Mountaintop Awardees
2025
Community
Isiah Anderson, Jr.
Founder and Artistic Director
Acts on Stage| Leader at BUILD 206 - Brothers United
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When thinking about impact to the community, creative passion, and empowerment, this year’s Mountain Top Community Awardee comes to mind. Nominators describe him as an “inspiration, catalyzer, equipper of the heart, soul and voice of our community.” Further saying that “his work…has unleashed the worth, talents, voice, and influence of our youth to reflect the deep love and brilliance of God expressed through their lives.”
From the time of being accepted into the community here in Seattle, Isiah Anderson has empowered and inspired an expression of life out of people in the community, both young and older, for over 30 years now.
From Joliet, Illinois, Isiah came to the Pacific Northwest at 17. He found a job with the city at the Yesler Terrace Community Center with Seattle Parks and Rec. As an artist and comedian himself, it was the stage that proves to be a significant part of how Anderson served the community through lessons in the arts and live performing.
Anderson has been serving in mentorship, developing expression and performance in people, and providing leadership support in the community. His impact has reached around the southend region, from his involvement with Langston Hughes; as a part of leadership with BUILD 206 - Brothers United in Leadership Development; through 24 years as director of Seattle’s renowned summer staple - Teen Summer Musical; and now, as co-founder and artistic director with Acts on Stage.
In a Seattle Medium article by Aaron Allen, mentor of Anderson, Stephen Sneed affirmed Anderson’s impact saying, “Who takes 100 children, and works with them all summer, providing them hope and inspiring them..[to] go on the big stage and perform their best; nobody but Isiah Anderson… He is a blessing to our community.”
At the black owned theater tucked away in White Center, Anderson spotlights and brings to life transformative productions with artists and playwrights of color at Acts on Stage.
Education
A.C.E Academy Leadership Team
Clarence Dancer, Jr., Marcus Harden, Willie Seals, III
A.C.E. Academy
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This year’s Mountaintop education award goes to A.C.E. Academy and its three service leaders who came together to empower African American males for excellence with F.A.M.E. - their values acronym noted as family, academics, motivation, and environment. Since its founding in 2012, A.C.E. has developed people, programs, and services supporting young men of color through education and community programs.
Through a look at its founders, we can see the core values embodied within the lives of these three South Seattle natives - with education, community, and empowerment. Each of them holds a master’s education level and has served in social services for 15-plus years. These three men reimagined the needs and dreams of their own education to create the support provided through the Academy for Creating Excellence, A.C.E.
Clarence Dancer, Jr.(C.J.), has his master’s from the University of Washington. He has served as executive director of Seattle MESA, STEM program supervisor for the Office of Public Instruction, and a policy advisor for the city’s DEEL office. A co-founder of A.C.E., C.J. is the Executive Director.
A.C.E. co-founder, Marcus Harden’s master’s is from the University of Washington. He has served in K-12 education as executive director of ACAP; a principal intern at Summit Sierra High and Southshore K-8; and director roles in the Washington State Charter School Association.
William Seales III has a master’s from Seattle University. He has served as project director for Seattle Public Schools, and career and college manager for Puget Sound Educational District. A co-founder of A.C.E., Willie is the Senior Director of Programs.
What Nominators said about A.C.E. is: “We are in a shortage of support for our young black men, and the A.C.E. Academy answered the call to lead in supporting our young men of color, with educational guidance through their school-based and summer outreach programs, professional development and student leadership. They are doing things to prepare these men for the world.”
Through mentorship, empowerment, scholarships and financial support, academic guidance, and programs, A.C.E. supports Black male youth, adults, and educators. In 2024 A.C.E. has served over 1,500 students in 8 schools within 5 districts.
Business
Roger Rieger
President
The Tudor Foundation
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The Vision from the Mountain Top Business Award goes to Roger Rieger, who keeps a low profile in the community but has a long history of charitable activities and is the founder of the Tudor Foundation.
Garnering a compassion for the community and an interest in development opportunities for under-resourced, marginalized youth, Rieger sought to make a difference in Seattle through young people.
Rieger is a philanthropist who, in 1988, along with his wife Annette, started their first foundation aptly named the I Have A Dream Seattle Foundation. This was modeled after his mentor, a New York businessman, Eugene Lang, and provided a student support program. With the hire of a program counselor, an entire 6th-grade class of a local elementary school (that is, all 82 sixth graders) were offered support for 7 years through high school and assistance for college or training after graduation.
To continue this work with students, and to build a specific focus of support to African American male students, the Tudor Foundation was formed in 1996, as a private foundation funded by the Rieger family. The Foundation contributes support to youth, by referral, through grants for education, as well as, other affordable accommodations. It works with students individually to assist in meeting their needs both financially and through mentoring.
Nominators have noted, “Mr. Roger Reiger has been silently scholarshipping African American young men for over 25 years. I say silently because he does not flaunt or advertise it… Roger has paid the entire college expense; tuition, books, housing, food, spending money, etc. expecting nothing back, but graduation and a productive life for the graduate.”
Rieger and the Tudor Foundation also support activities and organizations that focus on African American youth and education. Numerous entities have received support from the Tudor Foundation over the years. Programs at local high schools - Nathan Hale, Garfield, Chief Sealth included; at colleges like the University of Kansas and South Seattle College; with programs increasing educators of color; and organizations with services to the community such as Choose 180, Hope Place, and Sports in Schools.
2024
Community
Derrick Wheeler Smith
Director of Office For Civil Rights | City of Seattle
Education
Dr. Dwane Chappelle
Department Director at City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning
Lifetime Service
Eddie Rye Jr.
Community Leader/Activist Urban Forum Northwest
2023
Community
Violet Lavatai
Executive Director of the Tenants Union of WA
Business
Molly Moon Neitzel
Founder and CEO of Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
Education
Charlett Shoecaft
Founder and Executive Director of Empowering Youth and Family Outreach
Lifetime Service
Rev. Allen A. Belton
1939-2022
