal has worked on software and data engineering projects across several nonprofits, and as Lead Educator and Program Coordinator at Geeking Out Kids of Color, she designs project-based, culturally responsive curriculum that helps students build confidence, technical skills, and a future in tech, too.
Mayela Gallegos
Assistant Educator
New Futures Collaborative
Mi nombre es Mayela Gallegos y desde que llegue a Seattle en 1998 como inmigrante, he encontrado el servicio de los demás una verdadera vocación.
Adaptarme a una nueva cultura y entorno no solo fortaleció mi resiliencia y determinación, sino que también despertó en mi un profundo deseo de apoyar a quienes me rodean. Ser madre de tres hijos ha sido una de mis mayores fuentes de inspiración, motivándome a ser un ejemplo de dedicación y superación. a lo largo de loa anos he adquirido habilidades fundamentales como la disciplina, responsabilidad los cuales aplico en cada aspecto de mi vida profesional.
Mi deseo es impactar positivamente en mi trabajo.Agradezco su tiempo y la oportunidad.
Kuzon Onhmany
Educator
ASAS Collaborative at Lakota MS
Max is a recent transplant to Seattle from Illinois. She graduated with a BA in English from Bard College, and taught high school math with Americorps for two years in Brighton Park, Chicago.
She likes books, traveling, and the great outdoors. She will be working as co-lead at the TAF Bethaday Learning Space this summer.
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Ahmed Hashmi
Program Coordinator/Educator
Collective Youth
Ahmed is a Houston native who's made Seattle home for the past couple years, where he spends as much time as he can outdoors, snowboarding, scuba diving, trail running, and hiking around the PNW. He's driven by curiosity, which shows up everywhere from teaching himself piano (his glory days were as an oboe player) to an endless “Want to Read” list on Goodreads.
That same curiosity is what pulls him toward mentorship. After years of babysitting, tutoring, and mentoring, he's found few things more rewarding than helping a kid build confidence and chase their own interests, which is exactly what drew him to GOKiC. Ahmed studied Management Information Systems at UT Austin and spent four years in strategy and operations, skills he's now hoping to apply toward nonprofits and healthcare.
Carlos Vallejo
Technology Curriculum Coordinator
Team member by day, superhero by night (while asleep and dreaming about it). Hobbies include video games, patrolling the Internet for grammatical errors, and attempting to determine why existential dread is a thing for so many people on Mondays.
Having obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the University of California, San Diego has only made him more vocal about things that make people uncomfortable at dinner tables.
Carlos has the dubious distinction of being GOKiC’s only permanently remote staff member: partially because he lives out of the WA area, but mostly because of his habit of cracking annoying dad jokes to people sitting next to him.
Favorite thing: world travel!
Administration
Lidia Sanchez
Program Director
Lidia Sánchez is a proud first-generation Mexican American, born and raised in the heart of Texas with deep family roots in Durango, Mexico. As Program Director at Geeking Out Kids of Color, she is passionate about expanding equitable access to STEM education, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for BIPOC youth and dismantling systemic barriers that limit opportunity. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Education, Communities, and Organizations from the University of Washington and has dedicated her career to nonprofit leadership, youth development, educational equity, and community partnerships.
With more than a decade of experience working alongside youth, families, schools, and community organizations, Lidia believes meaningful relationships, culturally responsive programming, and joyful learning experiences have the power to transform communities. She takes pride in developing innovative programs, mentoring emerging leaders, and creating spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and empowered to pursue their goals.
Outside of work, Lidia is an avid runner, hiker, and lifelong learner who loves exploring the Pacific Northwest. She's happiest on a mountain trail, out for a long run, curled up with a good book, or adventuring with her rescue sidekick, Millie. She firmly believes the best conversations happen over coffee, the best ideas come while hiking, and every adventure is better with a dog.
Suki
Accountabilities Manager
Suki is Maria's dog, although it could easily be argued that Maria is simply Suki's human.
Suki is tasked with holding our team members accountable to deadlines, project completion, taking program attendance, and ensuring t's get crossed and i's get dotted.
With a strong passion for social justice, chasing ducks, and zoomies, Suki is particularly vexed should timesheets not get completed on time, or if the wonderful work we do doesn't get documented in program highlights.
Will bite if the aforementioned isn't accomplished.
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Maria Muñoz Contreras
Operations Director
María Muñoz Contreras, a Queer Xicana from Detroit with familial roots in Guadalajara, is the first Operations Manager for Geeking Out Kids of Color. With over two decades of experience as an activist and involvement in non-profits, María has advocated for a range of issues such as animal rights, food justice, and support for LGBTQ service members and veterans. Their professional achievements span diverse areas like operations, efficiency, customer relations management, leadership, Human Resources, and fundraising & events coordination.
María received a business degree from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and served as a Nuclear Engineer and Victim’s Advocate in the Sexual Assault Victim Intervention Program during their time in the Navy. They are an active member of Seattle's animal activism community, organizing for Veggie Mijxs and facilitating a dog foster and adoption program in partnership with Mexico-based rescues. Additionally, María is passionate about literature and organizes two book clubs: Seattle Latinx Book Club and a bilingual English/Spanish book club.
Angelea Ynami
Education Manager
Angelea Ynami is a champion for equitable opportunities for underserved, multicultural, multilingual, & BIPOC communities. She leads the Education Team in servicing GOKiC STEM program sites across the Greater Seattle area. Born & raised in SoCal, she was a former restaurant manager in the South before returning to school & shifting her focus to youth development in 2015.
Settling in WA in 2019, Angelea has supported youth development & family capacity initiatives in King County providing in-school student behavioral support, coordinating afterschool programming in partnership with Seattle University, leading multicultural prenatal to early learning home visiting programs, organizing college exposure & youth leadership summits, & managing STEM programming for youth. With +5 years of involvement in non-profits & over ten years of experience in youth development, she takes pride in incorporating SEL approaches in team & youth mentorship & creating moments for community connection over shared multicultural meals.
Outside of professional endeavors, Angelea enjoys reading, crafting, & hosting dinners & boardgame nights. An avid traveler & outdoors adventurer, she loves to coordinate group vacations with family & friends to explore National & State Parks. When not occupied by any of the above, she's typically attending appointments to manage chronic health concerns or can be found sending bouldering problems at her local indoor climbing gym.
Past Interns
Lenny Le
Lenny is a freshman at the University of Washington studying Computer Science. Coming from his home in West Seattle, he has always felt that his community and surroundings provide him with a sense of comfort and belonging. Lenny interned at GOKiC during his sophomore year of high school and is ecstatic to join the team again, building community, technical skills, and professional growth. Apart from computing, Lenny enjoys cooking, playing piano, sleeping, and walking the streets of the Greater Seattle area. With a passion for combating bias within the field of technology, Lenny hopes to develop software that helps address this issue. He firmly believes that to create equitable technology, its creators must come from diverse backgrounds.
Nini Le
Hi everyone! My name is Nini, and I’m currently a first-year Computer Science major at the University of Washington. Outside of coding, I enjoy snowboarding, trying new foods, and catching up on sleep! I’m always eager to explore new things—skydiving is next on my list! (if I don't chicken out).