Board of Directors

Neighborhood House’s governing board has a tripartite structure that reflects and promotes the communities we serve. This means our members are: one third low-income individuals, one third local elected officials or their representatives, and the remaining members are from major groups and interests in the community. Our board is responsible for assuring the agency assesses and responds to the causes and conditions of poverty.

Interested in serving as a part of the board? Learn more about board participation and how to get started.

Meet the members

Ed Prince, City of Renton
President

Ed Prince serves on the Renton City Council and is the Executive Director of the Washington Commission on African American Affairs. He joined the Neighborhood House board in 2022, and was also previously on the board 12 years ago.

Cynthia Wang
Vice President

Cynthia has more than 20 years of leadership experiences across technology, government and nonprofit sectors. Cynthia began serving on the Board of Neighborhood House in 2018 and is currently the Chair of the Board Development Committee.

John Curry
Secretary

John Curry is an Associate at Adams & Duncan law firm. He is a lifelong Seattle resident and sees the tremendous opportunity that the city offers its’ residents, as well as the challenges it poses to our low-income and marginalized communities due to structural or institutional barriers. He wants help people overcome those barriers and benefit from the opportunities.

 

Azmach Bekele

Treasurer

Azmach Bekele is from Ethiopia where he graduated with an Accounting bachelor degree in 2011. Azmach worked at the Ethiopian Postal Service Enterprise as a Financial Business Manager for more than 14 years. He came to the United States of America in 2019, and he works as independent contractor with various delivery companies in the Seattle area.

John Bancroft

John brings expertise advocating for children and families to the Neighborhood House Board of Directors. He managed Head Start and other early childhood education programs during his career. In the 1980s, he worked for Neighborhood House managing two centers at University of Washington Family Housing.

His work experience includes working for the Washington State Office of Childcare Policy, the Seattle Public School’s Parent Information Center (the precursor to Child Care Resource Center), and 20 years working with the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Head Start, where he served as an assistant superintendent and executive director for 20 years.

David Escame, Amerigroup

David is the Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Amerigroup Washington and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Nevada. David has deep roots to the Seattle area. He was born and raised here. He is proud Rainier Beach High School and Western Washington University Alumni. Vikings forever.

He brings over 19 years of experience integrating social determinants of health into healthcare and partnering with community based organizations, faith-based organizations, and community leaders and activists. David looks forward to learning from Neighborhood House communities. David has been married to his beautiful best Friend, Pamela, for 24 years. They have two amazing Teen children, Max and Stella.

Esteban Herrera, Limit

Esteban immigrated to Seattle from Mexico in the year 2000. He is a proud Redmond High School and University of Washington graduate where he studied computer science.

In his free time, Esteban loves to spend time with his partner Anna, dog Tucker and 6 loud chickens. He enjoys hiking, fishing, and exploring everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer. He feels privileged to work with and learn from all the wonderful colleagues and clients of Neighborhood House.

Hannah Locke, King County

Hannah Locke grew up in Seattle and loves spending time with her family enjoying all aspects of the PNW. Hannah has had the privilege of working alongside young children and families in our community in a variety of ways from direct service to systems level work. She is dedicated to the work of advancing equity and social justice, and currently supports community based organizations piloting new and innovative programs and projects focused on children prenatal to five and their families.

Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh, University of Washington

Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh is associate professor in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington. Growing up in Eastern Washington, he said, his education was void of the experiences of his community, and he didn’t see himself in the curriculum. He became an educator to provide young people from minoritized communities with a different experience and to teach future educators to do the same.

State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos

Sharon has served Southeast Seattle as the Washington State Representative for the 37th Legislative District since 1998. Trained as a civil rights and social justice activist, much of Sharon’s work in Olympia focuses on education.

In addition to education, her key policy interests include civil rights, women’s rights, economic and environmental justice, affordable housing, and community preservation.  She strives to level playing fields and to enable every Washingtonian to be safe, productive, and successful.

A graduate of the Evergreen State College and of Northeastern University, Rep. Santos has worked in the banking industry, on staff of local elected officials, and in senior management positions for non-profit organizations.

Lacreaisha Bland

Lacreaisha is a part-time nanny and delivery driver who loves to explore nature and write. Lacreaisha has over 15 years of experience in childcare, including working alongside Seattle Children’s hospital and John Muir Kid’s Corner. She is currently exploring the option of becoming a certified caregiver.

Lacreaisha began serving on the Board of Neighborhood House in December 2023.