​Communication. Engagement. Advocacy.
In Swahili, JABALI means strong as a rock – dependable and a voice of reason. It refers to the resilient communities we work with to envision and build a vibrant future.
Outreach that builds enduring relationships with the African American community and communities of color for real transformation.
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Our Covid-19 Response
Covid-19 has impacted the world, and has disproportionately impacted African American communities and communities of color. We share the grief experienced by so many families. Our team is dedicated to helping you communicate on any project or campaign safely and thoughtfully during this time. We use a variety of tools and technologies for connecting with communities while we all stay healthy.
About
For Us, It's Personal
Jabali is a nonprofit organization that partners with government, businesses, universities, foundations and other nonprofits to help you connect with communities of color and hard to serve communities authentically, effectively and respectfully.
Yes, it is personal. This is our community, our family, friends, history and culture. Our long-time relationships with leaders, influencers and neighbors means that when we team up with you, we help you develop messages with impact and deliver them deep into the community. The result is meaningful conversations, measurable outcomes and advocacy that make a difference.
Our passion is helping our communities thrive. Our mission is doing this work with you.
What We Do
How We Do It
The most successful projects and campaigns engage with communities of color and hard to serve communities right from the start. Jabali brings cultural competence and a breadth and depth of communications experience to help you develop effective messages that make a difference.
We use in-person and virtual communication techniques to help you build relationships for meaningful, measurable outcomes.
We speak English and Spanish and work with skilled translators.
Multi-Media Platforms
Our Team
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George Griffin
President and CEO
George brings the deep community understanding and personal relationships that are at the heart of Jabali. He has 25 years of experience developing public affairs, community outreach and media relations strategies for business, government, and community organizations. He’s helped build understanding and community support for major projects including the Seattle Waterfront and Seattle Children’s Hospital. He’s worked closely with Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Public Health-Seattle King County, Sound Transit and the King County Assessor on health, safety, livability issues critical to African American communities and communities of color. George served as deputy chief of staff to Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, then spent two years in Washington, D.C. working on local and national housing issues before starting his own public affairs company.
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George has served on community and nonprofit boards, including the board of trustees for the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Seattle Association, the Central Area Motivation Program, First Place School, Seattle Repertory Theater, Intiman Theater and the Technology Access Foundation.
Damian Cordova
Project Manager
Damian has extensive experience working with communities of color as a small business owner and as former district staff for Congressman Jim McDermott. Born and raised in Seattle, Damian is passionate about community building and is an active volunteer with youth, cultural, and neighborhood organizations. He’s energized and enthusiastic about bringing together businesses, stakeholders and residents to create understanding and support for major projects, such as the Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit and the Seattle Waterfront.
Kalila Griffin
Outreach Specialist
Kalila graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family counseling. She works with Seattle nonprofit organizations, and in educational environments including private elementary schools and two-year colleges. Her passion is building strong, healthy families and communities through counseling, communication and education.
Michael Shannon
Outreach Specialist
Michael Shannon has extensive experience developing and managing business initiatives and public affairs programs in both the public and private sectors. Before starting his own consulting firm, Michael worked with top elected officials including former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell and Congressman Jim McDermott. His areas of expertise include small business and economic development, human services, public health, education, finance and foreign affairs. Michael lives in Renton and has a degree in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Catherine Rivera
Graphic Designer
Catherine Rivera has 31 years of graphic design experience. She has consulted with public agencies and organizations in Washington, California and Florida. Her passion is developing branding and logos, folders, brochures, posters, reports, and event visuals.
Natacha Flateau
Web & Graphic Designer
Natacha Flateau has been a web and graphic designer for more than 25 years. Her passion is turning visions into reality through branding, marketing, product development and web design.
Cassandra Harvey
Information Technology and Project Administration
Cassandra is a highly skilled administrator and information technology professional. She keeps our projects moving, manages our reports and invoices, and keeps our technology up-to-date. She previously worked in information technology at Seattle Public Utilities. Cassandra is a past board member for Seattle Central Community College and the Alvirita Little Center. She was a longtime committee member for the United Negro College Fund and Festival Sundiata at the Seattle Center.
Kathy Mulady
Writer, Editor and Communications
Kathy brings experience in newsrooms, on political campaigns and with nonprofit organizations. More than 20 years as a journalist and a decade managing communications for social justice organizations fuels her passion to fight for racial, gender and economic justice and advocate for strong communities. Kathy oversees our writing and editing and collaborates on communications planning and media relations.
Our Work
How We Do It.
A sample of our long-term and ongoing community outreach.
2021 Clean Fuel Legislation
People of color, especially African American, Native American and Latino communities, tend to live closer to traffic congestion, airports and disproportionately suffer the health impacts of transportation fuels in the environment. We rallied leaders in those communities to contact key legislators, write letters, blog, and testify in support of HB 1091. This legislation will reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuel – and also reduce greenhouse emissions and toxins in the air. The legislation passed and HB 1091 was signed into law.
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Outreach to the African American community, through a virtual and in-person communication strategy, about the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census.
Public Health – Seattle/King County COVID-19
Rapid response outreach to African American communities throughout King County that are experiencing disproportionately high rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths. We’re focusing on paid and earned media; broadcast and social media; flyers and leaflets. We’re partnering with businesses, churches and community centers to assist in outreach.
Seattle Parks
Advocacy and engagement with refugee and immigrant communities to help Seattle Parks better serve the community.
Waterfront Seattle
Conducting outreach to underserved communities for the Waterfront Project since 2012. Public education campaign engages and involves the community through civic events and meetings, ethnic media strategy, and preparing project materials.
Seattle Children's Hospital
In connection with the hospital’s massive expansion plans, we identified key influencers and stakeholders in communities of color to engage, advocate and build support. Deep relationships were formed, creating a lasting partnership.
King County Assessor's Office
Annual outreach and advocacy to communities of color about the property tax exemption for low-income seniors. Outreach through churches, senior centers, and community radio stations.
Seattle Community Police Commission
Completed a deep survey in communities of color regarding issues and concerns about the police department.
Sound Transit: System Expansion Communications and Outreach
As Sound Transit delivers on the historic $54 billion voter-approved Sound Transit 3 system, we engaged African American, Latinx, and Asian communities and provided outreach strategies to support the system expansion on the ground.
Public outreach and civic engagement in multiple languages
Community awareness strategies for diverse communities
Positive and proactive government, agency, and community relations
Media relations (ethnic, social, and traditional mainstream)
Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit
Building awareness for transit project in a dense and rapidly developing corridor across racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Seattle.
· Expansive community outreach
· Manage community relations in highly diverse neighborhoods including Capitol Hill and the Central Area
· Engage and build support in mainstream and ethnic media
Casa Latina
As a result of the comprehensive outreach and engagement plan we implemented, Casa Latina gained community support to successfully relocate its new offices to Jackson Street, and have continued to maintain a supportive relationship with their neighbors.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
