Executive Leadership
staff overview
President & CEO
Michelle Y. Merriweather
Michelle Merriweather is the President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS), where she leads with vision, compassion, and a deep commitment to Black liberation, racial equity, and economic justice.
“I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular, but I would like to think that at a crucial moment, I was an effective voice for the voiceless, and effective hope for the hopeless” a quote by civil rights leader Whitney M. Young is Michelle’s mantra as she leads the organization towards its 92nd anniversary.
Since joining ULMS in 2015 and stepping into the CEO role in 2018, Michelle has transformed the organization into one of the region’s most impactful civil rights institutions. Under her leadership, ULMS has expanded from a staff, significantly increasing its reach across housing, education, entrepreneurship, workforce development, health equity, and advocacy initiatives.
Michelle’s passion for community work is rooted in her personal mission: to build a future where Black children — including her nephew, Cayden and God Children, Olivia, Corey, and Camille— can walk tall without fear, live freely in their truth, and thrive in communities rooted in dignity, joy, and opportunity. She brings both urgency and strategy, as well as the fighting spirit of her warrior-like grandmothers to that mission every day.
Her leadership has been recognized throughout the region. She was recognized as a Puget Sound Business Journal Woman of Influence, recognized on the Power 100 list, and received the Edwin T. Pratt Community Service Award.
In addition to her role at ULMS, Michelle serves on several boards, including United Way of King County, KUOW, the Alliance for Education, and the Downtown Seattle Association. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and was appointed to the inaugural Washington State Women’s Commission by Governor Jay Inslee.
Michelle holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only historically Black Catholic university.
With heart, history, and strategy at the core of her leadership, Michelle Merriweather is moving ULMS — and the communities it serves — toward a future where equity is not a dream but a lived reality.
James Bush
Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
James Bush is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, where he provides executive oversight of organizational operations, systems, and cross‑functional strategy in support of racial equity and community impact. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Partnerships and Engagement for Seattle Public Schools, leading districtwide family and community engagement efforts aligned with the district’s five‑year strategic plan. His career also includes senior leadership with the City of Seattle, where he managed neighborhood‑based programs and played a key role in advancing the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative. Across roles, James is recognized for strengthening systems, building cross‑sector partnerships, and fostering authentic, community‑centered engagement that improves outcomes for families and communities.
Linda Taylor
CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER
Linda Taylor began her journey with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle in 1998 as a Housing Counselor, helping individuals and families take their first steps toward homeownership. Today, as Chief Programs Officer, she leads a dynamic portfolio of programs spanning Housing, Financial Empowerment, Public Health Equity, Education, Workforce Development, and more. With nearly three decades of service, Linda is known for turning vision into impact—expanding access to opportunity, strengthening communities, and ensuring every program reflects the needs and voices of those served.
Mansour Camara
CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER
Mansour Camara provides financial leadership and oversees the annual audit, budget, banking relations and financial reporting for the organization. Mansour has been with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle since 2016. He began as a temporary accountant and was hired as a general accountant after six months. He served as the Budget Officer and Controller prior to becoming the CFO. Mansour holds a Master of Business Administration from City University of Seattle and B.S in Accounting from the University of Gambia.
Josalyn Ford
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Josalyn P. Ford is passionate about advancing equity within philanthropy on behalf of social justice and always with community in mind. Josalyn received her B.A. in Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University, and her Master’s in Public Administration at Seattle University. She has raised over $30 million in fundraising revenue, affording many organizations the ability to ensure a long lasting impact on communities and per the organization she’s been honored to partner with. In her off-time, Josalyn’s passion for community is illustrated in her service work on various non-profit boards and committees. Her experience helps in spearheading strategic initiatives, events, and programs that increase the efforts of these organizations in forwarding their missions.
Donnna Moodie
CHIEF ImPACT OFFICER & ECODISTRICT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Donna Moodie joined the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as the Chief Impact Officer on October 1, 2023, concurrently serving as the Executive Director of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict that is now housed under ULMS. The EcoDistrict under Donna’s leadership and expertise will continue to focus on supporting Lowell Elementary, public life planning through street activations, economic empowerment, community advocacy and environmental resilience, sustainability and social justice, co-creating a future with ULMS for equitable community development at scale.
Robert W. Jones
Vice President of Youth & Workforce Development
Robert W. Jones is the Vice President of Youth and Workforce Development with a strong background in financial services and comprehensive program design, including curriculum development, budgeting, staffing, and partnership management. He has partnered with the City of Seattle to develop and implement four successful workforce programs that support youth facing barriers to graduation in achieving academic success and pathways to higher education or sustainable careers. His current work centers on trauma-informed, youth-driven programming that integrates mentoring, academic support, and experiential learning to foster both educational achievement and social-emotional growth for students in grades 6–12.