Yalda started as a Chef Partner at Feast World Kitchen, and is enrolled at Eastern Washington University working on a Masters in Public Health. A former Refugee from Afghanistan herself, Yalda enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is now engaged on our Table Time staff helping newly arriving families get settled in Spokane.

Matt holds a Masters’ Degree in Nonprofit Management from Gonzaga University. He works in insurance, and spends his time raising six kids with his wife Lauren just up the hill from Feast. He’s a co-leader of The Common Well, a house church rethinking how faith communities are rooted in neighborhoods and networks of friendships.

Pingala, originally from Bhutan, is a strong advocate alongside former Refugees in Spokane. She is a staff member at Thrive International and the founder of the Mahima Project, a network that uplifts former refugee women. Her hobbies include creative cooking (sometimes at Feast!), listening to music, traveling with family, and meeting friends.

Originally from Darfur State in western Sudan, Ibrahim has been in Spokane since 2013. He has been married to his wife Zenab since 1996, and is the proud father of seven children. In addition to cooking savory foods, Ibrahim is a confectioner, specializing in brittle and bark desserts and candies. He enjoys reading.

Luke is a nonprofit leader, journalist, and organizer in Spokane. Formerly Arts & Culture Editor of The Inlander and co-founder of Terrain, Luke is a founding board member of Feast Collective, creator of local media company Range, and co-founder of Spokane Worker’s Cooperative. Luke lives with his wife Ginger Ewing and their pugs.

During the day you can find Sue in the halls of Spokane First Presbyterian Church where her work is to greet newcomers and help connect them to the church’s community and neighborhood. Sue’s favorite things include eating delicious food, hot summer days, traveling, time with family, and walks with her four legged buddy, Oskar.

Patricia, originally from Venezuela, is a strong leader alongside Immigrant communities in Spokane. Aside from her work as a chef partner and board member at Feast, she has also served as a leader within World Relief Spokane, Manzanita House, Latinas en Spokane, Centro de Orientacion Familiar, and Mujeres in Action. She is now Executive Director of Manzanita House. Pat lives with her two teenage daughters.

Maisa is originally from Jordan, and leads dozens of former Refugee and Immigrant Chef Partners. Maisa was a co-founder of this work alongside Feast’s original board. She has also worked as a teacher and interpreter within Spokane Public Schools. She and her husband Mohammad recently bought a home, where they are raising their four children.

Sajda is raising two young boys with her husband Chad. A founding Feast board member, and currently transitioning into a catering and events manager role, she has a wealth of experience working with former Refugees in Spokane in her previous role with World Relief and her current role with Thrive International. She has lived experience having fled Iraq as a refugee earlier in her life.

Ross has worked to build community in Spokane’s Lower South Hill neighborhood for the past decade, including work with First Presbyterian Church organizing teams that welcome Refugee families. He also owned a food truck in the neighborhood, and eventually combined these passions to co-found Feast World Kitchen with several other neighbors. Ross lives with his wife Autumn and their three daughters.

A former coffee shop manager, you’ll find Tom at Feast always helping chef partner families, staff, and volunteers provide a great experience for our customers — all while learning and having fun together! Tom has a degree in trombone performance, and he has played in all sorts of musical ensembles, from ska bands to orchestras. He loves spending time at home with his wife Maddie and their cat.

Laura has worked at Avista for over 22 years, currently serving as Director of Culture, Diversity and People Services. A former Refugee herself originally from Vietnam, she is passionate about building a more inclusive community and helping young women and under-represented individuals build confidence to be effective advocates for themselves. She lives in Spokane with her husband Andy.

Now retired, David served as a Professor of Management at Gonzaga University’s School of Business Administration for over 35 years. With lived experience himself as an Immigrant from South Asia, he also brings a wealth of expertise and wisdom in small business formation and development, management, and much more. Dave lives in Spokane with his wife Shareen, and loves spending time with his children and grandchildren.