Meet our Team.

Erwin Weary, Sr.-
​erwin@blackcoffeenw.com  CEO

Erwin Weary is the CEO of Black Coffee Northwest.  He was born and raised in Yakima Washington.  Erwin is passionate about community building, social justice, technology, playing and listening to music, sports, building large scale radio-controlled cars, show cars and barbeque grilling.  Erwin enjoys uniting people from different backgrounds to discuss, strategize and implement change to systemic issues that plague communities.    
He's also created and developed an award-winning drumline that performed in tandem with the nationally recognized Northside Step Team.   
Black Coffee Northwest will provide our Black youth a safe place, resources and access to opportunities while serving the community amazing coffee drinks, pastries, exciting events and more! ​

Ambree Cobb-
Social Media Mgr

Ranice Innocent-
​baristas@blackcoffeenw.com
​Director of Coffee

Ranice will serve as the Director of Coffee​. At Black Coffee Northwest, Ranice will help train new baristas on the art of making delicious espresso drinks and assist in hiring and overseeing staff. Ranice is a National Board Certified 
First Grade Teacher with a Masters Degree in Education.
Ranice is BLM Leader and a Racial & Social Justice Educator that will help train staff in disrupting and dismantling racist and oppressive systems. 
Ranice is an experienced barista with over 20 years of experience working for: 
Espresso Elegance Catering, Nordstrom Ebar, and Starbucks. 
At Black Coffee Northwest, Ranice will help train new baristas on the art of making delicious espresso drinks and assist in hiring and overseeing staff.

Darnesha Weary-
​darnesha@blackcoffeenw.com
Operations Director

Nataisia Hambidge-
Enviro Specialist

Nataisia will serve as the Environmental Specialist for Black Coffee NW. Nataisia also serves as the CO president of the environmental club at Shorecrest High School. Nataisia has been a member of the Northside Step Team for 10 years. Nataisia is on the National Honor Society, Advanced Leadership, Swim team and Flag Team. The  combination of these activities has given her a sense of leadership, respect, community, and pride. Nataisia's goal at BCNW is to minimize waste, maximize resources, save energy and hopefully instill earth saving practices to last a lifetime by educating and involving the community in her efforts. 

Ricardo Innocent-
creative@blackcoffeenw.com
Creative/ Marketing Director

Ricardo will serve as the Creative/ Marketing Director. Ricardo is an experienced photographer with over 15 years of experience, in taking photos (both digital and film). As Creative Director, Ricardo will assist in managing all things creative at Black Coffee Northwest. Conceiving and implementing concepts, guidelines and strategies in various creative projects and overseeing them to completion. Evaluating and developing our marketing strategy and marketing plan. Specific duties include (but are not limited to) helping in planning company advertisements, monitoring brand campaigns, creating and updating the company website, and using various photographic techniques to help propel branding. 
​

Mikayla Weary-
President

Dawn Hamid-
Outreach Director

Dawn Hamid will serve as the Community Outreach Director for Black Coffee NW. She has experience working in retail, insurance, hospitality, non profits serving high risk groups, and construction. Dawn loves watching people authenticate and discover their own true strengths. Dawn’s primary focus while serving as Community Outreach Director is to utilize her gift of networking to create relationships with people who share the same goals and visions as ours, while creating a family that is focused on equality, respect, healthy living and empowerment of our youth. In Dawn’s own words, 
“It takes an empire and I am more than grateful to be a part of building it.”

Malikye Innocent-
Assistant Creative Director

Malikye will serve as the Assistant Creative Director. Malikye has various experience with technology that includes: branding, designing logos, creating videos & slide shows with special effects, and making newsletters. Malikye will assist others with marketing needs and/or projects for Black Coffee Northwest. 

Cedella Dean- President

Cedella will serve as one of the Presidents at Black Coffee Northwest.  My Dad and I noticed there were no black owned coffee shops in Shoreline, or any Black Owned businesses that we were aware of.  We decided to try and start a coffee shop in Shoreline called Black Coffee.  We found a place and reached out to our friends to see if they wanted to start the business, and of course they did.  Darnesha has been an important part of my life ever since I joined the Northside Step Team when I was 3 years old.  Darnesha helped me find my voice and become an activist.  I am excited to volunteer at Black Coffee until I am old enough to work there.  I am happy there will be a safe place for my and other black and brown youth to hang out at and feel comfortable.  I love a white chocolate mocha, and can’t wait to start making my own drinks at Black Coffee Northwest.  I am also excited to see what Black Coffee can not only do to help me but can do to help other black people to start their own businesses.

Amelia Johnson- 
Visual Arts Procurement Coordinator

Amelia Johnson will serve as the Black Coffee NW Visual Arts Procurement Coordinator.
Amelia is a member of the Black Lives Matter Shoreline Leadership Team and is a race and equity advocate & enthusiast.
Amelia is an an anti-racism activist and currently works as a registrar for Shoreline Public Schools. 
Amelia has 5+ years of experience as a barista and cafe manager, 10 years experience as a financial advisor, and 7 years experience with a non profit youth sports organization as an administrator.

Keaira Johnson-
​Puppy Merchandiser