Douglas A Houck (he/him), President

Douglas Houck (he/him) is a gay man who worked on the team that sponsored Onics' resettlement into the US. Through that experience he learned of Onics' continued leadership of MAREPA from afar. Douglas has deep compassion for queer people especially those coming from conservative religious backgrounds which judged and condemned people for being queer and forcing them to reorient their sexuality.

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Ben Robinson (he/him), Secretary

Ben works in development for a global humanitarian aid organization serving refugees and displaced people. Prior to this work, Ben was the pastor of a progressive LBGTQIA+ faith community in Pierce County. In 2020 Ben and Onics were put in touch during a time when MAREPA had insufficient funds to continue. The church provided MAREPA with financial and administrative support to help create a donor base that could support operations of the Nairobi safehouse. As a result of their friendship, Onics was resettled in Tacoma where a group from the church played the same function as community groups enrolling in Welcome Corps. 

 

McKinley McPheeters (they/them), Treasurer

McKinley is a trans nonbinary and disabled advocate, coach and consultant, and joined the MAREPA Board as Treasurer in 2024, compelled by a deep alignment between their values and the mission of the organization. They have an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Trauma and Resilience, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Residing in Pierce County for 8 years, McKinley is passionate about supporting individuals and families. 

 

W. Preston Woodall (he/him), Board Member

Having served twenty two years as a physician with the US Public Health Service and US Air Force, Preston is now a pastor in the Presbyterian Church, USA, living in the state of Washington. As a gay man, he celebrates the diversity of God’s creation and recognizes the intrinsic value of supporting the marginalized and vulnerable.