What is a Backbone Team?
Continuous Communication
Creating a process and environment in our community where agencies can come together to discuss complex social issues - homelessness, intergenerational poverty, ACEs, mental health issues, substance use, criminal activity - and develop innovative solutions is hard work. We must all be patient while holding each other accountable.
Our Role as a Backbone Team:
Have a dedicated staff
Build key relationships across agencies and sectors involved in the initiative
Use evaluation as a tool for learning & progress
Maintain a high level of credibility within the community
Focus people's attention & create a sense of urgency
Ensure coordination & accountability
Serve as convener - creating a space/process for agencies to learn together
Frame issues to present opportunities & progress
Establish collective ownership
Meet Your Backbone Team
Cristina Roark
Executive Director
Promise Partner
Future Bound Manager
Cristina currently serves as the Executive Director of Kitsap Strong, previously serving as the Director of Community Innovation. Kitsap Strong previously worked with a diverse group of community agencies to promote and expand trauma-informed practices and services to individuals in our community. This work consists of agencies across the life span (birth to 5 service providers to hospice care) and across numerous sectors (health, housing, education, justice, human services, etc.), and all the agencies are exploring new strategies, policies, practices, and services to support employees and clients from a trauma-informed perspective.
She supports the collaborative learning efforts that bring diversity of thought and methods for data-informed reflections of what is working and for what areas could benefit from improvements. Her role is to serve as a resource to partner organizations and help facilitate strategic partnerships and connections and collaboration.
Cristina is recognized by her peers as someone who cares deeply about developing meaningful and supportive relationships. She believes that the ability to influence system change begins with looking inward.
Before joining Kitsap Strong, Cristina served as a Senior IT Business Analyst at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for ten years on IT-related change initiatives. She was a culture contributor, building employee communities for greater impact and personal fulfillment. She holds an Master of Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a BA in Economics from the University of California, San Diego.
Promise is a Future Bound Manager working with community partners and youth for equitable educational outcomes and post-secondary exploration and opportunity.
Promise has lived in Kitsap County since 2017 and been involved as a community organizer and facilitator with Kitsap SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). She's worked with youth as a middle and high school teacher, advisor, and college counselor in Ohio, New Hampshire, and Oregon, and abroad in Palestine. Most recently, as the director of QuEST, a nonprofit service fellowship program in Seattle, she's supported young adults in their personal and professional growth. Promise has degrees from Bryn Mawr College (PA) and the Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College (VT). A practicing Quaker, she finds delight in singing, collaging, dancing, prayer, poetry, and potlucks.
Victoria Hilt
Strong Community Facilitator
Victoria, as a parent leader, is excited to shape the new Strong Community Facilitator role for Kitsap Strong.
Victoria partners with Strengthening Families Washington staff to facilitate training for communities as a Certified Trainer for the Alliance’s Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work. This training provides a bridge of understanding between parents and staff who work with families to strengthen families and prevent instances of child abuse and neglect. Victoria is committed to implementing Liberatory Design and expanding the knowledge of its practices to restructure systems and leadership in our communities to be more equitable. At the national level, Victoria is currently the co-chair of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council as well as a member of the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance Board of Directors, a member of the Communications Committee, and the co-chair of the Public Policy Committee. Victoria began a partnership with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in 2013 when she was nominated as an Unsung Hero during Parent Recognition Month.
Shantelle Mellon
Systems of Care Manager
Shantelle is our newest backbone team member, fulfilling the role of Systems of Care Manager to facilitate the relationships between those we serve and the organizations and pillars who also support our Kitsap community.
Shantelle relocated to Washington in 2022. Upon becoming a Navy spouse, she then relocated to Kitsap County in 2025 and felt the strong sense of community and kindness that resides here and is excited to contribute to its continued growth. She recognizes how important community was to her childhood and how integral those experiences were in shaping the person she is today.
With a background in various areas in program development, direct marketing and social media content creation, hospitality, and cybersecurity operations management, she is committed to effectively understanding the needs of our community and finding creative ways to ensure all who live here receive the resources they need to succeed.
In her free time, Shantelle enjoys building miniature sets and dioramas, knitting, discovering new music and TV shows, learning animation, and spending time with her dog, Dipper.