We are Mentor Seattle.
Our
Founder
Bishop Ivy Gaines
Bishop Ivy Gaines was released from federal custody in 2021 after serving 20 years of a 183-year sentence. Since then, he has dedicated his life to bringing his transformational journey to the world by founding Mentor Seattle, Inc. His mission is to leverage the power of mentorship, education, and mindfulness to address the root causes of violence and distrust in society.
While inside, he faced numerous challenges and setbacks, including 19 unsuccessful attempts at parole. Despite these obstacles, he never lost hope. He devoted himself to studying law, spending 18 years honing his legal knowledge and advocating for his freedom. During this time, he also recognized the profound impact of mentorship and education on reducing violence and fostering positive behavioral change. Drawing from his own experiences, he created programs for the inmate population at six institutions for over 20 years, focusing on mindfulness training, independent thinking, and conflict resolution. These programs achieved remarkable success, leading to a 17% reduction in violence, including inmate-on-staff and inmate-on-inmate incidents.
Inspired by this transformative work, he realized that the same principles could be applied to rebuilding trust and fostering positive relationships in the broader community. With over 23 years of active service in creating, delivering, designing, and facilitating programs, Mentor Seattle now stands as a beacon of hope and progress, committed to reimagining the future of law enforcement and community engagement.
Our People
Craig Means
Chief Strategy Officer mentorseattlecso@gmail.com
Craig Means is a distinguished entrepreneur with extensive experience in business development, negotiations, and conflict resolution. He earned his MBA summa cum laude from the Forbes School of Business and Technology at the University of Arizona, Global Campus.
Craig is renowned for his commitment to excellence and his belief that diligence and persistence are fundamental to success. His leadership has been pivotal in building successful ventures across both startups and established firms. Craig’s dedication to transformative impact aligns seamlessly with his passion for fostering personal growth, social equity, and community resilience.
Joan Trower brings a wealth of experience and resilience to her role. Having served two prison sentences, she has successfully overcome substance use disorder and navigated the complex journey of reunifying with her children and family. Joan's expertise spans a wide array of operational, accounting, administrative, and business management areas. Her strengths lie in her broad understanding, ability to translate data into actionable insights, and her reliability in delivering desired outcomes.
A collaborative team player with an ownership mentality, Joan has a proven track record of delivering high-quality strategic solutions and driving business growth. Her international and cross-functional experience provides her with a unique perspective, enabling her to fully understand problems and propose creative solutions. Joan is an analytical, organized, and detail-oriented professional with senior-level experience across various industries. Drawing on her lived experiences, she is committed to meaningful work, using an authentic and mindful approach that balances personal well-being with community impact.
Joan Trower
Chief Operations Officer mentorseattleops@gmail.com
Cheryl Lee
Vice President, Programs mentorseattleprograms@gmail.com
Cheryl Lee is an expert educator, facilitator, and life coach with over 14 years of experience in creating high-impact learning experiences. Having been on a spectacular ride in her life journey filled with ups, downs, life and intergenerational traumas, she believes in supporting herself and others to play big instead of small, shine instead of shrink, and step into courage to rewrite their stories as Divine, Conscious Beings of Choice.
Through facilitating powerful conversations to build and transform relationships with the Self and Others, she helps individuals and organizations not just become more value-aligned and purpose-driven, but to also contribute to a more just and humane world.
Alyesha Villalobos
Vice President, Business Development mentorseattlebizdev@gmail.com
Alyesha Villalobos graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Social Services from Central Washington University. She has worked over the last 10 years in the health care and social service industry, providing direct services to the most vulnerable members of our community.
Alyesha has held many roles within social justice organizations, such as a social service coordinator for re-entry facilities assisting individuals who were previously incarcerated assimilate back into their communities. She has first-hand experience with supporting humans in finding their way forward in life to thrive. Alyesha’s compassion for people allows her to support and guide clients to finding a healthy balance within their everyday lives.
Kanani Atofau
Youth Programs Coordinator
Kanani Atofau embodies resilience and a relentless pursuit of change. Despite a life marked by profound trauma, including physical, mental, and emotional abuse, homelessness, and the loss of both parents to the streets, Kanani is dedicated to reminding us all of our shared humanity and the potential for a brighter, more just future.
From a young age, Kanani was thrust into survival mode, learning the harsh realities of street life at just seven years old. Her parents, caught in a cycle of incarceration and a desperate hustle for survival, left Kanani with a fragmented education and a turbulent upbringing. The tragic loss of her mother at 13 and her father's intermittent presence due to imprisonment compounded her struggles. Kanani's brother's experience with police brutality further underscored the systemic issues her family faced.
These experiences, however, did not define her. Instead, they fueled her determination to break the cycle of generational trauma and to seek stability and knowledge independently. Kanani's journey of self-education and adaptation has made her a passionate advocate for change. She is deeply committed to her community, driven by an ambition to foster better opportunities and to address the persistent issues of social injustice and inequity.
Kanani's life story is a testament to her indomitable spirit and her belief in the power of collective care and empathy. She stands as an independent and strong alpha female, ready to mentor others facing similar challenges and to inspire change through her lived experiences.
Mauriceo Dawson
Mentoring Lead
Mauriceo Dawson serves as the Mentoring Lead at Mentor Seattle Inc., bringing over 21 years of experience with the City of Seattle. Raised with strong morals by a father who was a respected corrections officer in King County, Mauriceo grew up with a deep understanding of discipline and service to the community. This foundation has fueled his passion for mentoring youth, particularly those in challenging circumstances. He connects with youth through shared interests in sports and music, and his lived experience provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges they face. As a mentor, Mauriceo leverages his professional background and personal insights to support incarcerated youth, helping them develop resilience and a positive outlook for their future. He is also a former member of the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative Change Team, reflecting his commitment to equity and social justice in his work and mentorship.
Michael Yates
Director of Arts/Entertainment & Media
Michael Yates was born in Alaska and raised in Port Orchard, Washington. He graduated from South Kitsap High School in 2000 with a 3.0 GPA. However, his life took a challenging turn when he was incarcerated in the Washington Department of Corrections, followed by a federal prison sentence for 14 years. After nearly two decades in the system, Michael spent three years in a halfway house, striving to rebuild his life.
Transitioning back into society after such a long incarceration was extremely difficult. Michael faced numerous obstacles, including homelessness and financial instability. His turning point came when he connected with a nonprofit organization named Weld, which provided him with crucial support and guidance. Through Weld's works program and mentorship from Bishop Ivy Gaines, Michael began to see his potential and the impact his story could have on youth facing similar struggles.
Today, Michael is engaged, fully employed, and working towards his peer counselor certificate. He collaborates with Mentor Seattle, leveraging his experiences to create positive change within the system and develop innovative ways to assist those in need of guidance and support. Michael is dedicated to having a positive impact on the community, offering hope and encouragement to individuals who feel overwhelmed by life's challenges. He aims to let them know that they are not alone and that there are people who genuinely care about their success and well-being in all aspects of life.
Contact Us
mentorseattleinfo@gmail.com