Maya Nader, Secretary

Maya is a native of Beirut, Lebanon. After earning her BA in Political Science in Beirut, she moved to the US in 1989, at the height of the Lebanese War, and obtained a master’s degree in Communication and Marketing from Boston University. She speaks French, Arabic, and English and is grateful for the cultural richness these languages encompass. Through this lens, Maya views compassion as a bridge between cultures and religions and as the cornerstone of a more peaceful world. Maya currently teaches Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) in urban Seattle. CCT is a secular, evidence-based, compassion training program developed at Stanford University for adults.

Yaffa Maritz, Chair Emeritus

Yaffa Maritz was born and raised in Israel, has three grown children and currently resides on Mercer Island with her husband. She is an advocate on behalf of children and families, and is the founder of the Community of Mindful Parenting forum. Ms. Maritz has a BA in Social Work, a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed mental health counselor with advanced training in infant mental health. Ms. Martiz has served on several local and national boards, including Foundation for Early Learning, the University of Washington's Advisory board for the Infant Mental Health and the Governor’s Commission for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention (CCF: Counsel for Children and Families).

Andrea Brenneke, Board member

Andrea Brenneke is a Harvard Law School graduate with almost twenty years of experience in employment and civil rights litigation and mediation. Andrea is the founder of Seattle Restorative Justice, an organization which fosters parallel Restorative Justice systems and practices in harmony with existing structures as alternatives or supports to punitive justice and discipline. Seattle Restorative Justice seeks to end the school to prison pipeline and promote healing and accountability wherever harm is done.

Etsuko Haring, Board member

Etsuko (Etch) was born in Tokyo, and spent her life growing up in the US and Japan.  She is a personal development advisor with extensive experience partnering with individuals and innovative community leaders to help them discover and manifest their core intentions and authentic purpose. Using transformation driven strategies, she works with organizations to create inspirational products and services that encourage personal growth in individuals and their communities. Most recently, she was the lead designer for Athletic DNA, whose mission is to encourage young athletes to strive for personal excellence. Etsuko began her career in New York City as a designer with Mottahedeh China, where she created products for the White House, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Tiffany & Co., and other major retailers.  While living in Asia, she worked with Revlon Pacific Asia, JVC Productions, and Maysles Film. 

After moving to Seattle, Etsuko focused on implementing virtues training for early education and worked with high school students as an advisor to develop the Youth Peacebuilder’s Network.  Most recently, Etsuko has served as an advisory board member to Village Health Works, a grass roots socio-economic development project in Burundi, Africa.  These activities reflect her dual interests in human social development and its manifestation in material and institutional design.  She received a BA in Political Theory and Asian Studies from the University of Michigan, and continued her studies at the Parsons School of Design.  

Gilda Sheppard, Board member

Gilda Sheppard is an award winning filmmaker who has screened her documentary films throughout USA and internationally at the Berlin Germany International Black Film Festival and Fest Afrique 360 at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Section. Gilda is a professor of sociology, cultural and media studies at The Evergreen State College in Tacoma Washington. She has taught internationally in colleges and universities in Ghana, West Africa and is a volunteer Professor at Washington State Reformatory for Men and Women’s Correctional Center for Women. Her present documentary Since I Been Down is based on provocative and transformative stories from men and women in these two facilities. Gilda has a B.A. in Sociology from Mercy College of Detroit, a M.S.W. from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. in Sociology/Cultural and Media Studies from The Union Graduate School with an expertise in sociology, cultural and media studies.