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Community Advocacy and Leadership Academy (CALA)

Community Advocacy &
Leadership Academy

Applications are now open for our CALA fellowship program.

We’re now accepting applications for our 2025-2026 Community Advocacy and Leadership Academy (CALA) cohort, which launches in March 2026 and runs through June 2026. The CALA Fellowship Cohort is implemented in partnership with Puget Sound Sage and Sage Leaders.

CALA Group Class Integration
Leadership Ceremony Event

Strict Closing Timeline

Application Deadline: January 26, 2026 @ Midnight

Who Can Apply?

  • Currently living in Snohomish or neighboring County (and neighboring counties).
  • Emerging leaders from communities of color, Immigrant Communities, and/or low income communities who are committed to racial/social justice.
  • Applicant should be interested in civic engagement, careers in community leadership or public office, and should have relevant lived experiences and/or professional experiences.
  • Commitment to attending every CALA session each month and ability and interest in serving on a municipal board or commission after graduation.

Application Timelines

Application Opens Nov 15, 2025
Extended Application Deadline Jan 26, 2026
Semi-finalist Notifications Jan 15 - 26, 2026
Semi-finalist Interviews Jan 20 – Feb 15
Final Cohort Selection Mar 5, 2026
Cohort Kickoff Ceremony Mar 14, 2026

Have Questions About Joining?

Get direct insights into the structural workflow and goals of the academy during our open orientation group meetup.

📅 Next Info Session: December 15, 2025 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST via Zoom
To register for the information meeting, email Mpiima Mugambe or Francis Abugbilla with the subject header “CALA Application”.

Meet the Fellows

2025-2026 Cohort • Snohomish County

Shogofa Amini Headshot

Shogofa Amini

Snohomish County

Born in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, Shogofa is a public health professional, community advocate, and program leader dedicated to advancing education, health equity, and leadership opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities, particularly women and girls. She holds an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington and previously held leadership roles at Sahar Education. Currently, she works as a Family Advocate Case Manager at Seattle Children's Hospital, championing culturally responsive care and mental health access.

Antonio Fajardo-Mora Headshot

Antonio Fajardo-Mora

(He/Him/Él) Snohomish County

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Antonio immigrated to the United States at age 4 and grew up in Everett, WA. Guided by core family principles of hard work, integrity, and humility, he earned a double degree in Psychology and Comparative Ethnic Studies from Washington State University. Antonio currently works as an Administrative Assistant and Program Coordinator at the Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees, managing programs dedicated to resource access and healthcare empowerment.

Oscar Ikinya Headshot

Oscar Ikinya

Snohomish County

Oscar is a social entrepreneur and development consultant who has spent most of his life in East Africa. Having survived the tragic 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing in Kenya, he transformed his survival into a profound lifetime commitment to international unity and social action. Trained in Social Innovation under the tutelage of the University for Peace (an institution created by a UN General Assembly resolution), his work implements strategic economic empowerment programs that help underserved communities transform standard regional resources into lasting local opportunities.

Samira Issaka Headshot

Samira Issaka

Snohomish County

Born in Chicago and raised in Ghana, Samira has actively championed grassroots social equity initiatives since childhood. She serves as a Therapeutic Court Case Manager for Mental Health Court and a Resource Navigator for the pilot Community Courts program within the Snohomish County District Court system. As a Certified Pre-Trial Professional and NAACP chapter member completing her Master's in Human Services in Spring 2026, she focuses directly on the crucial intersections of mental health care, restorative justice, and BIPOC community advocacy.

Angelinah Kitheka Headshot

Angelinah Kitheka

Snohomish County

Angelinah is a global community engagement specialist whose career spans across Kenya, Japan, and Washington State. A Japan Africa Dream Scholar, she holds an MA in International Studies from the University of Tokyo and a Sustainability Science credentials from United Nations University. Grounded in her perspective as an African immigrant woman, her extensive fieldwork includes resource governance with the Water Resources Authority of Kenya and localized care infrastructure development for low-income seniors and disabled adults in King County.

Gloria Mbabazi Headshot

Gloria Mbabazi

Snohomish County

Driven by an uncompromising commitment to institutional justice and professional integrity, Gloria has built a foundational background in Criminal Justice aimed toward systemic community improvement. She focuses her leadership path on designing inclusive networks, building strategic multi-agency partnerships, and driving forward positive, innovative structural reforms that empower historically marginalized neighborhoods to reach their full societal potential safely.

Monica Muliro Headshot

Monica Muliro

Snohomish County

Monica is an experienced mental health professional and School Counselor within the Edmonds School District. Currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Psychological Science at Fielding Graduate University, her doctoral work focuses heavily on equity-driven communal flourishing. Utilizing an MSW from the University of Washington alongside extensive professional experience ranging from acute medical facilities to DCYF crisis teams, she utilizes CALA to expand safe mental wellness systems for BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee groups.

Patrick Kenneth Muriuki Headshot

Patrick Kenneth Muriuki

Snohomish County

Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Patrick spent eight years operating across Sub-Saharan Africa as a Senior Cultural Orientation Trainer, guiding thousands of vulnerable refugees through the complexities of U.S. resettlement. He carries this humanitarian mission forward in Washington State as a Child Protection Specialist with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in Lynnwood, rendering trauma-informed support and culturally responsive safety systems to multilingual households.

Maame Ama Owusu Headshot

Maame Ama Owusu

Snohomish County

Maame is a seasoned communications leader whose corporate portfolio covers fintech, banking, events management, and anti-trafficking efforts. She is the Outreach and Corporate Relations Manager for Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST), alongside volunteering as the Events Manager for the Ghana Association of Greater Seattle. Holding an MA in Communication from the UW, she specializes in creating intentional pipelines and mentoring networks that guide African women into public-sector leadership.

Pa Ousman Joof Headshot

Pa Ousman Joof

Snohomish County

Originally from The Gambia, Pa Ousman is a visionary nonprofit founder with over 15 years of community organizing experience. He serves as the Executive Director of the Washington West African Center (WAWAC), an organization that serves over 20,000 West Africans through language, housing, and resource navigation. He is also a prominent international media voice through Gambian Talents Promotion and established the POJ & Fatou Samba Training Institute to deliver multimedia skills training to underprivileged youths.

Sona Porter Headshot

Sona Porter

(She/Her) Snohomish County

Sona is a dedicated community organizer originally from The Gambia. She holds a degree in Journalism and Media Production with a Political Science major from Washington State University. Leveraging her background in media production alongside linguistic interpretation skills to overcome system gaps, she serves as President of the Pacific Northwest Seattle Gambian Association (PNWSGA). Her work highlights intergenerational civic mobilization, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment.

Elizabeth Warille Headshot

Elizabeth Warille

Snohomish County

Elizabeth is an internationally trained pediatrician and child health specialist with over seven years of clinical background, previously operating as the Head of Pediatrics at The Karen Hospital in Nairobi. Currently working as a Behavior Specialist at the Center for Social Dynamics Autism Center, she joins CALA to champion critical systemic advocacy platforms for Black immigrant families, women, and children navigating historical disparities in developmental healthcare access.

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