The Good Foot
Arts Collective

The word COLLECTIVE to us represents the diverse set of skills, talent, passion, character and identity that an artist brings to the table. A shared vision of hope, light and love to be lived into, using gifts and abilities for a greater purpose than serving ourselves. “THE GOOD FOOT” is inspired by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, as many breakers know and dance to his music. To us, the words “The Good Foot” also represents a deeper set of foundational values for us to stand on: Faith, Hope, Truth and Love. To live into these values one must have strong character, desire for positive impact and care for your neighbor and community. This is what it means to get on “The Good Foot”, to get on the right side of life, to think less of ourselves and to serve others with our abilities.

In 2005, a group of young passionate artists got together in the basement of a home in Seattle with a shared desire to impact youth and community. With a collective of artists from various backgrounds, a drive to plant seeds of community change to better the lives of young people from societal violence came to be. It started with a Hip Hop dance outreach in Seattle’s Chinatown where young people gathered to speak truth, light and hope through change and action. With a passionate focus on ending violence before it begins, it has since grown in the last 12 years to provide domestic abuse awareness and youth violence prevention advocacy through Arts Education. We believe the platform of mentorship, Hip Hop expression and culturally relevant youth programs through the arts is essential for young people to express themselves creatively as we provide a safe space to learn, grow and thrive.

Many of us have different learning styles and approaches to engagement. We use the platform of Hip Hop, Art and Culture to engage the youth and community. There are times we can align, communicate and be impacted by movement, visuals and sound. It opens us up to dimensions that learning senses may be limited to as in traditional school or academic settings. Many of us as artists know and believe in the power of expression, transparency and vulnerability. Art, music and dance are bridges to one another and the larger community. It makes life colorful, provides healing and freedom to those that need it. Cultural competency, cultural relevancy and racial equity are also embedded within our approach as it is important to recognize diversity and educate about justice. Our Arts Education consists of three components: Youth Collective, Community Classes and Events.

Chi May Praseuth
Co-Founder & Executive Director

As a co-founder of The Good Foot Arts Collective, May has over 27 years of experience in youth and community advocacy in Seattle. For over 17 years she has been a Domestic Violence advocate and worked in the DV field particularly with youth violence prevention in schools. May created C.L.A.Y., Creative Leaders Affirming Youth, a Healthy Relationships curriculum that partners with schools in SE Seattle to educate on social, emotional and behavioral engagement on violence prevention, offering creative ways to facilitate activities that will make a lasting impact for change. As an artist, May has been a teaching artist in visual/mixed media and instructed and performed Hip Hop dance for over 20 years. She has created youth art programs through Seattle Parks and Rec and Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. She has a passion for empowering emerging leaders in the community, specifically in strengthening women as role models for youth. May attended the University of Washington studying Interdisciplinary Visual Arts with minors in Architecture and Art History. May finds joy spending time with her family and making memories with her three sons.

Kristi Woo
Treasurer

Kristi serves as ARTS’ Youth Funding Project Manager and has a passion for cultural preservation, youth empowerment and community advocacy. Kristi is a former Arts Education Manager of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and Education Manager for the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. Her innovation in bridge-building amongst schools, families and artists along with advocacy in underserved communities around arts education is well respected. She has worked and volunteered with pluralistic communities in Seattle’s Rainier Valley, Chinatown International District and Central Area neighborhoods for more than 20 years.

Milton Campbell
Secretary

Milton Campbell is a multi-disciplined artist actively working as an independent graphic designer/photographer and music producer. With roughly 20 years of experience in each medium. Milton mentors others in the field of visual and musical arts and maintains a consistent stream of culture based visual work for the likes of independent musicians and music labels to the large culturally relevant and multi-faceted Red Bull America creating posters and branding for various events of their West Coast Cultural division and the globally influential Adidas America. On a local, regional level, Milton’s worked with the likes of The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute creating posters for various dance classes and plays. School’s Out Washington contributing custom stock photography of youth in their school network for an annual report and for their site usage. He and his collective design team (Brokin nglish Design Co.) created an app for the Port of Seattle. The App is available for free for both iOS and Android. Check it out HERE and give it a try next time you’re at Sea-Tac with time.

Ericka Pollard
Board member

Ericka Pollard, Principal at Albert Talley High School in the Renton School District, is a dedicated leader focused on fostering student success. With over two decades of experience in Seattle Public Schools, Ericka has served in a wide range of roles, including family services provider, special education instructional assistant, academic interventionist, reading specialist, and classroom teacher. In her current role, she has spearheaded the school’s intervention and case management teams to achieve significant gains in student attendance and academic performance.

Ericka is deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead in at Albert Talley High School, inspired by her mother’s legacy of unwavering dedication to students. As she puts it, “I’d especially like to thank my mother who’s shown me first-hand how to love our students to life, and not to death.” Her commitment to students and families stands as a testament to the power of compassion and educational equity.

Ericka has been a champion of The Good Foot since 2021 and has been instrumental in supporting staff development and strategic support.

Jackie Jainga Hyllseth
Board member

Jackie Jainga Hyllseth is the Executive Director of the Associated Recreation Council (ARC). This non-profit works in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation to provide childcare, healthy recreation programs, and activities to the residents of Seattle. In her previous position with School’s Out Washington (SOWA), she led their statewide quality improvement system for the afterschool and youth development field. She also led the development of the Washington State Core Competencies for Child and Youth Development Professionals and the Washington State Quality Standards for Afterschool & Youth development programs. She has been a coach for community-based youth development programs with their quality program development and capacity building efforts. Jackie has been part of many local, state, and national committees and convenings focused on system building, youth program quality, and racial equity. She holds a BA in Foreign Language and Literature and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. She is Filipina and Tsimshian Native and is a traditional Cedar and Ravenstail weaver.

Louie Praseuth
Co-Founder & Creative Director

Louie Praseuth serves as the Co-Founder and Creative Director of The Good Foot Arts Collective, leveraging over two decades of non-profit and public sector leadership, national training expertise, and worldwide performance credentials to advance youth violence prevention. As a founding member and a demonstrated champion of youth advocacy, Louie inherently carries the vision for the organization's positive community impact. Informed by his personal refugee legacy, he established a powerful leadership framework that seamlessly bridges creative expression with advocacy and artivism, drawing from extensive international experience as a professional choreographer on world tours.

Recognized as a mentor of mentors, Louie scales his impact by leading national trainings designed to empower grassroots organizers, educators and organizational executives across the country. His strategic approach to youth development integrates deep partnerships with school districts, trauma-informed case management, and data tracking to deliver measurable outcomes. By combining movement, mentorship, and data-driven strategies, Louie's work helps cultivate safer environments and works toward ending youth violence before it begins.

Laura Rice
Community Education Director

Laura began working with The Good Foot Arts Collective in 2013, when she invited May and Louie to speak to her Rainier Beach High School classes about healthy relationships. This collaboration became the starting point for C.L.A.Y., which was first developed and implemented in her classroom. Since then, Laura has continued to collaborate with TGFAC as a curriculum writer, classroom facilitator, and volunteer.

Laura has worked for more than 15 years in primarily Southend Seattle Public Schools, serving as a teacher, summer program manager, substitute teacher, and Family and Consumer Sciences support for teachers. As an artist, Laura trained in dance at Cornish College of the Arts, danced professionally with Spectrum Dance Theater, and served as Ballet Mistress for 6th Day Dance.

Laura holds a B.A. from Seattle Pacific University in Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate. She is an eager learner who is passionate about supporting young people through arts education and helping them step into their original designs and giftings. She believes this work can strengthen young people’s families, relationships, and connections to their communities.

Eva Chuc
Operations Associate

Eva immigrated from China at the age of 2 and grew up in South Seattle. She graduated from Franklin High School, then went on to the University of Washington and majored in American Ethnic Studies. Eva struggled with mental health issues at a young age and throughout her life, with mentorship and community, she was able to work through her struggles in a healthy way, and find healing. After coincidentally sitting in a CLAY session, she was captivated by the work and knew this was what she needed to advocate for. Eva loves to work closely with us to provide resources for youth and to help build a safe and supportive community. She is the Operations Associate at The Good Foot. She loves working with schools and the Youth Collective scholars. In her free time, Eva is always out looking for the best noodles in the Pacific Northwest!

Janaesha Leath
Youth Program Facilitator

Janaesha Leath is a lifelong South Seattle community member with a strong passion for working with children and youth. Since meeting Louie through the Union Gospel Mission at age 14, she has continued to be mentored by Louie and May—relationships that have shaped her growth, leadership, and commitment to community. Through life experiences and meaningful connections, Janaesha has had opportunities to work and lead alongside community leaders around issues of race, social justice, and violence prevention. As a survivor, her work centers on creating spaces where young people can build social and emotional literacy, develop life skills, explore their own voice, identity, and capacity to make a positive impact, and prevent violence before it starts.

As part of The Good Foot Arts Collective, Janaesha facilitates programming with elementary and high school students, bringing a spirit of curiosity, care, and lifelong learning to her work. She believes teaching is a shared process and values learning alongside the young people and communities she serves.

Chris Kaku
Graphic Designer and Artist Mentor

Chris Kaku is a Seattle SoufEnd native who was raised on Beacon Hill. He has performed, battled, judged, and taught dance throughout the Pacific Northwest for the last 20 years. His love for cartoons, comics and graffiti inspired him to develop his illustration skills from an early age which ultimately led him to pursue a career in graphic design. Chris has collaborated with The Good Foot Arts Collective since 2007 and deeply believes in their ethos of community work in BIPOC communities through art and Hip Hop. Chris is a graduate of Seattle Central Creative Academy and serves as the Graphic Designer and Teaching Artist for The Good Foot.

Faith Chea
Youth Development Specialist

Through the support of her family, professional experiences, and community, Faith has cultivated a passion for empowering and educating the next generation of young leaders. Having experienced cultural and social disconnection throughout her K–12 education, she is inspired to use her gifts and social positionality to be the supportive adult she yearned for as a youth. Faith began pursuing this purpose professionally after graduating from the University of Washington, where she worked as an Interventionist at Franklin High School. During this time, she strengthened her gifts as an enthusiastic encourager, steadfast accountability partner, and determined advocate. Faith first began working with The Good Foot in 2019 through the summer Power Up Program, where she felt deeply connected to its mission of youth violence prevention through arts education. The Good Foot community has encouraged her to live authentically and embrace the power of her story as a catalyst for positive change. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in School Counseling to equip her with more tools to positively impact and serve her local community.

Gisele Masmela “Gigi”
Youth Mentor

Seattle native Gigi is a proud product of the Southend community, where her passion for leadership and youth development first took root. Growing up, she found a love for volleyball that eventually brought her back to her alma mater, Franklin High School, as a volleyball coach. She also served as a Class Support facilitator for Power Up, the school’s incoming ninth-grade summer program, where she discovered a deeper commitment to supporting and empowering young people.

These experiences inspired Gigi to pursue work centered on community, mentorship, and positive change. In 2025, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington in Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies, with a minor in Sociology. She now uses her education and lived experiences to create meaningful, lasting impact at TGF and in the community that raised her.

Esther Townsend
Programs and Development Coordinator

For the past 12 years, Esther’s greatest passion has been working with youth in South Seattle. Her connection to The Good Foot began at a youth retreat, where the team inspired young people through dance and storytelling. That experience encouraged Esther to pursue her own calling to create music and share stories rooted in her experiences growing up in a biracial, immigrant household, while navigating and healing from sexual violence.

Through her art and work with The Good Foot, Esther hopes to encourage, empower, and support youth in her community while helping break cycles of generational trauma and violence. She graduated from Northwest University in 2021 with a degree in nursing and continues to utilize her caregiving skills while caring for her 104-year-old grandmother.

Esther currently serves as a Spoken Word Mentor and CLAY Facilitator at The Good Foot, while also supporting social media, event coordination, and merchandise. She continues to expand her advocacy training in intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Through her work, Esther is committed to educating and supporting young people, using creativity and her lived experiences to help build healthier communities and contribute to ending cycles of violence.

Khansa Ali
Youth Program Associate

Khansa is a proud Rainier Beach High School alumna and lifelong Souf Seattle native. Her journey with The Good Foot began during high school, when she was introduced to the organization through her health class. That initial connection grew into a lasting commitment to the organization and to the community that helped shape her.

Today, Khansa supports and empowers young people through several routes. She facilitates the Middle School and High School C.L.A.Y sessions, serves as a Lead Mentor, and supports the organization’s communications and storytelling. Through her work, she creates welcoming and supportive spaces where young people feel heard, encouraged, and equipped to navigate their personal, academic, and professional journeys.

Khansa is passionate about youth development, mentorship, and community building. She draws on her own experiences to help young people understand that their challenges do not have to define their futures. By turning personal lessons into opportunities for growth, she works to foster a safe, informed, and empowering community where youth can build confidence, discover their strengths, and recognize their potential.

Rooted in connection, consistency, and authenticity, Khansa is committed to investing in the next generation of Souf Seattle leaders. She believes that every young person deserves access to support, guidance, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact in their community.

Justine “JP” Palacio
Kids Breaking Teaching Artist

Justine Palacio, also known as JP or Bgirl SacredFire, is a seasoned dancer with a decade of experience. A dedicated member of The Good Foot since high school, she has been teaching breaking to children for the past four years, driven by her passion for fostering youth growth in the dance community. Justine has traveled overseas performing as well as locally the past decade as a committed advocate for Hip Hop Breakin’ in her community. She is loved by many youth in her classes as well as a strong peer Bgirl support in the Pacific Northwest.

Ayiana Hernandez-Kiehn
ES CLAY Facilitator

Ayiana is a young Mexican-American woman, raised by her mother in South Seattle. A graduate of Franklin High School's Class of 2022, Ayiana has since enrolled at Seattle Central College with aspirations of obtaining a bachelor's degree in Education or Social Studies. In 2018, Ayiana met The Good Foot when they taught CLAY in her Health class. Through their guidance and mentorship, she has actively participated in transformative projects, such as, serving as a youth panelist for the No Excuses Campaign and co-creating the No Excuses Coloring Book for elementary aged youth. Currently, Ayiana works with The Good Foot as an elementary school facilitator, developing the CLAY curriculum for elementary scholars and facilitating lessons through a new pilot program at Graham Hill Elementary School. Ayiana's journey with The Good Foot has kindled a passion for fostering youth in their paths of self-discovery and emotional awareness. Ayiana feels that contributing to the growth of young people is so important to the strengthening of a community and builds the foundation for the future.

Tia Naché
Spoken Word Teaching Artist

Tia Naché is a proud, born and raised-PNW Poet, hailing from South Seattle’s Rainier Valley. A nationally recognized Spoken Word artist and self-proclaimed “Church Kid.” Tia Naché’s gift like many well-loved artists was honed and cultivated in the Black Church. She defines her poetry as medicine to heal, to inspire hope, and call her listeners to action. She is a longtime educator, former high-schol teacher, and principal. Many of her pieces explore themes of self love, social justice, and spirituality. Tia Naché in partnership with Acts On Stage Theater, starred in her first debut-one-woman show, “That Talk You Do.” It was met with overwhelming success, covered by multiple local media outlets. In addition to going viral on social media, Tia Naché has opened, written, and performed for many well-known artists, like Dr. Maya Soetoro Eng, Rev. Jesse Jackson, The Legendary Clark Sisters, and many more. She even was featured on KevinOnStage’s “Challenge Show.” As a forever educator, Tia Naché values the importance of youth voice, and is passionate about race, equity, and women’s rights, especially as it relates to the experiences of Black Women. A loving wife, and the mother of three amazing daughters, Tia Naché’s life’s purpose is truly to be a vessel, speaking life and truth to her audiences. Her performances are awe-inspiring, transformative, encounters that leave listeners wowed and longing for more.

Nakema Jones
Multidisciplinary Teaching Artist

Hi, my name is Nakema Jones, born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I am a self-taught artist with a deep commitment to using art as a tool for connection, healing, and community empowerment. My work centers on collaboration, cultural expression, and the transformative power of creativity—especially within BIPOC communities.

Throughout Seattle, my murals reflect the voices and visions of the neighborhoods that inspired them, often created in partnership with youth and community members. I have led over five murals through The Art of Resistance and Resilience at Franklin High School and other locations across the city.

In addition to public art, I’ve facilitated workshops and creative spaces for youth, including the “Black Girl Magic” program, which supports emotional and social development through artistic expression. My commitment to community-rooted art also led me to collaborate with The GoodFoot Collective, where I had the honor of leading a workshop during my first year with the organization—further deepening my passion for creating safe, expressive spaces through art.

My practice is rooted in the belief that art should be both accessible and affirming—uplifting those who often go unseen and unheard.

John “Swiss” Shannon
Kids Breaking Teaching Artist

John Shannon is a dedicated artist and dance instructor with a profound commitment to community and youth development. His journey began in high school, volunteering at his local Boys and Girls Club, which sparked a deep passion for community service that has flourished over the past 15 years. John’s professional experience includes notable collaborations such as choreographing for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, McDonald’s, Free Fly Industries, and ESPN. John’s belief in the power of representation and community engagement drives his work. By giving back and participating in grassroots events, he has cultivated a deep appreciation for his craft. This dedication led him to collaborate with The Good Foot Arts Collective in 2024, where they aim to create a safe space for youth to explore artistic expression and develop future leadership skills.

Anna “Naj” Nagy
Cypher Queenz Lead & Breaking Teaching Artist

Naj has been an active force in the Breaking scene for many years. She has won several first place solo Bgirl Battles including Smoked in Ohio, Bboy Hodown, Outbreak Canada, and Illin Empire LA. Anna's love for community and the impact of creativite expression keeps her very active local events. She is the co-founder of Cypher Queenz, which offers space for Bgirls to learn and session with the focus of elevating women in the Seattle and PDX Hip Hop Breaking scene. With over 10 years of experience teaching dance, she offers a variety of adult classes around Seattle.

Che'lon McLennan
Photography Teaching Artist

Che’lon McLennan is a 28-year-old born & raised in South Seattle, Washington. A 2015 Graduate of O’Dea High School, a 2020 Graduate of The Hampton University, majored in Communicative Sciences & Disorders. He’s a Spring 2020 initiate of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, incorporated. Since graduating, he’s worked as a photographer and audio engineer at Converge Media. Going on three documentary tours in Belize, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The documentary “Reconciliation Tour” was nominated for an Emmy in 2023, which helped Che earn the title of both an Emmy-nominated Photographer and Audio Engineer. As of now, he works at Foster High School, where he teaches Media Arts, in the area of Photography and Videography.

Ava Betancourt
Teaching Artist Assistant

Ava Betancourt moved to South Seattle at the age of 3 with her mom and sister from New Orleans. She is an alumna of Franklin High School and was introduced to The Good Foot during their Power Up Summer programming for incoming 9th graders, in 2020. While working with many mentors like Eva and May at The Good Foot, she continued to find her passion for writing and helping others, discussing her challenges and goals with them. She has her heart set on helping youth and continue the work that she feels is so important and has helped her grow. She is now assisting with the spoken word pathway—the same coheart she participated in in 2022—and hopes to help youth use writing and poetry as a life skill, not just a creative outlet.

Delano Cordova
Youth Facilitator

Delano Cordova is a graduate of Franklin High School and the University of Washington. He hopes to become a High School Math Teacher. He has many ties in Seattle to the Filipino-American, Ultimate Frisbee, and University of Washington communities. He began working with The Good Foot Arts Collective under the Power UP program the summer before his Senior year of high school and has been a continued contractor since then. Additional youth work experience includes Ultimate frisbee coaching, Overnight Summer Camp Counseling, and Lead Intern for AGE UP. He is currently a CLAY YC mentor that also facilitates during CLAY HS.

Louie "Likwit" Praseuth Jr.
Kids Breaking Teaching Artist

Hanan Ali
CLAY Cohort

Hanan Ali is an eleventh-grade student at Rainier Beach High School who is passionate about giving back to her community and helping others feel seen, supported, and empowered. As a proud Somali and hijabi young woman, she values kindness, leadership, and staying connected to her culture and community.

Hanan is currently an intern at The Good Foot Arts Collective, where she enjoys working with youth and creating positive change. She loves building meaningful connections, encouraging others, and growing into the best version of herself. Being part of Good Foot feels like more than an opportunity; it feels like her calling, and she is excited to continue making a difference in the lives of young people around her.

Elijah Dominguez-Velasco
Social Media

Elijah Dominguez-Velasco is a videographer, photographer, and track athlete. Going into his senior year at Rainier Beach High School, he aims to focus on capturing emotions and moments in his photos and videos. He first joined the Good Foot Arts Collective in 2024 as a freshman, where he was first introduced to photography and developed his passion towards the camera.

Now, Elijah has shown growth as a photographer and videographer, documenting high school sports and community gatherings, and aims to capture connections towards youth violence protection through arts education and wants to showcase his work through his own eye.

Elijah came back to Good Foot in 2026 to build his leadership and build his skills in between photography and videography.

Ismahan Shire
Photography Cohort

Ismahan Shire is a 10th-grade student at Rainier Beach High School. She is passionate about history, social justice, and supporting her community. She enjoys learning about historical events and how they shape society today. Her favorite subjects in school are history and English. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in law, where she can advocate for others and work toward creating change.

Ismahan joined The Good Foot Arts Collective to explore photography, gain experience, and learn more about her interests. As someone who can be quiet, she saw this internship as an opportunity to step outside of her comfort zone and challenge herself in new ways. Through this experience, she hopes to better her leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. She is excited to try new things and give back to her community.

Jaeda McFarland Jr
NO Excuses Cohort

Jaeda McFarland is a Junior at Rainier Beach High School. Originally from Louisiana, she moved to Seattle in February 2025. Jaeda is passionate about youth violence prevention through arts education and believes in the power of creativity to bring communities together and create positive change. She is dedicated to encouraging students to reach their full potential, supporting her peers, and helping create safe, empowering spaces for young people to grow and succeed.

Calyna Corrales-Yong
CLAY Cohort

Calyna is a young woman leadership intern at The Good Foot Arts Collective. She is a Filipino-Cambodian, second-generation immigrant born and raised in Seattle. She is going into her Junior year at Franklin High School and is passionate about dance, education, and empowering her community. Calyna joined The Good Foot because it gave her the opportunity to play a part in her community as a youth leader.

Being a young woman born in this age has taught her that life can be difficult and every good thing starts with being able to learn and grow as a person. She has already learned many things in aspects such as: responsibility, principles, commitment, and having goals for herself. She hopes to continue to learn how to be a better leader, peer, and friend. She’s had many opportunities from this internship that gave her the chance to interact with thousands of people. If there’s anything she’s learned so far from this, it’s that “Everyone has their own story and all it takes is a little bit of kindness and patience to make someone’s day”.

Amelia Allen-Martinez
Operations

Amelia is a Junior at Franklin High School. For the past 2 years, she has developed a passion for immigration law and activism through photography. She volunteers at local law clinics and takes photos for different organizations throughout Seattle.

Amelia joined The Good Foot her freshman year to learn more about what she can use photography for, which sparked her interest in photographing protests and marches. Now heading into her senior year, she came back to learn what it takes to run a nonprofit and work with people to contribute back to a community. She hopes to learn in her time here how to garner people to support a cause.