Why we exist.
The Center for Safer AI grew from a conversation between co-founders Tim and Lisa about AI adoption, worker displacement, and who gets left behind as technology accelerates.
They kept returning to the same question: how do people with lower incomes and less free time learn the skills they need to navigate an AI-driven world — and who pays for that access?
That question became the Center for Safer AI. We exist to close the gap between those who can navigate the future of technology with confidence — and those who can't.
What we stand for.
The Center for Safer AI is dedicated to AI literacy, digital privacy, and ensuring the future of technology works for everyone — not just a few. We provide public education, workforce training, and community programming, and make grants to organizations advancing equitable access to technology.
The benefits of AI should be available to everyone — not just those with the time, resources, or technical background to access them. We design everything we do with underserved communities in mind.
We believe digital privacy is a fundamental right, not a premium feature. We advocate for privacy-respecting technology and help individuals understand and protect their own data.
We operate openly — publishing our financials, disclosing our governance, and being honest about what we know and what we're still figuring out. Trust is earned through transparency.
Board of Directors.
Tim Nickerson is Vice President of Risk Management at Metropolis Technologies, a Trustee of Linfield University, and Chair of Linfield's Student Affairs and Enrollment Committee. Across each of these roles, he has watched artificial intelligence reshape industries, institutions, and communities at a pace that can leave people behind — without the tools, training, or support they need to keep up. He co-founded the Center for Safer AI to change that — giving individuals, workers, and communities a trusted resource for navigating an AI-driven world with confidence.
Lisa Taylor has spent her career at the intersection of education, information access, and community. A K-12 educator and library professional, she currently works in Library and Academic Innovations at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon, where she helps students and faculty navigate an increasingly complex information environment. Lisa co-founded the Center for Safer AI because she has seen firsthand what happens when people encounter new technology without adequate support or context. She believes that guidance, literacy, and equitable access aren't optional — they're essential.
Ryan Kin brings nearly two decades of institutional finance and community investment experience to the Center for Safer AI. As Executive Director of Tax Oriented Investments at J.P. Morgan, he structures and deploys capital into affordable housing and community development projects across the country, helping ensure that economic opportunity reaches the communities that need it most. He holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Psychology and Music from Cleveland State University.