Community advocacy council members

The Community Advocacy Council (CAC) is a space that was created in June 2024. The council is made up of community leaders who serve and represent communities most impacted by environmental injustices around the Puget Sound.

The CAC offers a space for us to come up with ideas, collaborate, and share decision-making with council members to achieve shared priorities. Members bring lived and professional expertise to the table as well as strong relationships to communities across Puget Sound, which is essential to help implement initiatives related to the Healthy Environments for All Act. Our hope is that one result of this work addresses the inequities of power in resources and decision-making. Find the biographies of some of our council members below.

CAC members

Normae Mendoza

Normae is a dual citizen of the UK and USA and currently serves as First Lady of the Filipino American Association of Kitsap County. Normae believes in supporting marginalized communities and aims to provide outreach to different communities through tapping into resources that can provide a fair distribution of wealth and support amongst citizens that don't have the necessary means to gain access.

Mic

Mic is a Tacoma resident of 9 years who is passionate about interconnected and interdependent local communities and non car-centered infrastructure among other things. They are a new member of the council as of August 2025 and are also connected with Tacoma Sharing Community, Remakery, and Tacoma Tree Foundation. You can find them puttering in their garden or riding their bright yellow e-bike around town.

Jewel Shepherd-Sampson

Jewel is a native of Bremerton. Early childhood accomplishments include starting The Black Youth Organization under Blacks in Government, Founder of Bridge Builders Multicultural Club at Marcus Whitman JH, President at Marcus Whitman JH, and BSU President at Bremerton High. These early achievements are listed because young people need to know that they can make a positive impact on the world while young. Some current organizations include: Elected State Rep 26th Legislative District, Precinct Committee Officer, Equity Board for Puget Sound Regional Council and several other board positions. Jewel is the Founder and Director of Kitsap Black Student Union.

Contact us

Do you have a resource to suggest that we add to this list? Do you have questions about any of these resources? Send us a note at environmental.justice@psp.wa.gov.

Last updated: 08/17/26