ADVISORY BOARD
ALLISON AUGUSTYN
Allison Augustyn is a nonprofit leader and award-winning writer with a passion for social design, organizational growth, and innovation. She is an active community member who believes that stories change lives and practice, especially when people tell their own stories. When not working at the South Seattle Emerald, Allison is a member of the 2021 Executive Program for Social Innovation Design (XSD) at the University of Pennsylvania (PENN). Allison has a background in strategic design and leadership with the Chicago Sun-Times and InvestigateWest, The Field Museum of Natural History, and a variety of nonprofits in Seattle and overseas, including Mongolia, Zambia, and Kenya.
MARY RICHARDSON
Bio to come
BILL BUTLER
Bio to come
EHSAAN TAEB
Ehsaan Taeb’s artistic journey has been shaped by resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to community. Born in the United States and raised in Iran, he discovered his passion for the arts early on. After returning to the US for university studies in Performing Arts, Ehsaan founded Blue House Arts—a theater company in San Francisco. Through this platform, he provided a nurturing space for emerging artists of color, amplifying their voices and celebrating diversity.
Beyond the stage, Ehsaan’s impact extended to philanthropy. As an early employee at Checkr, Inc., he spearheaded efforts to create a non-profit within the company, helping ex-offenders regain employment. Leaving San Francisco, he embarked on a 5-year nomadic exploration that led him to photography, capturing the wonders of each day across different landscapes.
Now based in Seattle, Ehsaan runs the photography studio “Circle of Life” and serves as a teaching artist with Youth In Focus. His heart lies in community advocacy, and he looks forward to making a difference through organizations like South End Stories. When not immersed in creative pursuits, Ehsaan can be found lost in the woods, exploring a new city, writing poetry, playing the piano, or frequenting museums.