Our Team

Jaelynn Scott

She/Her

Jaelynn Scott, M.Div., serves as the Executive Director of LRP. Jaelynn offers guidance to community groups, nonprofits, and politicians, promoting the importance of centering Black lives through the lens of Black trans feminism. In her movement-building efforts, Jaelynn aims to increase access to power and decision-making opportunities for Black trans leaders. She has assisted religious organizations and nonprofits in radically reimagining their policies and procedures, as well as expanding and refocusing their work towards racial and gender equity. As an ordained minister, Jaelynn regularly preaches and facilitates workshops.

Akoth Ombaka

Director of Operations, They/He

Akoth (they/he) is a finance and operations professional currently based in Seattle, Washington (on the sacred lands of the Duwamish Tribe). With an illustrious career spanning over a decade, Akoth has left an indelible mark on a wide spectrum of non-profit organizations, from start ups and fiscal sponsors to regional foundations and nonprofit law firms. Akoth hopes that his endeavors demonstrate unwavering dedication to forging equitable frameworks and propelling restorative justice forward. They are not content with the status quo; instead, they tirelessly research and forge a path towards the strategic implementation of efficient administrative systems and the creation of financial reports that are not just informative but also easily digestible to empower all stakeholders.

Akoth's creed is clear: "Until all of us are free, none of us are free." This ethos fuels their commitment to learning, community organizing, and advocacy work within Black Queer and Trans mutual aid collectives and advocacy groups. Their heart time is devoted to these critical endeavors as a dedicated member of Black Trans and Queer organizations, including Queer The Land in Seattle, the Trans & Queer Mutual Aid Collective in Kenya, and the trailblazing Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project in the USA.

Bryanna A. Jenkins, Esq.

Policy Director, She/Her

Bryanna (she/her) is the Policy Director at Lavender Rights Project. Prior to joining LRP, she was the Staff Attorney for TLDEF’s Name Change Project, a Civil Rights & Employment Fellow at Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll PLLC, and the 2020-2021 George N. Lindsay Fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Ms. Jenkins received her B.S. from Morgan State University, her M.A. from the University of Baltimore, and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Ms. Jenkins also published Birth Certificate with a Benefit: Using LGBTQ Jurisprudence to Make the Argument for a Transgender Person’s Constitutional Right to Amended Identity Documents in the CUNY Law Review. Prior to law school Bryanna founded and led The Baltimore Transgender Alliance and organized the city’s first Baltimore Transgender Uprising March in 2015. A proud Baltimore native, Bryanna currently lives in Houston, Texas.

Sharyn R. Grayson

Director of Programs, She/Her

Sharyn Grayson (she/her) is a noted public speaker, trainer/facilitator, nonprofit business specialist, grant writer, former educator, Transgender advocate, and a highly respected ‘elder’ leader among the national LGBTQI neighborhood and healthcare community sectors. Her many professional business affiliations are extended across the U.S. She has received numerous awards and special commendations for her pioneering achievements in HIV/AIDS services and social justice endeavors – specifically focusing on inclusion and equity for marginalized Transgender women and men of color.

After resettling into life in the South some years ago, she was acknowledged as part of a small, but growing list of minority Transgender women who own and operate businesses across the country. Since its founding in 1985, she has been CEO and Senior Consultant of the Nonprofit Consumer Services Network (NPCSN). Additionally, as one of the co-founders of the Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat & Historical Center in Little Rock, she worked as the Chief Operations/Financial Officer; ensuring that the vision and goals of the organization’s primary founder, the legendary Miss Major, were fulfilled.

Her most recent achievement was taking the reins of one of the Bay Area’s (oldest) leading TGNC nonprofit organizations – Transgender Gender-variant Intersex Justice Project, or more commonly known as TGI Justice Project (TGIJP).

Sharyn is a native of Dallas, Texas and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration/management at Southwest Texas State University (TSU). After many years residency in the South, she returned to the Bay Area and now resides in Marin County with her fur babies, “Precious” and “Boomer”.

Ebo Barton

Director of Housing Services, He/Him

Ebo (he/him) is an advocate, community cultural worker, and accomplished creative with a profound impact on social justice, housing advocacy, and the arts. As the Director of Housing Services at Lavender Rights Project, Ebo ensures safe and inclusive housing, while also holding a key position on the Seattle Social Housing Developer Board, driving social housing initiatives in the Pacific Northwest. Ebo's influence expands through their role as a Community Board Advisor for Creative Justice NW, utilizing the arts for transformative social change and empowering youth voices. As a Washington State LGBTQ Commissioner, Ebo contributes invaluable insights to policies affecting the LGBTQ community. Beyond these commitments, Ebo Barton's celebrated prowess as a poet and creative is evident through their portfolio of published works and awards, highlighting their thought-provoking and evocative storytelling approach.

Ikál Nico Quintana

Lead Attorney, He/They

Ikál (he/they) is a transgender, non-binary, indigenous and Latinx defense attorney and abolitionist. Ikál is a lead attorney at LRP specializing in criminal legal defense work. Prior to coming to LRP, Ikál was a Public Defender at King County and provided legal defense representation and support to people accused of crimes. Before working as Public Defender, Ikál was a policy advocate and community organizer with Basic Rights Oregon and the DC trans Coalition. Ikál loves cooking amazing food, spending time with his Great Dane puppy, and being out in nature.

Ariyah Jané Albert

Community Counselor, She/Her

Ariyah (She/Her) is a Black trans woman from Montgomery, Alabama. She has spent the majority of her professional life working in DEI education, public, and community relations. Ariyah has a deep love for equity and supporting local non-profits that are bringing resources and programming to communities that otherwise could not. She was led to Seattle, Washington to pastor a trans saint ministry with the Liberation United Church of Christ; from there, Ariyah began providing direct supportive housing services to marginalized community members. Ariyah is extremely passionate about whole person care and acknowledging the connection between an individual's experiences and their health. She is excited to be joining the Lavender Rights Project and supporting her siblings of Trans, Queer/Gender Non-conforming experience.

Angel Patterson

Development Director In-Training, He/They

Angel (he/they) is a trans, non-binary, sunny Southern California transplant. His hospitality mindset, love for community work, and passion for creating events have brought them to LRP. Angel earned their bachelor's degree in hospitality at San Jose State University where they also had the pleasure to work with other LGBTQIA+ orgs in the Bay Area. Angel's vision for all of his projects is to create experiences that are inclusive, impactful, educational, and memorable. Angel can be found either on the hunt for the best new vegan eats in the city, at a concert, or curled up on the couch with tea and a movie they have watched 1000 times before!

Daniel Hlad

Interim Development Director, He/Him

Daniel (He/Him) is a seasoned Fund Development, Communications, and Marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience rooting external relations practices in a mission-driven framework. He has raised and leveraged millions of dollars to create anchor community assets like affordable housing, nonprofit community space, Black led small businesses, equitable food systems, art and cultural resources, and to confront homelessness and poverty. He also has a deep personal and professional history working in partnership with transgender/gender diverse communities fighting for equality and justice through much of his career.  He is inspired to get the opportunity to contribute to building the Fund Development expertise of LRP staff and help shepherd a new generation of Trans leadership with this Interim Development Director position.

A proud native Clevelander, Daniel spent 22 years navigating the San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit landscape before relocating to Palm Springs, CA in 2021. He lives there with his husband Sean and their very old, very spoiled hound dog Willie Nelson.

Farren Rice

Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator, She/Her

Farren (she/her) is a Black trans performing artist, producer, writer and musician from Huntsville, Alabama. As LRP's Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, she hopes that by providing resources and representing her community she can empower queer people in all stages of their transition. She believes that through advocacy, education and mentorship, healing can begin. 

Mataoe Nevils

Communications Manger, They/Them

Mataoe (they/them) is a dynamic and versatile advocate who embodies a passion for uplifting transgender and gender-expansive individuals. As a Multi-Hyphenated Human, they seamlessly integrate their educator, advocate, and community builder roles to create a profound impact. With a steadfast dedication to inclusivity and accessibility, they have a proven history of designing TRANSformative experiences that empower marginalized communities and build collective power through storytelling and narrative building.

Mataoe’s journey as an advocated began in 2016, ingited by a deep rooted awareness of the critical disparities faced by transgender and gender-expansive people in healthcare, mental health, and sex work. Combining lived experience, clinical expertise, and corporate acumen, they champion progressive polices, cultural shifts, and comprehensive trans-focused education.

Amari Leach

Project Coordinator, He/Him

Mr. Amari Leach (he/him) Is Strong Black Man, born and raised in Louisville, KY, and now resides in Seattle. He is passionate about using his voice to help others. He is a Human Rights and Youth/Trans Youth Advocate, a Spiritual Energy Raiser, an Educator on Real Black History & Real Issues In Our Community, and an Animal Rights and Disability Rights advocate. He stands for truth, unity and the power of helping each other grow and learn. Through his powerful voice, he Is able to help shift mindsets & share perspectives of folks who are often overlooked. His main goals are helping youth find, protect, and keep their voices, while helping them utilize it with their parents & in life. He also helps parents understand the importance of creating a safe space for their children to be speak their truth with love and acceptance being returned. He is a podcast host of his show, Tea With T™Talks With Mr. Amari Leach, an award winning graphic design artist ( Mother George's Brew-Lavender Rights Project x Metier Brewing CO), and a panel/keynote speaker, mentor/teacher, business owner, songwriter, author. 

"How we heal ourselves will show & glow through the next generations, they need to see us healed so they can have a future & see themselves healed"-Mr. Amari Leach
"I am changing the world one sip at a time"-Mr. Amari Leach

Nicole Lynn Ó Catháin

IT Specialist, She/Her

Nicole (Nicki) is a Black trans activist currently living in Seattle with her wife and their family. Previously a resident of Dallas and a Marine Corps veteran, she is now the IT Specialist for the Lavender Rights Project. She has been featured in 2 books where she talks about her activism for the trans military community and her transition in Texas. If you’re ever looking for Nicki, she can usually be seen waving the trans pride flag at each home match for the Seattle-area women’s soccer team, Seattle Reign FC.

Ellison Jennings

Housing Community Liaison, She/Her

Elle (she/her) is an active member of the PNW BIPOC community. A born and raised Texan, she moved to Washington after graduation. Her main principles are hospitality management, music performance (oboist), and is the proud Dutchess of the House of Noir, one of Seattle's premiere ballroom houses. Elle possesses a chill and collected personality, well-balanced by hyper spontaneity. She can be found hunting for the next spectacular place to eat, or out supporting nightlife performing arts. Elle is ecstatic about being a part of a community that aids and betters its own, which is why she is a member of the Black Trans Task Force.

Renee Jarreau

Black Trans Advocacy, She/Her/They

Renee Jarreau (she/they) is a DJ, producer, and musician from Everett WA, based in Seattle. She has been providing services for racialized LGBTQ populations professionally since 2013. Besides their work with the Task Force, they are the founder of Darqness Seattle Queer & Trans People of Color Arts Collective and the creator of @PayBlkTrnsWomen.

Sabrina Rodriguez

Paralegal, They/She

Sabrina (they/she) is a paralegal with the Lavender Rights Project who worked advocating for immigrants prior to joining LRP. Originally growing up in Southern California and Eastern Washington, Sabrina is now based in Tacoma, where they can be found haunting local coffee shops or at home cooking Mexican food with their cats.