People
Marcus Henderson
Community Programs Manager
Marcus Henderson graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Energy Resources Engineering but quickly pivoted into working on developing the skills needed to develop low-energy intentional agrarian communities outside of the current capitalist paradigm. This search for intentional ways of living led Marcus to Moab, UT where they worked with Community Rebuilds as an intern and then apprentice to learn about natural building and low-income housing development. Outside of Sawhorse, Marcus also works on urban farming projects and building community equity around food. (they/he)
Alyssa Marsh
Finance and Operations Director
Alyssa Marsh comes to Sawhorse with her roots set in Seattle’s Central District along with her family. Her passion for designing and building stems from years of work in the world of architecture, coming most recently from LMN Architects in Seattle, WA. This is matched, at least, with a passion for social justice, equitable opportunities for all, giving back to the community, and—coming from a family of teachers—education. Naturally, Alyssa found herself a home with Sawhorse to bring her technical and community engagement skills to a team committed to positive change and innovative ways of thinking and creating. Time spent outside Sawhorse consists of such interests as nature-bathing, yoga & meditation, mothering of three, natural & herbal medicines and supplements, and being a big sports fan. (she/her)
Sarah Smith
Executive Director
Sarah Smith is an educator, jill-of-many-trades, and co-founder of Sawhorse Revolution. She received a BA in English Literature from the University of Puget Sound, graduated in 2008, and promptly realized the importance of hands-on skills training. Since then, she has been working to develop experiential learning programs for youth. Smith received a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2012, and has been working at Sawhorse since graduating. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and time with friends and family. (she/her)
G Lila
Program Coordinator
G is bringing to Sawhorse Revolution’s motley crew their experiences in community organizing, landscape architecture, and digital fabrication. Also on faculty in the School of Urban Studies at UW Tacoma, they love project-based learning and are constantly thinking about its transformative potentials. When they’re not at Sawhorse HQ, you might find G organizing mutual aid efforts and political education events, foraging for natural dyestuffs, playing soccer, improvising with fibers (wood and textile), listening to podcasts, or dreaming up new projects they’ll likely never get around to. (they/them)
Mateo Rudich
Program Coordinator
Mateo Rudich grew up in rural Northern California after immigrating from Argentina at a young age. At fourteen, they were unhoused and living in a tent, and were presented with the opportunity to build a tiny home to provide themself with housing. This was a pivotal moment in their life, and drew them to sawhorse’s mission of community supporting community, youth mentorship, and empowerment through craft. Mateo has worked as a theatrical technical director/master carpenter, ski/bike tech, residential carpenter, and a youth stagecraft teacher, gymnastics coach, and circus arts teacher. When not at Sawhorse, you’ll find them crafting and cooking with friends, or outside biking, snowboarding, juggling fire, or backpacking–especially if there’s an alpine lake with icy water to jump in to. (they/them)
Seth Sempere
Program Coordinator
Seth grew up north of Boston, spending as much time as possible goofing off in the mountains and forests of New England. He eventually hightailed it to southern Vermont, where he studied writing, the humanities, community building, and how to wield a chainsaw with relative safety. He moved to Seattle in 2011 and spent many years in the restaurant industry, running bars and trying to avoid being called a mixologist. Working in hospitality was an opportunity to nourish people, to explore creatively, and (sometimes) to collaboratively address the social and material inequities that surround us. After spending the last few years in education and as a field carpenter, he is excited to bring his commitment to community work and passion for celebrating the curious, joyful creativity of others to Sawhorse Revolution. (he/they)
Jam Sitti
Program Coordinator
Jam Sitti deeply values relationship building with folks who also feel the desire to grow and learn outside of the molds that were shaped for them through systemic inequity. They believe that in the process of learning, folks are granted the power of becoming—and because of this, Jam is committed to nourishing and bringing up the next generation of builders. After a few years at Henrybuilt, working as a bench carpenter in a production setting, they learned how to integrate their creativity and attention-to-detail in harmony with efficiency, organization, and systems-thinking. Outside of these things, Jam is likely watching a horror movie, working on a home improvement project, or throwing a bowl at the pottery studio. (they/she)
Phil Bouie
Development Director
Phil Bouie was born in Detroit, grew up in Reston, Virginia and frantically moved to Seattle in 2007 during a post-collegiate quarter-life crisis. What began as a two-month sabbatical with the intention of focusing on bolstering his copywriting portfolio has turned into a 19-year side quest with no end in sight. Phil has spent most of his life connected to nonprofit organizations that center young people. He has worked or volunteered for Embry Rucker Homeless Shelter, the Reston Community Center, the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Graduation Alliance, Friends of Youth and many more organizations. Phil entered the development world in 2012 when he enrolled in the University of Washington’s Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. It would prove to be the most pivotal professional decision he has ever made. While attending UW, he enjoyed the company of his academic cohort and learned from the best fundraisers and teachers in the Pacific Northwest. When he had his interview for the Development Director position at Sawhorse Revolution, the atmosphere was so welcoming that he forgot he was wearing a suit and applying for a job. The Sawhorse Revolution manifesto appealed to him because he has the soul of an artist. Phil contends that the mission of empowering young people to construct their liberation through creation and thoughtful design is a process that changes the trajectory of a young person’s life. Every assigned Sawhorse Revolution project isn’t a new chapter in a teenager’s story; an entirely new anthology is introduced to their malleable hearts and inventive minds. Phil is an unapologetic believer in centering young people, learning about the world around us, questioning authority and dreaming big. When Phil is not clumsily inputting his access code into the front door of Sawhorse Revolution headquarters, he is obsessing about hockey, playing a musical instrument, listening to music or a podcast, walking his dog Biscotti, running long distances, eating pasta or snacking on a sweet treat right before he stumbles to bed at 2:30 in the morning.
