Keenen Allen Ladd, a student-family advocate and Kingmakers facilitator at Denny International Middle School, has been named a 2026 Washingtonian of the Year for his commitment to mentoring Black male students and strengthening families and communities throughout Seattle. Presented by the Washington State Leadership Board, the award is an official state honor recognizing residents who demonstrate leadership, selflessness, generosity and compassion through service to others. The recognition is part of the Washington Leadership Awards, a tradition dating to 1975.
In the hallways of Denny International Middle School, where Ladd works with young Black men through Kingmakers of Seattle, education is about more than textbooks, curricula and standardized testing. Operating under Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA), Kingmakers provides culturally relevant learning experiences that emphasize identity, emotional awareness, leadership and personal growth. For participating students, it is also about legacy and learning to stand confidently in who they are while envisioning possibilities for their futures.
For Ladd, whose work extends from school classrooms to community organizations and fatherhood initiatives, the recognition represents more than an individual achievement. He credits the students, families and community members who have helped shape his journey…