Trailblazing immigrant and BIPOC graduates set sights on local politics

Snohomish County community leaders celebrated their civic education on the County campus in Everett last weekend, eager to make a difference as the first graduates of a program designed to mentor promising immigrant and BIPOC leaders.

Surrounded by family and friends in a June 27 ceremony, 12 local leaders graduated from the Community Advocacy and Leadership Academy (CALA). The CALA Class of 2026 is the first cohort to graduate from this emerging civic education program. 

Students applied to the program in 2025 and met twice per month for four months in 2026. (Students in the 2027 cohort will meet for six months.) They studied topics that allowed them to more actively participate in civic activities such as parliamentary procedure, community advocacy, campaigning for office and municipal budgeting. They also learned about issues that frequently occur when engaging with local politics, like land use, economic equity and environmental justice. The program was designed to connect students by having them share personal stories and host conversations about key issues. 

The CALA fellowship is the result of a partnership between two nonprofits: Immigrant Guide and Puget Sound Sage. Immigrant Guide was founded by Lynnwood resident and 2025 Lynnwood City Council candidate Mpiima Mugambe. It seeks to uplift immigrant families across Washington by providing resources, therapy, housing advocacy and youth engagement programs. 

Puget Sound Sage hosts a similar civic education fellowship, the Community Leadership Institute, which Mugambe attended in 2023. After running for office in 2025, he saw a need for similar education in Snohomish County. He connected with Puget Sound Sage and the Inatai Foundation, which promotes equity and racial justice initiatives, to make it happen. 

During his welcoming address at the June 26 event, Mugambe lauded graduates for the connections they forged and knowledge gained

“When we empower those that are closest to the community challenges, we build a stronger foundation in forging solutions that align with the problems,” Mugambe said. “When leaders choose to partner with communities, they unlock ideas, energy, and leadership that cannot be created alone.”

Celebrants also heard remarks from local elected officials eager to welcome future board and commission members to the civil servant life. State Rep. Cindy Ryu recounted her experiences immigrating to the U.S. as a child and her efforts to run for office. 

Ryu encouraged CALA graduates to use their voices and build relationships.

“Trust is the most valuable trait and commodity in politics,” Ryu said. “Find out what your passions and skillsets are. Also, rule out anything that you don’t like because if you’re hating it, your voters will know. They can spot a fake a mile away.”

Graduates Antonio Fajardo-Mora and Sona Porter spoke on behalf of their class.

Fajardo-Mora, a Mexican immigrant whose parents moved to Everett about 20 years ago, reflected on the value of shared experiences.

“I witnessed firsthand how difficult it could be to navigate life in a country with systems that weren’t always easy to understand or access. I began to recognize the disparities that existed and the need for more equitable opportunities,” he said.

Fajardo-Mora added that although he’d been nervous to meet more experienced peers with experience in local nonprofit work, he was relieved to find that  none of them were expected to have all the answers. Fajardo-Mora said his biggest lesson from the program was that “meaningful change happens when people are willing to learn from one another, challenge one another and work toward a shared purpose”.

Porter spent her childhood in The Gambia before immigrating to the U.S. at age 12. Now a mother of three, she graduated magna cum laude from Washington State University in 2022. Porter focused her remarks on the value of differing opinions.

“When we combine our personal experiences with facts and possible solutions, our voices become stronger and can help bring attention to the issues affecting our communities,” Porter said. “[One of our instructors] reminded us that sometimes frustration is intentional. Sometimes systems are difficult because when people become frustrated, they give up. That really stayed with me. It reminded me that giving up is not an option.”

The 2026 graduates are:

Patrick Kenneth Muriuki

Josephine Nakimuli

Angelinah Kitheka

Pa Ousman Joof

Elizabeth Warille

Sona Porter

Gloria Mbabazi

Monica Muliro

Antonio Fajardo-Mora

Maame Ama A. Owusu

Samira Sumbundu

While the CALA graduation was the main event, Immigrant Guide also celebrated the involvement and work of local adolescents from the Green Legacy Youth Fellowship. Eight youths ages 11 and older from across King, Pierce and Snohomish counties studied environmental justice, leadership foundations and community advocacy. Green Legacy Program Manager Sibongile Chadyiwa reflected on the trials and errors of the youth program, noting that program leaders learned the key to reaching young ones was engaging their parents. 

CALA is now accepting applications for its 2027 fellowship. The deadline for applications is July 31. You can apply or learn more about CALA and Immigrant Guide here.