Mountaintop Awardees
2027
Community
Darryl Smith
Executive Director, HomeSight
-
Darryl Smith built a legacy in community development, neighborhood revitalization, municipal government, workforce mentorship for young adults, and place-based support for small businesses. He has held a variety of civic roles including his service as the Deputy Mayor of Seattle for Mayor Mike McGinn.
Darryl has proudly served since 2020 as Executive Director of HomeSight, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Corporation (CDC) founded in 1990. Under Darryl’s leadership, HomeSight has been a bulwark against displacement for residents and small businesses. In his drive to fulfill the organization’s mission to help families build generational wealth, HomeSight helped 492 new low-moderate income individuals and families realize the dream of homeownership.
As a Core Team member of the Black Home Initiative Network, Darryl introduced the Field Order 15 Fund, a reparative Lending Program that has helped jumpstart construction of more than 500 new for-sale homes built by Black, Brown, and female developers in the Puget Sound region. This work supports the network’s shared goal of creating 1,500 new Black homeowners by 2028.
Community
Tasha Jones
Outreach Supervisor, Community Passageways
-
Tasha Jones is a compassionate and dedicated leader who serves as the Supervisor of one of Community Passageways Safety Teams. With a strong commitment to supporting individuals, families, and communities, she leads her team with empathy, professionalism, and a people-first approach.
Known for her warm personality and ability to build meaningful relationships, Tasha believes that effective outreach begins with trust, respect, and genuine connection. She works closely with community members, partner organizations, and stakeholders to ensure that individuals have access to the resources, services, and support they need to thrive.
As a supervisor, Tasha is passionate about mentoring her team, fostering a positive work environment, and empowering staff to make a lasting impact in the community. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth, creating a culture where both team members and community residents feel heard, valued, and supported.
Through her dedication to service and community engagement, Tasha strives to strengthen partnerships, remove barriers to assistance, and help create safer, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods for everyone.
Community
Dr. Kendrick Glover
Founder & Executive Director, Glover Empower Mentoring (GEM)
-
My name is Dr. Kendrick Glover, and I have the honor and privilege of being the Founder and current Executive Director of Glover EmpowerMentoring-GEM. GEM was founded with the sole purpose to guide youth and young adults on their road to success. My passion and purpose have always been education, youth and young adults. I strongly believe in the words of my mentor, “I have to see me, to be me”, this is why I led.
I receive my official start in mentoring with the Police Activities League (PAL) in 2009 which is a national organization that focus on youth community involvement through mentoring. I’ve worked in the field of politics as an Intern for King County Councilman Larry Gossett of District 2, as well for King County Drug Diversion Court as a Wraparound Coordinator. I’ve served as a school counselor at Kent Meridian High School in Kent Washington for three academic school years, and as a Program Manager for the Puget Sound College and Career Network at Puget Sound Educational Service District, in where the work focused on promoting first generational and low-income students access to college and career.
My passion in education, lead me to also served as an educator working as an adjunct faculty member at City University of Seattle in the Albert School of Education. I’m also an active youth and young adult advocate involved in King County wide initiatives including the Juvenile Justice Equity Steering Committee which is appointed by the King County Executive.
I currently hold an undergraduate degree from Seattle University in Criminal Justice, Master’s degree in Education with a Counseling Certificate from City University of Seattle, and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership with a Concentration in Organizational Leadership.
All previously held positions have culminated me for my current role with GEM. GEM is a unique mentoring program serving over 250 youth and youth adults ages 12 to 24 yearly addressing dropout prevention/intervention symptoms that prevent youth and young adults from doing what is right for the well-being of self and others. Services include one-on-one and group mentoring, outside referral services where needed and weekly activities that benefit youth and young adults’ daily lives.
2026
Community
Dr. Natalie Ellington
Founder, Director of Eileen and Callie’s Place
Education
Delbert Richardson
Founder, Curator of the American History Traveling Museum: The Unspoken Truths
Business
Donald I. King, FAIA
Co-Founder and Sr. Project Director of the Nehemiah Initiative Seattle
2025
Community
Isiah Anderson, Jr.
Founder and Artistic Director
Acts on Stage| Leader at BUILD 206 - Brothers United
Education
A.C.E Academy Leadership Team
Clarence Dancer, Jr., Marcus Harden, Willie Seals, III
A.C.E. Academy
Business
Roger Rieger
President
The Tudor Foundation
2024
Community
Derrick Wheeler Smith
Director of Office For Civil Rights | City of Seattle
Education
Dr. Dwane Chappelle
Department Director at City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning
Lifetime Service
Eddie Rye Jr.
Community Leader/Activist Urban Forum Northwest
2023
Community
Violet Lavatai
Executive Director of the Tenants Union of WA
Business
Molly Moon Neitzel
Founder and CEO of Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
Education
Charlett Shoecaft
Founder and Executive Director of Empowering Youth and Family Outreach
Lifetime Service
Rev. Allen A. Belton
1939-2022
