WHO WE ARE
Aya is a community governed, nonprofit membership corporation that exists to support other individuals and organizations in the retention and development of land.
Cassandra Williams
Board President
Latasha Palmer (she/her) is a lifelong resident of Tacoma and a proud homeowner in Hilltop, deeply committed to advocating for her community. Her work centers on the solidarity economy, emergent strategies, reparative spatial justice, and community-centric fundraising to advance housing access, self-sustainability, and a built environment that reflects Hilltop’s unique cultural heritage. Holding a B.A. in African American and African Diaspora Studies from Columbia University, Latasha leverages her expertise in urban planning and cultural competency to support Hilltop’s residents and organizations. She has served on the board of the Hilltop Action Coalition, where she championed neighborhood initiatives, and most recently, on the 2024 Tacoma Charter Review, contributing to policies that impact the city’s future. Always learning and engaged, Latasha is often found taking intriguing classes, attending community events, exploring Tacoma with her three children, and getting into “good trouble” as she works to create positive change in her community.
Brendan Nelson
Executive Director
Brendan Nelson is a key community leader in Tacoma's Hilltop, having served as President of the Hilltop Action Coalition (HAC), where he advocated for equitable development and support for local businesses. Under his leadership, HAC addressed community challenges, including gentrification, through initiatives like business crawls, which draw support to Black-owned and historic businesses in Hilltop. Nelson also serves as Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry at Peace Lutheran Church, where he furthers community resilience through outreach programs. Additionally, as a member of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Economic Development Board, Nelson has worked on regional strategies to promote inclusive economic growth, while his position on the board of Sound Outreach has enabled him to drive financial empowerment initiatives for Hilltop residents. His "centrification" approach emphasizes resident inclusion in neighborhood transformation to prevent displacement and create developments that benefit existing residents, ensuring a community-centered future for Hilltop.
TaNeashia Sudds
Board Vice President
Sandra Daniels has devoted over 40 years to strengthening Tacoma’s Hilltop community, holding impactful roles in social services and advocacy for the State of Washington. As the Business & Infrastructure Lead Program Manager with the Department of Social and Health Services, Sandra has played a key role in coordinating resources and advancing program management. A respected community leader, she has held multiple leadership positions within Hilltop organizations. Sandra currently chairs the Black History Activities Committee for B.U.I.L.D. (Blacks United In Leadership Diversity), where she led the 2023 statewide Black History Program at Evergreen Tacoma. She has also been an executive board member of Ray Gibson’s Caballeros Club since 2020 and actively supported her daughter, Kiara Daniels, in the “Love Our City” campaign during her 2021 City Council run. Her dedication to empowering women is evident in her participation in the 18-week “Table Talks” at the Colored Women’s Club in 2018, fostering community dialogue and support.
Jimese Harkley
Board Secretary
Dionne Bonner is a Tacoma-based designer, muralist, and painter whose work is driven by research, observation, open dialogue, and reflection. Her vibrant paintings and murals, created in oil, acrylic, or mixed media, focus on telling impactful stories of people and places. Through her storytelling lens, Dionne brings depth to her art, highlighting diverse cultures with joyful narratives, dynamic energy, and an empowering vision. She is a graduate of both the Art Institute of Seattle and Evergreen State College, where she honed her artistic skills and approach to community-centered art. Over the years, Dionne has collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and fellow artists, making her work widely recognized in Tacoma and beyond. Inspired from a young age by a family of artists, musicians, and writers, she began painting and drawing early on, nurturing her talent in a creative household that still influences her impactful artistic voice.
Brian Neal Sr.
Chair, Finance Committee
Sandra Daniels has devoted over 40 years to strengthening Tacoma’s Hilltop community, holding impactful roles in social services and advocacy for the State of Washington. As the Business & Infrastructure Lead Program Manager with the Department of Social and Health Services, Sandra has played a key role in coordinating resources and advancing program management. A respected community leader, she has held multiple leadership positions within Hilltop organizations. Sandra currently chairs the Black History Activities Committee for B.U.I.L.D. (Blacks United In Leadership Diversity), where she led the 2023 statewide Black History Program at Evergreen Tacoma. She has also been an executive board member of Ray Gibson’s Caballeros Club since 2020 and actively supported her daughter, Kiara Daniels, in the “Love Our City” campaign during her 2021 City Council run. Her dedication to empowering women is evident in her participation in the 18-week “Table Talks” at the Colored Women’s Club in 2018, fostering community dialogue and support.
Latasha Palmer
Board Member
Dionne Bonner is a Tacoma-based designer, muralist, and painter whose work is driven by research, observation, open dialogue, and reflection. Her vibrant paintings and murals, created in oil, acrylic, or mixed media, focus on telling impactful stories of people and places. Through her storytelling lens, Dionne brings depth to her art, highlighting diverse cultures with joyful narratives, dynamic energy, and an empowering vision. She is a graduate of both the Art Institute of Seattle and Evergreen State College, where she honed her artistic skills and approach to community-centered art. Over the years, Dionne has collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and fellow artists, making her work widely recognized in Tacoma and beyond. Inspired from a young age by a family of artists, musicians, and writers, she began painting and drawing early on, nurturing her talent in a creative household that still influences her impactful artistic voice.
Kiss'Shonna Curtis
Co-Chair, Outreach Committee
Sandra Daniels has devoted over 40 years to strengthening Tacoma’s Hilltop community, holding impactful roles in social services and advocacy for the State of Washington. As the Business & Infrastructure Lead Program Manager with the Department of Social and Health Services, Sandra has played a key role in coordinating resources and advancing program management. A respected community leader, she has held multiple leadership positions within Hilltop organizations. Sandra currently chairs the Black History Activities Committee for B.U.I.L.D. (Blacks United In Leadership Diversity), where she led the 2023 statewide Black History Program at Evergreen Tacoma. She has also been an executive board member of Ray Gibson’s Caballeros Club since 2020 and actively supported her daughter, Kiara Daniels, in the “Love Our City” campaign during her 2021 City Council run. Her dedication to empowering women is evident in her participation in the 18-week “Table Talks” at the Colored Women’s Club in 2018, fostering community dialogue and support.
Jason Carroll
Chair, Professional Development
Dionne Bonner is a Tacoma-based designer, muralist, and painter whose work is driven by research, observation, open dialogue, and reflection. Her vibrant paintings and murals, created in oil, acrylic, or mixed media, focus on telling impactful stories of people and places. Through her storytelling lens, Dionne brings depth to her art, highlighting diverse cultures with joyful narratives, dynamic energy, and an empowering vision. She is a graduate of both the Art Institute of Seattle and Evergreen State College, where she honed her artistic skills and approach to community-centered art. Over the years, Dionne has collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and fellow artists, making her work widely recognized in Tacoma and beyond. Inspired from a young age by a family of artists, musicians, and writers, she began painting and drawing early on, nurturing her talent in a creative household that still influences her impactful artistic voice.
Sandra Daniels
Co-Chair, Outreach Committee
Sandra Daniels has devoted over 40 years to strengthening Tacoma’s Hilltop community, holding impactful roles in social services and advocacy for the State of Washington. As the Business & Infrastructure Lead Program Manager with the Department of Social and Health Services, Sandra has played a key role in coordinating resources and advancing program management. A respected community leader, she has held multiple leadership positions within Hilltop organizations. Sandra currently chairs the Black History Activities Committee for B.U.I.L.D. (Blacks United In Leadership Diversity), where she led the 2023 statewide Black History Program at Evergreen Tacoma. She has also been an executive board member of Ray Gibson’s Caballeros Club since 2020 and actively supported her daughter, Kiara Daniels, in the “Love Our City” campaign during her 2021 City Council run. Her dedication to empowering women is evident in her participation in the 18-week “Table Talks” at the Colored Women’s Club in 2018, fostering community dialogue and support.
Michele Ogden
Chair, Events & Special Activities
Dionne Bonner is a Tacoma-based designer, muralist, and painter whose work is driven by research, observation, open dialogue, and reflection. Her vibrant paintings and murals, created in oil, acrylic, or mixed media, focus on telling impactful stories of people and places. Through her storytelling lens, Dionne brings depth to her art, highlighting diverse cultures with joyful narratives, dynamic energy, and an empowering vision. She is a graduate of both the Art Institute of Seattle and Evergreen State College, where she honed her artistic skills and approach to community-centered art. Over the years, Dionne has collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and fellow artists, making her work widely recognized in Tacoma and beyond. Inspired from a young age by a family of artists, musicians, and writers, she began painting and drawing early on, nurturing her talent in a creative household that still influences her impactful artistic voice.
Join Us in Membership
Aya’ Community Land Trust is a membership organization.
Membership in a community land trust (CLT) is more than a transaction—it’s a commitment to the idea that everyone deserves stability, dignity, and a voice in the place they call home. Being a member means becoming part of a movement dedicated to transforming the traditional cycles of land ownership and wealth, ensuring that housing remains affordable and accessible for generations to come. In a CLT, members are not just residents but stewards of the community’s shared values and vision. They participate in decisions that safeguard homes from market pressures, keep families rooted, and maintain cultural vibrancy in neighborhoods often threatened by displacement.
As a CLT member, you’re a part of something lasting—a model of housing equity where each vote, idea, and commitment builds a more inclusive community. Membership ensures that residents have the power to shape their surroundings, promoting resilience and hope for future generations. Joining a community land trust is a bold stand for equitable development, fostering sustainable ownership that benefits not just individuals but the whole community. It’s an investment in people, in place, and in the future, affirming that everyone deserves a secure, affordable home.
