MEET OUR Board of directors
Maria Rios (she / her)
Board President, 2022-2025
Attorney
When I think of Powerful Voices, I think of empowering young people of color and providing them a place where they can heal and be in community with other young people of color.
I joined Powerful Voices because I wanted to support an organization that is growing and helping the young BIPOC community, a community that is often overlooked.
My idea of self care is spending quality time with my loved ones and going for a nice walk or hike.
Maile Muto (she / her)
Secretary, 2022-2025
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
When I think of Powerful Voices, I think of radically supportive community-building that embraces and nurtures leadership in young people to advocate for a more equitable society that values and celebrates the beauty, joys, and challenges of our shared existence.
I joined Powerful Voices because I want to support the amazing work PV programming is doing to uplift the young people in the community in whatever small ways I can.
A perfect day to me is spent practicing a philosophy from my Italian roots, il dolce far niente - or the sweetness of doing nothing. When possible, I love spending days fully engaged in the privilege of spending unstructured time with my family, preferably in the sunshine, where I can listen to my children laughing and converse with everyone about whatever is on our minds.
Teoy Thompson (she / her)
Director, 2023-2026
Amazon Web Services
A Southern, French Creole, born in Houston,Tx socially conscious entrepreneur focused on contributing to the greater societal good. Her work is infused with inspirational reminders and empowerment principles that she leverages to speak life into her community. “I want to support causes and present perspectives that spark conversation and possibility,” she says.
She loves travel, scuba diving and hiking to name a few.
Adriana Zazul (she / her)
Director, 2023-2026
Nonprofit Communications Professional
Adriana Zazula is a nonprofit communications professional and creative from the Greater Seattle area. She is an AmeriCorps VISTA alumni whose efforts range from coordinating volunteer events for United Way of King County to curating poetry by youth in the juvenile justice system in New York City. Adriana is continuously inspired by the creativity of young people and the power of community. Previously, she served as the Communications and Development Manager at School’s Out Washington.
Hallie O’Reilly (she / her)
Director, 2023-2026
Operations Manager
When I think of Powerful Voices, I think of the joy, safety, advocacy, art, wisdom, embodiment, and leadership that is fostered within this community organization for young folks of color to raise their voices and lead us all into a more beautiful and equitable world.
I joined Powerful Voices to support in any small ways I am able, the powerful ripple effect these amazing programs hold within our shared communities. When we uplift our youth, we all rise.
I seek to embrace slowing down and being present. I feel rooted in life through reading and cooking, learning to garden with my partner, adventuring with our dogs, listening to my treasured vinyl collection, and creating cozy spaces to enjoy it all from.
Adriena Clifton (she / her)
Director, 2024-2027
Attorney
Adriena grew up in the San Juan Islands, just a couple hours north of Seattle. She moved to Seattle in 2017 to attend the University of Washington, where she obtained a Political Science degree and a minor in Law, Societies, and Justice. Adriena then attended the Seattle University School of Law. During her first summer in law school, Adriena was selected as a Legal Employers Advancing Diversity (LEAD) Fellow. She went on to do her second summer with Helsell Fetterman and externed for the honorable Chief Justice Gonzalez of the Washington Supreme Court in her final year of law school. She served as Vice President and President of OutLaws, the Seattle University School of Law's queer law student associationa. She also worked as an associate editor of the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. She has published works on data privacy and the challenges faced by female Asian American litigators.