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About GOKiC

Inclusive. Authentic. Technical.

It’s who we are. GOKiC started in 2016 in Seattle when a group of friends saw an opportunity to strengthen their communities and impact children’s lives. We believe engineering education can help kids of color reach their full potential. We use integrated curricula that teaches computer science and robotics alongside gender and racial equality. We are driven to close the digital literacy gap through intersectional STEM education. 

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.

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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.

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Values

We intentionally work to:

  • Center BIPOC cultures and communities

  • Foster long-lasting relationships

  • Utilize a decolonized approach

  • Create innovative tech education to support problem-solving

  • Design for equitable experiences

  • 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.

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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.

All Hands In
Meet the team

Founders and Board Members

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Pedro Perez

Executive Director

Pedro@gokic.org

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.

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Felip Ballesteros

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.

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Janell Jordan

Board President

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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.

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Fernando Sanchez

Board Member

Fernando@gokic.org

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
 

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Alexis Lam

Educator
New Futures Collaborative

Alexis is a newer resident of Seattle, having moved from her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii in 2023. Being raised in a place considered a “melting pot of different cultures”, she has an interest in respectfully learning about other cultures in addition to educating others about her own.

 

She has a background in both hard and soft science, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science alongside a minor in Chemistry from Northern Arizona University, then later attaining a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Science from Baylor University.

 

Her past experience includes working with the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii (BGCH) and the State of Hawaii Department of Health, where she took on numerous roles including program developer, data analyst, program evaluator, and program coordinator. She collaborated with the BGCH developing a program aimed at providing equal access to education, opportunities, and resources for all its youth.

 

She enjoys working with GOKiC as it allows her to continue pursuing her passion of promoting equal access to education and resources across all youth, encouraging them to be successful in pursuing their future plans.

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Sarah Epley

Summer 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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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. 

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Anam Hakim

Summer Assistant Educator
Collective Youth

Hello Everyone! My name is Anam Hakim and I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Computer Science.

 

My passions within computing lie within human computer interaction, UI/UX, Data Science and Data analytics. I am passionate about creating accessible technology!

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Khrishar Williams

Educator
BIPOC-led Programs

Khrishar will lead the elementary-aged participants at TAF Bethaday Learning Space this summer.

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Dami Gesinde

Summer Educator
ASAS Collaborative at Lakota MS

Hi!! I’m the Lead Educator for the GOKiC Summer Program, and I’m excited to help students explore the worlds of computer science, robotics, and social justice in creative, hands-on ways.

 

I recently graduated from Tacoma Community College, and I’ll be transferring to Drexel University to study Mechatronics Engineering and Psychology.

 

Outside of teaching and coding, I love Muay Thai, skateboarding, and riding my motorcycle. I also have a huge love for music; and no, I’m not telling you my favorite artists, but trust — the playlists are curated.

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Kuzon Onhmany

Assistant Educator
ASAS Collaborative at Lakota MS

Hello! I'm mr. Kuzon. My heritage is Lao, I am a Capricorn and was born on the year of the Snake. I like playing video games and being physically active. I look forward to meeting you all

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Shawn Lee

Curriculum Specialist

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.

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Andrea Talamantes

Summer Educator
TAF Bethaday Learning Space

Hi my name is Andrea (she/her/ella)


I’m from SeaTac WA. I just graduated from Western Washington University with my teaching degree. My major area of study was Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies and my minor was Education Social Justice.

 

I am extremely passionate about the education of students of color by providing them with opportunities that aren’t readily or normally available. I’ve been with the organization for 3 years and have served various roles throughout my time here.

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Prasadini Gross

Assistant Educator
BIPOC-led Programs

Prasadini is a recent transplant to Seattle from San Diego, CA. Her background lies in restorative justice and restorative practices, tools and skills that she practices with every interaction. She’s led hundreds of circles within San Diego and nationally.

 

In previous roles she served as a facilitator and trainer for community building and re-entry spaces with the National Conflict Resolution Center, University of San Diego Center for Restorative Justice, and the Restorative Justice Mediation Program.

 

Her degree in Ethnic Studies and Environmental Studies from UC San Diego has inspired her to view the world through a social justice and environmentally conscious lens that prioritizes placemaking, love for people and the planet, and resistance to systems of oppression.

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Gaal Jaylaani

Assistant Educator
BIPOC-led Programs

Gaal is a first generation college student from a large family, raised by immigrant parents who taught them the value of hard work and community. Growing up surrounded by younger siblings and cousins sparked a natural love for working with children and helping others learn.


As an Assistant Educator at GOKiC, they bring that same energy and care into the classroom. They support students, guide activities, and help create a fun and inclusive learning environment. With a strong interest in technology and a passion for STEM, they enjoy encouraging students to explore, ask questions, and build confidence in what they can achieve.

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Carlos Vallejo

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.

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Favorite thing: world travel!

Administration

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Lidia Sanchez

Program Director

Lidia Sánchez, a transformational and educational leader who takes immense pride in her Mexican American heritage. She was born and raised in the heart of Texas with deep familial roots in Durango, Mexico. Her educational journey led her to earn a Bachelor's degree in Education, Communities, and Organizations from the University of Washington. As a First Generation College student and mentor, she holds a strong commitment to working alongside youth and community organizations from diverse backgrounds. Her purpose is to dismantle educational and systemic inequities, thereby forging a path of progress for future generations. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds solace and inspiration in hiking majestic mountains, indulging in the world of literature, and relishing the outdoors with her beloved Chihuahua Pit Mix companion, Millie.​

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Suki

Accountabilities Manager

Suki is Maria's dog, although it could easily be argued that Maria is simply Suki's human.

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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.

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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.

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Will bite if the aforementioned isn't accomplished.

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Maria Muñoz Contreras

Operations Manager

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.

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Angelea Ynami

Education Manager

Angelea leads our education team in servicing all of our sites in King County.

Engineering Team

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Fernando Sanchez

Senior Software Engineer

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.

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Fana Hagos

Software Engineer Intern

Computer science student at Paul G. Allen School of computer Science and Engineering. 

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Mekedes Dejenie

Software Engineer Intern

Mekedes is currently an undergraduate at the University of Washington studying computer science. She is a first-generation, low-income college student who is passionate about technology, innovation, programming, education, and social justice. At GOKiC, she gets to fulfill her passions through building curricula that teach youth both the fundamentals of programming and social justice. Also, she develops, improves, and uses her existing programming skills by contributing to AllyUp and developing Roblox games for the youth. Moreover, Mekedes wants to be a role model to her community and the students she teaches because she wants them to be empowered to explore tech and fulfill their passions. Mekedes enjoys watching youtube videos, coding, taking long walks to the lake with her family, cooking, sweets, and bubble tea.

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Ramla Abdi

Software Engineer Intern

Computer science student at Paul G. Allen School of computer Science and Engineering. 

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Ivan Rodriguez

Senior Software Engineer

Ivan is a Software Development Manager at Google and a volunteer at GOKiC. Born and raised in Spain, he's passionate about analyzing how technology impacts society, and regularly writes about it on his blog. He believes technology should be used for good, empowering people to mitigate the effects that systemic inequities have created in our community.

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Juliana Feliciano

Software Engineer Intern

Computer science student at UW Bothell

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Data Scientists

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Erica Mallett

Erica Mallett currently serves as co-lead of our Data Committee. Erica is a Ph.D. student in the Education Policy Organizations and Leadership (EDPOL) program at the University of Washington. Her research interests include equitable data use, school finance, and the implementation of education programs targeted towards disenfranchised students. She is passionate about ensuring students of color have the resources they want and need for their future, and believes GOKiC is providing students with just that.

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Jose Alfredo Nava

Alfredo came to the US very young. As a dreamer, he had to discover the adversity of being unable to have a driver's license, a job, or even accept internships while attending college due to his legal status. Computer games led him to understand computer performance which helped create a business reselling custom PCs. He creates distributed computing platforms to process big data and machine learning. He is passionate about wildlife conservation, rock climbing and furthering STEM education for minorities.

Past Interns

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Heven Ambachuw

Heven is currently studying Computer Science as an undergrad at Pacific Lutheran University. She is the co-founder and program coordinator of Collective Youth - A youth program with-in Geeking Out Kids of Color. As an instructor at GOKiC, she integrates technology and social justice issues to help build anti-racist and anti-sexist curricula. Her work is deeply influenced by her upbringing in her hometown of Gonder, Ethiopia.

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Libby Knell 

Libby is a rising sophomore majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Education, Learning and Society at the University of Washington Seattle. She is extremely interested in exploring how education can be aided by technology, whether it be personalizing a learner’s experience or making education more accessible to marginalized groups.

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Rafael Bayer

I am a sophomore studying computer science at the University of Washington. I'm passionate about many things in the field of computer science, especially creating games and artificial intelligence. I also enjoy teaching and working with others, I believe that helping and teaching others is one of the best ways we can all improve ourselves. I hope to use what I have learned over the years to empower others who enjoy programming and other STEM fields.

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Suez Gebretsadik

UW Intern and Project Coordinator for WOC In Tech. Suez is currently studying to be a speech pathologist. She is passionate about youth development, building community, and connecting youth to sustainable agriculture.

Connect with Us

Have a great idea? Want to get involved? Let’s chat!
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