Kiyomi Knox’s involvement with Center of Life has included multiple roles including Development Intern prior to becoming the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator in early 2020. Previously, Kiyomi received two Bachelor’s Degrees in Graphic Design and Sociology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2012. Kiyomi has been committed to the advocacy of diverse and vulnerable communities including work as an advocate and counselor for survivors of abuse at PPC Violence Free Network. Most recently, Kiyomi worked at the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and has attained her Master’s of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh with a Community, Organization, and Social Action concentration and Human Services Management certificate. As Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Kiyomi enjoys using art as a means of addressing and healing trauma; using trauma-informed best practices to work with families; and leading community members to empowerment. In her spare time, Kiyomi plays and coaches rugby.

About her position, Kiyomi says, “People allowing me to walk alongside them in their hard moments and in their happy moments is something I definitely don’t take for granted. It means a lot that people trust us and allow us to be there for them.”