Makeda Moorman Leahemariam is the Founder and Executive Director of The Cinderella Project Seattle, a youth-focused, volunteer-led initiative that increases access to clothing, essential resources, and community care for teens and young adults in the greater Seattle area.

Her work is informed by her experience as a low-income Black student and her volunteer service in Seattle’s community spaces, including libraries and youth programs. These experiences showed her both the impact of community care and the ongoing gaps faced by young people navigating financial hardship, identity, and access to basic needs.

Since founding The Cinderella Project Seattle in January 2025, Makeda has overseen the organization’s growth, including strategic planning, program development, and community outreach. She has organized donation drives, boutique-style events, and resource distributions that provide free formalwear, school supplies, hygiene products, and wellness items to youth ages 13–22.

Makeda has established partnerships with local schools, libraries, community centers, and mutual aid organizations, and leads volunteer coordination for daily operations. She is committed to accessibility and inclusion, developing outreach materials in English, Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Chinese to reach more communities.

Under her leadership, The Cinderella Project Seattle continues to grow as a space rooted in dignity, joy, and community support. The organization is working to become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and to establish a permanent home for the youth it serves.