ABOUT US

Jason Clark is a Father, mentor as well as Director and Consultant for Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM).

As an Equity and Justice Advocate for King County Superior Court, Jason utilized his skills set to sharpen the Procedural Justice lens of the largest trial court in the state of Washington, through training all staff and judicial officers, policy advocacy and building alternatives to incarceration for King County Juvenile Court Services. As a Project Manager for the City of Seattle, Jason was laser focused on growing the leadership of various government depts and community partnerships through Racial Equity, Experiential Learning Theory, and Healing Centered Engagement.

A major focus of his work prior to starting NWCM was the Equity Impact Review, ensuring that equity impacts were the focus and consideration of the design and implementation of proposed actions of Superior Court programs and projects impacting target communities, undoing institutional barriers and archaic policies and procedures negatively impacting local communities.

Jason utilizes his personal and professional experience to build bridges of transformation between communities and systems throughout Washington and is laser-focused on justice reform.

Paul Sanders is the Creative Director and a lead producer for Northwest Credible Messenger, overseeing NWCM’s creative strategy and visual storytelling across Washington State. He shapes the brand’s voice and look while producing documentary-style content, interviews, and campaign media that highlights NWCM’s programs and partnerships.

By combining creative leadership with on-the-ground production, Paul helps translate community impact into stories that resonate—supporting violence prevention efforts, behavioral health access, and reentry pathways with messaging built on dignity and truth.

Khalia Williams-O’Neal graduated from Seattle University with a degree in Communication and Media with a Specialization in Journalism, and a minor in Criminal Justice.

Motivated by storytelling, Khalia is passionate about empowering the voices of those historically silenced. As an Educational Program lead, Khalia led videography projects with elementary age youth to create documentaries from their perspectives. As a Program Manager at Evergreen Goodwill of Seattle, she led DEI trainings for employers in Maritime welcoming youth from under-resourced communities to their workplace. Now at Northwest Credible Messenger, Khalia leads the Healthy Masculinity Curriculum Project to empower the voice of BIPOC youth to discuss the impacts of media, culture, and relationships in defining the future of masculinity for our communities.

Throughout her work, Khalia is focused on uplifting youth voice to expand opportunities for well-being, empowerment, and success.

Marj Clayton is the Finance and Contract Manager, bringing more than 40 years of accounting experience to the organization. She manages financial operations, contract management, and compliance, ensuring the company’s resources are managed with accuracy, transparency, and integrity. With a long career dedicated to strengthening financial systems, Marj supports the organization’s social‑activist mission by ensuring its financial foundation remains strong, ethical, and aligned with its values.

“My “WHY” is to bring those from the margins to the center of the work.” Through the Khmer proverb: “It takes a spider to repair its own web”, Johnny Cheng practices commitment to the youth with the same love and compassion as my own children.

Johnny’s informal beginning as a Credible Messenger began through Khmer in Action, with the goal to bring equity and social justice to the Cambodian community. Recognizing the siloed effort, Johnny’s goal became to join a consortium of like-minded partners to empower all marginalized communities.

As a Credible Messenger ambassador, Johnny truly believes that community change is rooted in healing, and that journey begins within.

“As a creative I know that innovation breeds progress, and a ‘trust in the process’”.

Luther is a dynamic Seattleite, former scholarship QB at UW who finished with a Bachelor’s in Communications and a minor in business in 2012.  However, after graduation, Luther found himself serving 2 years in the Justice System. With this misstep Luther took the time to study the socioeconomic conditions that create the systems that impact his community and vowed to become a change agent. 

After arming himself with this knowledge and understanding, Luther began the work of using his natural leadership abilities and communication skills as a creative impresario to produce different forms of media that will amplify and elevate Black and Brown marginalized voices.

As an athlete Luther understands the power of play, unity and teamwork; and the possibilities it can create to incite change within a culture. As a credible messenger Luthers goal is to shift systematic narratives from inequality to equity fully committed to restorative Justice.