Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic Governance Council

The Odessa Brown Children's Clinic (OBCC) Governance Council works with the OBCC senior medical director to provide strategic leadership of the clinic to achieve equity, diversity, and inclusion priorities. The Governance Council will make recommendations to the OBCC senior medical director regarding policies, procedures, and decisions on using OBCC's discretionary budget. The council ensures that the needs and perspectives of the OBCC community inform decision-making. The council ensures that the OBCC administration implements these community-based decisions and monitors program outcomes. Additionally, the council collaborates with broader Seattle Children's leadership to promote trust with OBCC staff, patients, and the communities that OBCC serves. 

OBCC Mission

Odessa Brown Children's Clinic is an enduring community partner dedicated to promoting quality pediatric care, family advocacy, health collaboration, mentoring, and education in a culturally relevant context.

Governance Council Goals

• Meet quarterly and develop annual metrics of success to guide work, establish priorities and inform the data cycle
• Provide policy guidance and advise the senior medical director on clinic policies and decisions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Monitor the progress of the Health Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan and provide recommendations to the senior medical directorto help achieve the plan's goals
• Make decisions regarding the expenditures and use of the discretionary clinic budget aligned with OBCC goals
• Identify systemic issues of inequity at OBCC and develop recommendations for solutions
• Monitor the use of analytical tools (e.g., equity impact tool) and strategies to promote best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Foster effective relationships and communication with key stakeholders
• Serve as a representative between the senior medical director and other OBCC stakeholders as needed 
• Provide perspective and representation aligned to the needs and experiences of the group he/she/they represent
• Guide candidate profiles and involvement in hiring decisions (e.g., ensuring a diverse workforce, interviewing candidates for leadership positions)

Governance Council Member Commitments

• Model equity, collaboration, and fairness in decision-making and the treatment of others.
• Attend all required meetings and training. Council members must attend all monthly meetings unless co-chairs approve an excused absence.
• Governance council members are expected to work as a team with a shared goal of highlighting the importance of collaborating with Seattle Children's with a spirit of partnership.
• Eliminate existing biases and disparities to ensure equitable outcomes for all.
• Demonstrate professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity in all working relationships.
• Participate in self-development opportunities and engage in regular self-reflection and continuing education.
• Hold ourselves and others accountable for the decisions made by the group.

Governance Council Members

Tamara Bass

Tamara Bass, MBA (she/her) is a mother of two amazing young African girls growing up in our community today, where the family get to work closely with the sickle cell team as one of her girls gets the privilege to be treated by the group. Tamara currently holds a position on the ED Family Advisory Board with Seattle Childrens. She was born and raised in Seattle and has had the opportunity to see the growth of OBCC over the years.

Tamara received her MBA in Healthcare Management and is a Director of Clinical Operations with over 10 years of clinical experience as a Medical Assistant.  Her focus has been in primary care and equitable patience and business experience. She strives daily to put emphasis on aiding the underserved population for which she was once part of and to make a positive impact on my community.

In her spare time, she is committed to her church (outreach) and community choir, and spending time with family and friends. She is thrilled to continue to work with OBCC family in a different capacity as a council member and is looking forward to strong strategic collaboration from an EDI lense.

Nhautrey Brown 

Nhautrey Brown is an associate clinical social worker who works with children, adolescents, and families. She earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Seattle University and an undergraduate degree from George Mason University in Psychology and Neuroscience. Nhautrey specializes in building rapport and creating culturally appropriate treatment tools to address anxiety, trauma and life changes that children and families experience.

Outside of her day-to-day clinical work, Nhautrey is passionate about spreading awareness regarding mental health to marginalized populations, especially communities of color. Simultaneously, she enjoys engaging in community work to share input and give insight on how organizations can improve on culturally competent care and ultimately end the stigma of mental health!

Caroline Chen

Caroline Chen completed her undergraduate education at Seattle Pacific University and obtained her bachelor’s in nursing. A daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Caroline witnessed her parents face difficulties navigating a foreign’s country healthcare, social, and racial system. She currently works as a pediatric oncology nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital on the Cancer Care and Blood Disorders unit where she strives to promote racial and health equity into her practice. Her hope is to continue to voice and bring to light the systemic issues of inequity, listen to the needs and experiences of families, and partner with others in creating sustainable solutions that impact marginalized communities. In her free time, Caroline loves to spend time with her friends, cook, and go on walks with her dog.

Feven Gebrekistos

She has held a reoccurring leadership position within the community, serving on an Equity Action Team for a local Seattle school, helping facilitate

conversations about race and inequities in public education, led subcommittees and helped organize meetings and community events. She is passionate about young children and adolescents receiving quality education and patient care, and is very excited to be a part of the Governance Council.

With a heart filled with gratitude, I step into this journey, eager to contribute to our shared mission. My name is Feven, I am a proud sole parent to my delightful 3-year-old daughter Ayana, whose LIFE fuels my determination every day. I am Eritrean-American, I speak fluently in Tigrinya and English. I am currently attending Bellevue College full time after a 16-year sabbatical, my aspiration to pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and leadership is more than personal; it's a beacon of possibility for Ayana and generations to come. Family and culture are not just facets of my life; they are the very foundations upon which I stand.

I am honored and privileged of meeting each of you very soon and many months to come after. Together, let's pave a path where compassion, excellence, and inclusivity reign supreme, transforming lives and communities one heartfelt interaction at a time.

Dr. Yolanda D. Geolingo

Yolanda has called Yelm, WA her home since 2007.  She is originally from Moss Point, MS and moved to Washington State by way of the military. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Alcorn State University, Yolanda joined the United States Army in 1995 where she started her HR career. While in the military, she earned two master’s degrees from Troy University. Yolanda is currently a Human Resources Manager for King County Superior Court, and she has over 28 years of experience working in HR. Yolanda will be joining our team starting March 4th as the new Employee Relations and Operations Manager. Yolanda extended her reach in civil and community service work when she was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as a Washington State Commissioner for the Commission on African American Affairs. This role allows Yolanda to eliminate racial inequalities and inequities within the black community. Additionally, she is very active in her community through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, where she currently works as a regional committee member. Yolanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends and watching her favorite NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. Yolanda also participates in her bowling league traveling, trying new things, attending church, and playing with her yorkies Yellis and Yuri.

Josh Griffin

Josh is the Assistant Director for the University of Washington's Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity (CCDE). Prior to working with the CCDE, Josh was a social justice consultant with The Carter Center’s Human Rights program. During his time with The Carter Center, he created and implemented a new initiative focused on social justice through the arts. He also served as a youth and development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Morocco. Josh has research experience in restorative justice issues, focusing on the establishment of Truth and Reconciliations Commissions in the United States, South Africa, and Germany. He holds a BA in Communication and Social Sciences from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) from Emory University with a certificate in Human Rights and concentrations in International Human Rights Law and Program Management. In his free time, Josh enjoys traveling, hiking, and writing poetry. 

Awa Gumaneh

According to Awa Gumaneh, she grew up in a tiny country in West Africa where girls and women are still oppressed. Her passion for healthcare stemmed from seeing a girl in her community genitally mutilated daily. So, she thought, what better way to help those she cares for dearly than having a career in healthcare and getting involved with the community, wherever that may be? Coming from a background where quality healthcare with dignity and compassion is often available to only the rich and 1% of her country and community, Awa is dedicated to leveling the playing field to the best of her ability.

Jasmine Hart

Jasmine Hart joined Seattle Children’s in December 2019 as the operating room administrator, bringing over a decade of experience in healthcare administration. Her commitment to advocacy began in 2013 with her role on the healthcare advisory board at Clover Park Technical College, where she also earned her associate degree. This position allowed her to represent students' voices in important discussions.

In 2021, Jasmine transitioned to Odessa Brown Children's Clinic (OBCC) as a Care Coordinator, where she focuses on addressing health disparities and supports patients and families. She is also an active member of the OBCC Food Access Team, helping to tackle food insecurity. Her contributions were recognized in 2023 when she and her team received the Ken Feldman Award.

Outside of work, Jasmine cherishes spending time with her three-year-old son, Cameron, who is her pride and joy. She enjoys traveling with him, exploring new foods, and visiting lighthouses.

Christian Love

Christian Love (he/him) is a doctoral candidate and the associate director for graduate academic and student services in the College of Education at the University of Washington. His research interests lie at the intersection of understanding the experiences of first-generation Black male students, equity-minded transformational leadership, community development, and cultivating an inclusive campus environment for students. He is also the former program manager for the Othello-UW Commons, where he developed programming and effective partnerships between the University of Washington and community-based organizations in South Seattle. Born and raised in Detroit, Mich., he attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where he studied psychology with a minor in Afro-American and African studies. In his spare time, Christian enjoys spending quality time with his wife and their three young children, volunteering, happy hour with friends, and playing sports (i.e., basketball, football, soccer, ultimate frisbee). Christian is excited to rejoin the Odessa Brown clinic community and bring his knowledge, commitment to diversity, and leadership to the newly formed Governance Council.

Ofelia Rosas

Ofelia Rosas is a proud Latina mother of two children. She is a Mindfulness Spanish facilitator and received her training at the University of Washington. Ofelia worked with the Mindfulness and Compassion program in the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. She led the Finding Calm classes within the Community of Mindful Parenting. Her community involvement includes advocating for Latino communities in Seattle schools like DLEC, Maple Elementary School and ReWA. Currently, she is working with Washington Family Engagement as a PLTI Spanish Facilitator. According to Ofelia, “Along this path as a mother and Facilitator, I have learned the importance and impact of practicing Mindfulness to take care of our mental Health. In her free time, she loves to spend time with my children, dance, go hiking and horticulture.

Drew Swanner

Drew Swanner is a community outreach project coordinator at Seattle Children’s. Having studied exercise science at Willamette University, worked as an EMT, and at multiple children's hospitals in the injury prevention space, he is new to Seattle but not the pediatric healthcare sector. Dedicated to preventative and educational work, Swanner has executed several health and safety fairs aimed at equipping underserved communities with free safety devices and information and is looking for more ways to reduce health inequity through prevention efforts. Beyond his work at Children’s walls, he takes advantage of Seattle's outdoor activities.

Sara Tadesse-Bell

Sara Tadesse-Bell is a principal scientist in product development at Genentech, focusing on patient-centered outcomes research. She is an alum of Seattle University (class of 2007) and has her MPH from the University of California Berkeley. Tadesse-Bell is passionate about health equity and inclusive research and is committed to removing the barriers to healthcare access. She is a well-regarded member of the Seattle Ethiopian community and is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Zakiya Tyson

Zakiya Tyson is a HR Business Partner for Seattle Public Schools and supports talent management efforts for schools in the Southeast region of Seattle. She was born in raised in Seattle, having predominately lived in the South Seattle community. Zakiya received her Bachelor's Degree from Washington State University and her Master's Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University. Professionally, her work fuses business with psychology, with children at the forefront.

Ken West

As a leader of the Sickle Cell Task Force, Ken West believes that it is essential for the members of the sickle cell community to be involved in this work. As an employee of the Seattle Children's Research Institute, a member of the Metropolitan Seattle Sickle Cell Task Force, and a person with a disability, he brings a unique perspective to this cabinet. As a Seattle Children's Research IT Desktop team supervisor, he continues to have discussions with his team about EDI (equity, diversity, inclusion).

West states, "I have learned that people need to know how EDI affects them. It is good to talk about it, but if you do not feel that you are one of the affected, then there needs to be a direct correlation made to people of all communities so that people understand that we are all impacted, and we all have a voice."