Risho is the Executive Director of Mother Africa, an organization she founded in 2004 because of her passion to serve her community and expand opportunities for African refugee and immigrant women. By putting the needs and aspirations of the community first, Mother Africa has been able to create jobs, advocate for community inclusion and racial equity, connect community to valuable resources and influence systems and decision-makers to positively affect African refugees and immigrants in Washington State.

Risho was born and raised in Sudan. She has over 20 years of extensive experience working with local and international nonprofit organizations operating in the field of International development, social change and humanitarian services. Prior to Mother Africa, Risho worked with the Sudan National Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices, Sabah for Street Children services, Canadian Save the Children’s Fund in Khartoum, Oxfam America in Boston, YWCA-South King County, Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) and Lutheran Community Services NW.  She is a community organizer, a health educator, an advocate for victims of domestic violence, a Certified Mental Health Processional (MHP), and a member of the community first and foremost.

Risho is also a volunteer with many organizations that further advance social justice for African women and their families. She is one of the founders of the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders and its former Vice President, co-founder of Living Well Kent, and former board member of the Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence. She served as an Advisory Board member of the Youth Executive of King County, and currently serves as a Community Advisory Board for the Center for Adjustment, Recovery and Resilience (CARRE) as well as the Seattle Foundation N2N Advisory Committee. Risho holds a Masters Degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. When she is not working, Risho enjoys family and friends and likes walking in nature, sewing and cooking.

Colleen holds a MA in International Studies with an Africa regional focus from the Jackson School of International Studies, and a Certificate in Global Health from the Department of Global Health, at University of Washington. She has more than 10 years of nonprofit, community organizing and international development experience in the US, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Colleen joined Mother Africa as a Board Member in 2012 and has continued to grow with organization through many stages of exciting expansion. She is currently the Programs, Operations and Fundraising Director.

Colleen is also the Co-Founder of Autism Compassion Africa, a nonprofit NGO organization that provides breakthroughs for children with autism in Ghana and Nigeria, hosts awareness raising campaigns, and provides professional development in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She is also a Co-Founder of ACA’s sister organization based in Seattle, Autism Compassion Services, which provides ABA services to families and aspires to create long-term stability for ACA in West Africa.

Colleen is passionate about working alongside women and community and believes in the power of women united around any cause. Colleen envisions a world where all people are heard, connected and free to fulfill on their passions in life. Outside of work, Colleen loves to spend time with her family and friends, travel, try all different types of cuisines and dance to afrobeat music.

With a career driven by passion and purpose for over 23 years, Kholoud has dedicated herself to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Starting as an educator in 2002, she has navigated various roles, always seeking to positively impact those around her.

Kholoud holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) specialized in Human Resource Management from the University of Ballarat, Australia. She began her journey with Mother Africa in 2018 as a Community Support Specialist, and as the organization grew from 4 staff members to 32, her dedication and expertise propelled her career forward, earning her a promotion to Senior Program Manager.

At Mother Africa, Kholoud has been instrumental in driving programs forward with her creativity, organizational skills, and dedication. She leads the Environmental Justice program, guiding comprehensive program development and implementation while collaborating with key partners including the Department of Ecology and King County Public Health to co-create program materials and culturally relevant community connections. She oversees the Healthy Homes Project, Fecal Pollution programs, and Clean Water initiatives, all focused on reducing toxic exposure and promoting environmental health and sustainability. Under her leadership, the team won the Partner of the Year award in 2021 for the Safer Healthy Homes project.

Kholoud oversees the Youth Program, which empowers youth and their families through initiatives that foster positive family connections, bridge cultures, and promote holistic growth. She manages the Summer Camp Program, which has engaged over 100 campers annually in themes like health and nutrition, environment, and sports for the past four years. Additionally, she currently oversees a comprehensive sports program serving over 200 youth, providing opportunities in soccer, swimming, hiking, and multiple other sports while supporting her team in delivering these services.

As the Senior Program Manager of the SAFARI team, a program designed to empower community members in navigating complex systems and accessing vital resources, Kholoud supervises and supports program supervisors and case managers in delivering targeted support to vulnerable populations, including seniors and marginalized community members facing challenges such as limited familial support networks, linguistic barriers, and social isolation. Through intensive case management, her team facilitates successful job placements, thereby enhancing the overall stability and self-sufficiency of program participants.

Throughout her career, Kholoud has demonstrated exceptional ability to adapt and thrive in diverse settings, working effectively with various communities and cultures. Her leadership philosophy centers on fostering open, honest relationships with her team, creating safe and supportive environments. Her ultimate mission is to empower clients to achieve financial independence, emotional stability, and the confidence to address life's challenges

Carol Gicheru is a Program Manager at Mother Africa. She was born and raised in Kenya. She holds a BA in Social Communication and Media Studies from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She also holds a Masters in Organizational Leadership from The University of Massachusetts (Global). She has also attended some graduate classes in Communication Leadership at The University of Washington.

She discovered her passion of working in Nonprofit while doing her internship on a joint program between UNICEF Kenya and The Kenyan government, particularly working directly with communities in rural Kenya through different community engagement efforts. After moving to America, she joined Mother Africa in 2018 as a volunteer. She then worked as a case manager for both the SAFARI Program and The Resilient Women’s Group. In 2019, she began working as the Program Coordinator for the Best4Babies program. The program has since expanded to the prenatal to five program at Mother Africa, namely the Flourishing Under Five program, serving different prenatal to five African and Middle Eastern immigrant and/or refugee families living in King County. She now works as a program manager for both the Flourishing Under Five and The Refugee Youth Mentorship Programs at Mother Africa.

Through Mother Africa, Carol’s goal is to continue working in and promoting programs that center specific community voices and unique experiences.

When not working, she enjoys reading fictional books, taking long walks, travelling, baking and watching British and South Korean television.

Originally from Kenya, Eunice Mutua holds an educational background in Human Resources, Psychology, and Counseling. Her professional experience includes supporting Somali women through capacity-building programs focused on conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In Kenya, she also mentored young girls in schools and communities, providing motivational talks and essential sanitation supplies to support dignity and education.

Since moving to the U.S., Eunice has remained active in her community through local centers, her church, and her children’s school PTA. She joined the Mother Africa board in June 2024 and was elected Board President in February 2025. Eunice is passionate about women’s empowerment and community service. She enjoys traveling, connecting with people, spending time with her family, and managing her family business in Kenya.

Amanda Schwartz brings a wealth of experience in global health partnerships, particularly with Ministries of Health across East and West Africa. She holds a B.A. in International Political Economy and African/African American Studies from Fordham University and an M.S. in Law and Public Policy from Northeastern University. She currently works as a Strategy and Implementation Management Officer at the Gates Foundation and is a member of the Think Tank Advisory Board at the Max Foundation.

Amanda joined Mother Africa’s board in 2019, serving as Treasurer and Interim President. Inspired by the care she received from African women abroad and committed to supporting immigrants and refugees in the U.S., she now lives in Seattle and is honored to serve alongside the dedicated women of Mother Africa.

Zoë is a Scientific Community Manager at Sage Bionetworks and holds a B.A. in Biology with an Anthropology minor from Macalester College. She spent 3+ years in Peace Corps Ethiopia and later worked on USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain project. Since joining Mother Africa’s board in 2019, Zoë has served as Communications & Advocacy Chair, Vice President, Secretary, and Vice Secretary. A global-health advocate and champion for women in science, she travels to a new country every year, practices paddle-board yoga, and maintains a 900-day Duolingo streak.

Dr. Bukola Olatunji is a pediatric anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology. She is deeply passionate about children’s and women’s rights, health, and education. Bukola joined the board of Mother Africa in January 2020 and has served as Secretary and Vice President. She continues to be inspired by Mother Africa’s unwavering commitment to empowering immigrant and refugee communities.

Roseline became a Board Member at Mother Africa in 2019 and currently serves as the Vice-President on the Board and chair of the Communications and Advocacy Committee. Roseline first learnt about Mother Africa’s work through the testimony of a beneficiary of one of Mother Africa’s projects, many years ago. As a nurse leader and maternal and child health specialist, Roseline believes that every woman and every child deserve a chance to thrive and excel wherever they are. Being an immigrant woman and mother of 2, she has found Mother Africa a haven to serve and give back to the community.

Roseline holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently pursuing her Masters in Nursing at the University of Arizona. For many years, she has volunteered on non-profit boards in USA and Kenya, where she was born and raised. Roseline currently lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and 2 children.