What do you do?
I'm the chef at the restaurant I own Magdalena's Creperie.
What do you love about Bellingham?
I love to being close to the ocean and mountains. Appreciate clear air. Close location to the big cities Vancouver, BC and Seattle give you possibility to an easy escape if you wanna enjoy big city life.
What do you do?
I am a lover of flowers and people. I’m grateful that I get to combine the two for a living. I help people express their feelings, style, and dreams through flowers. I have always been intrigued by the inherent meaningfulness of flowers. From birth, to important milestones, to death, they evoke powerful emotions. I love to be a part of special occasions and I take pleasure in turning visions into reality.
What do you love about this area?
I fell in love with Bellingham before I even moved here from Upper Michigan. The stunning combo of ocean, lakes, mountains, and lush greenery is magical. We are fortunate to enjoy the bounty of flowers and produce available in this area. I love the people too. There’s a high concentration of quirky, creative and generous. I hope to call Bellingham home for a long long time.
What do you do?
I'm the chair of our Capital cabinet at the Sylvia center for the arts.
What do you love this area?
What is on the forefront of my mind lately our capacity for change and growth. While we grow, we are creating what the voice, both artistically and socially, of Bellingham will be in the coming years. Ian Bivins is running with the torch at BAAY and his students are writing and devising. Maluhia VanderGriend has her students choreographing their own pieces. Up in Lynden Mijo Buiskool-Price is curating work at the clearspace youth center with teen directors and local writers.
More restaurants are cropping up every couple of months. More breweries, more film festivals, cabarets, painters, and creators. Tim Alexander debuted his new project, WUBWUB. That was kickass. The waterfront is starting to take shape. Lydia Place, DVSAS, and the Lighthouse Mission are expanding their efforts to help as many human beings as they can.
We as a community are creating the culture we want to live in-- that we want our families, our children to live in.
What do you do?
I Co-own and manage The Shakedown and The Racket.
What do you love about this area?
I love Bellingham's creative and innovative spirit. Not just in the obvious arts and music realm, but also entrepreneurship, leadership and the nonprofit world. People here are inspired to make cool stuff happen and supported when they do.
What do you do?
Since moving to Bellingham in 1974, I have been involved in education in a variety of ways, ranging from teaching pre-school to working with at risk teenagers. I was a public school elementary school teacher here in Bellingham for many years and upon retiring, I decided to substitute and volunteer, mostly at Lowell School, which still keeps me happily busy and engaged with vibrant, beautiful children and their outstanding teachers.
When I am not working with kids, I love to practice yoga, cook for family and friends, hike, read, garden and speak out for peace and justice.
What do you love about this area?
To me, Bellingham is a kaleidoscope of beauty, integrity and wonder. I love the way we are nestled between majestic mountains and the rich Salish Sea and both the tranquility and adventure they inspire.Not to mention the. incredible Greenways trails and parks that are so accessible throughout the city.
I also love the conscientious focus we have of supporting local businesses, art, music, farmers , festivals, yoga studios and service organizations. Joe's Gardens has been one of my personal favorite Bellingham treasures for 43 years, as has The Bellingham Food Coop, the phenomenal Bellingham Public Library, the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and the marvelous cultural events sponsored by WWU.
What do you love about Bellingham?
It is extremely heartwarming to me that I live in such a progressive community where issues of environmental, racial, gender, economic and social justice are of paramount importance. One of the highlights of my life as a " Hamster" was participating in The Women's March this year along with thousands of other peaceful, passionate marchers. The rainbow certainly graced us, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds. It truly was, to me, the best of Bellingham and a stellar example of why I love this community.
What do you do?
I’m on the radio! I do the morning show on KAFE 104.1—I’m half of ‘Dave and Mandy in the Morning’ weekdays 5:30-10am!
What do you love about this area?
Bellingham has the best vibe of anywhere I’ve ever lived! There’s a feeling in the air here that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. We’re laid back, yet engaged. Independent, but cohesive. We have a strong sense of community--I love living in an area that emphasizes the well-being of its people, its businesses, and the surrounding environment.
What do you do?
Career wise I'm a social worker. Specifically a Housing Case Manager for veterans who are either experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing. In my personal life, I dabble in improv, write blogs, and dream about running my own ladies detective agency. Shout out to Precious Ramotswe, you're the real MVP.
What do you love about this area?
The people at La Gloria on Meridian and the tule taco truck between the court house and bail bonds place. Those people keep me happy and fed. I also love the minimal traffic and that it only takes me 10 minutes in my car to reach an ocean or lake. Bellingham sunsets, and State Street Bar also make the list.
What do you do?
I am the Membership & Development Manager for the Whatcom Museum.
What do you love about this area?
What I love most about Bellingham is that I can get from the office to the trailhead in just 10 minutes, year-round, and hiking & skiing in the vast expanse of the Baker backcountry is just an hour away!
What do you do?
I work for Onyx Coffee. We connect the best producers in Guatemala to quality driven roasters around the globe. My role here is the Quality Control and Lab Director. For a small company that means a lot of things! My week is spent overseeing our roasting team, connecting with roasters and producers, and managing all of the green coffee samples that enter and leave our lab. I absolutely love my job and am extremely lucky to have found such an amazing company to be a part of.
What do you love about this area?
I love Bellingham for it's location. Nestled right by the bay and in the shadow of the Northern Cascades and Chuckanuts. It's just a quick drive to Vancouver B.C to the north, Seattle and Portland to the south, and islands to hop to just to the west. Since moving here 4 years ago, I've climbed mountains and rocks, camped weekends in the backcountry, fly fished in rivers, and picked fresh fruits in the summer - all within an hour or less from here.
What do you do?
I own Fringe Boutique, a women's clothing and accessories shop in Downtown Bellingham where almost everything is under $50 and you can find tons of unique, locally made gifts and jewelry. I do everything from buying and merchandising, to styling and selling. I also do all of my own bookkeeping, manage a small staff, and collaborate on projects and events with photographers and artists in the community.
What do you love about this area?
My favorite thing about Bellingham is the way it embraces community and small businesses. I think it's really rad that most of the businesses in our downtown are locally owned, and we have some pretty amazing organizations that work to promote a sense of community here through fun events and support for small businesses. I have really enjoyed engaging with my community in a new way as a business owner this past year and a half, and look forward to many more!
What do you do?
I am a beertender at Kulshan Brewery! The brewery is my second home and I enjoy serving a great product to each customer as if they were a guest in my own home. The personal connections I've made with the Bellingham community are what I love most about my job!
I am also a wife and a mother. I believe we as women want others to know we are so much more than being mothers. However, in the conversation of powerful women, I believe it's important to include motherhood! I have made a 20 year career out of it!
What do you love about this area?
I love living in Bellingham because of the quality of life it offers! Bellingham is a diverse and lively community situated between beautiful Mount Baker and the bay! Who wouldn't love living here?!
What do you do?
I am a perpetual student who will take all the film-related opportunities you have. I started studying journalism on a whim and I forgot to cancel my trial subscription and now I'm about to graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in film studies.
What do you love about this area?
I love Bellingham's good naturedness. When I first moved up here, I relied mostly on the kindness of strangers. And they are everywhere. Kindness is baked into this place. Bellingham is a kind city, and a forgiving city. I'm not afraid to fail here.
What do you do?
A lot of things! I’m a lawyer, the bossylady of my law firm, a professor of law at the college, a rugby player, a Crossfitter, a soccer player, a dogmom, a fiancée. In my “day job” what I do is help my clients to know their legal rights, to make the legal system work for them rather than against them, to prevent legal problems before they start.
What do you love about this area?
I’m a native Bellingham-ster. I grew up here and then left to pursue my higher education. While it was an unusual series of events that brought me back to town as an adult, I love living in Bellingham. It is not only a beautiful place, between the forest, the mountains, lakes and oceans but also a vibrant and incredible business community. I have been mentored, inspired and helped so much by the local Chamber of Commerce and my fellow attorneys, bossbabes and entrepreneurs, to live my dream and build my law firm and my life.
What do you do?
I am a writer, storyteller, event producer, and educator. In the future, I plan to combine all of these roles to lead an organization that provides the opportunity and space for women with a similar background as myself to realize their value, build community, and share stories.
What do you love about area?
Bellingham and I have a complicated relationship. I love the beauty of the area, clean air, black squirrels, the deer, and the fact that there is never any real traffic. I do wish we had more sun here. Oh, how I wish for more sun.
What do you do?
Painter/illustrator by day- Beertender at Menace Brewing by night.
What do you love about this area?
What I love most about Bellingham is the community. No matter what community you are in, Beer industry, Art community, neighborhood community, Snowboarding-mountain biking - They all reside here. It's vibrant. I'm not sure if because most people who choose to live here...intend to live here based on what they do and most people are clued into the process and support it. Love it.
What do you do?
I am a manager of this great Mexican restaurant calls Jalapenos at Fairhaven location, with the best margaritas in town.
What do you love about this area?
What I love of Northwest, that's an easy question.... this place is amazing with a beautiful biodiversity and kindness people who always like to help and respect each other.
What do you do?
Attack the world with everything I’ve got.
Primarily I am a Freelance Filmmaker with a passion for developing the film community here in Bellingham and state wide. I’m a production manager at Hand Crank Films. An Assistant Director and Production Designer at C. Young Creative and a Line Producer for Toolhouse, among others. In my spare time I volunteer as The Executive Director at Bellingham Film. I’m a Film Liaison for Washington FilmWorks and a committee advisor for Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival. Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work another day.
What do you love about this area?
Bellingham has an ever expanding arts community. Given it’s small size you’d think that we would have a limited number of resources when it comes to producing film. But that is not the case here. Bellingham has always supported the arts. When ever I have a film project, we always get such a warm response from the community. When it comes to finding locations to film, working with the city permits, building sets, tracking down specific props or getting things custom made from local artists. It’s nice to live in a community that wants to see you success in any artistic adventure your can imagineer.
What do you do?
I am a dancer, a singer, an actor, an aerialist, and lover of all art. I am an advocate for human rights, and for our environment. I am an herbalist and nature lover.
I work for The Arc of Whatcom County as the Down syndrome Outreach and Young Adult Self-Advocacy Program Coordinator. We hope to strengthen community by addressing and breaking down negative stereotypes and misconceptions. As a human rights advocate I work to spread awareness and appreciation for all abilities and backgrounds. Another way I aim to do this for our community is through an inclusive dance program, Movement Matters. Currently I am teaching classes with the Max Higbee Center which has been such an incredible experience. I will have additional classes offered in the spring or summer. I truly believe that everybody has the ability to dance no matter their background. Through Dance we have the opportunity to express ourselves, create community, and identify barriers that exist with in ourselves and our community. This brings such a sense of acceptance and appreciation to our differences and is an outward expression that we can share with our ever-changing society.
What do you love about this area?
I love Bellingham for so many reasons! Mainly because I am able to do all of the things I do here. I am able to be an artist. I am able to be a teacher and a student. I am able to be active in my community and to know so many people who do the same. I feel so lucky to be in a place that provides me with those freedoms. To be in a place where I can explore the mountains and the bay. To be where I can continue to learn and be challenged. To be surrounded by trees and water. To be surrounded by amazing people. There is a sense of community here that I have not felt anywhere else. We all have to work together. When we do, we are so much stronger.
What do you do?
Co-owner of Homeskillet.
What do you love about this area?
The community. Bellingham is not only surrounded by natural beauty but filled with warm, creative and generous people.
What do you do?
I am honored to be the Executive Director for Allied Arts of Whatcom County. It is a 38 year old non-profit organization that creates programs and activities that help to make our region a creative, vibrant place to live.
What do you love about this area?
I love the incredible beauty of our region from the breath taking natural landscape, our historic architecture and enthusiasm for the arts and culture throughout the community.
What do you do?
My work has always been to facilitate healing, openness, and compassion through various vehicles of music, movement, breath work, nature, psychology, and love.
What do you love about Bellingham?
I appreciate living so close to the great gifts of the natural world as well as being part of this warm, loving, creative and engaged community.
What do you do?
My full-time job: Music and Film Editor for the Cascadia Weekly. My part-time job: Projectionist at the Pickford Film Center. In my spare time: Copy editor for the Snowboarder's Journal, the Ski Journal, the FlyFish Journal, and Freehub. I am also an experienced judge of karaoke contests, pantsuit pageants, and culinary competitions. In short, I am never not up to something fun.
What do you love about this area?
One thing I learned shortly after becoming more involved and invested in the community here: Bellingham is a place where one single person can literally change the whole town for the better. And women have been the ones making those changes in ever-increasing numbers over the years. I am fortunate to live and work among the women who inspire and motivate me most. It's a nice life, and I never stop being grateful for it.
What do you do?
I'm a professional portrait photographer who, during the past 20 years since opening my studio here, have had the honor of photographing some of Bellingham's most prominent people. Over the years I've served on a number of arts-related boards, including the Mount Baker Theatre, WWU's College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Bellingham Festival of Music and Kuntz and Company. I was president of the board for the new CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival and when we attained non-proift status, became its executive director.
What do you love about this area?
When we first discovered Bellingham, we, like so many others, were struck by its natural beauty and abundant outdoor recreational opportunites. Then we were given a tour of the Mount Baker Theatre, just coming out of rennovation. That a town this size could have an theatre like this was amazing to us. We soon learned that the theatre was just the beginning. Where else can you ski in the morning, kayak in the afternoon then enjoy either a classial music concert, a book reading, an art exhibit opening, a film at our independent art house, a modern dance performance or jazz at a local club that evening? And yes, I competed in the Ski to Sea race, even medaled. Plus, as a photographer, the light here is extraordinary.
What do you do?
Writer, filmmaker.
What do you love about this area?
I love our community ethos of compassion and respect for one another, and honoring of the natural world. I love that we buy local, eat local, read local, play local. I love how we love this place. I love and am grateful for the warmth and generosity of the Coast Salish peoples, in particular Lummi Nation, in sharing (despite difficult history!) this traditional Indigenous territory we now all call home.
What do you do?
I teach English at Western Washington University and write books about forgotten women writers. For a few years now, my research has centered on Bellingham’s own once celebrated Pacific Northwest writer Ella Higginson.
What do you love about this area?
I love so much about Bellingham but if I had to choose I’d say that I most love breathing the same air, walking the same paths, and enjoying the same gorgeous natural surroundings that Ella Higginson once did.
What do you do?
"I am a writer, marketing strategist, actor, scientist, teacher, filmmaker, singer, mom, and community activist and supporter. Whew! I am also a business woman, owner of Wilde World Communications.”
What do you love most about Bellingham?
"Well, I love everything. Exploring with the wind and sunset on my face via bike, kayak, sailboat, and worn out hiking boots is my favorite way to spend a Saturday. Laughing in a local pub or restaurant, listening to a local band, I love bumping into old friends that remind me of Bellingham’s spirit of kindness, ingenuity, and activism. I have loved raising my twins in the vibrant family, neighborhood, and school communities here. I am also humbled to be part of Whatcom’s productive artist communities through local writing, theater, music, and film. Did I leave anything out?"
What do you do?
I am a writer, marketing strategist, actor, scientist, teacher, I am the owner and curator of three boutiques in Whatcom county. Mi Shoes Bellingham, Mi Shoes Lynden and Heroine Clothing on Commercial Street. I get to work with women every day and I like to think that I inspire them to be their best selves. Getting dressed should be fun! My favorite thing is that moment when you can see how good someone feels in a new dress or a new pair of shoes. That spark...that smile....that's what I do.
What do you love about this area?
I've called this place home for more than 16 years. There is so much to love about Bellingham. The water, the mountains, the parks, the people. The thing I love the very most is this community that I've become involved in. The movers and the shakers. The people that make this place so unique. The business owners, the event coordinators, the place makers....they are the ones that create the essence and spirit of this place I have come to call home.
What do you do?
Through our work we help people fulfill their dreams by providing them with the two great equalizers in life – education about family planning and access to reproductive health care. I also love that my job allows me to live the “Planned Parenthood Promise” every day: “Creating hope for humanity, the freedom to dream, to make choices, and to live in peace with our planet!”
What do you love about this area?
Everything!
The Bellingham community cares about our neighbors, the quality of our lives, the fresh clean air we breathe, and the clean water we drink. I love that we are always willing to tax ourselves to increase our open spaces/parks which provides us with an amazing network of beautiful trails throughout the City. I love how we are surrounded by mountains with Mt. Baker looming majestically in the distance and that we can enjoy watching colorful sunsets over Bellingham Bay. I love the sweet smell of the berry farms heralding in Spring … If you haven’t guessed it yet, I simply love Bellingham! It is a fabulous place to live, work and play; I can’t imagine a better city in America!
What do you do?
I am Swinomish and Visayan (Filipina) and an educator with the Northwest Indian College – Coast Salish Institute where I teach about our Swinomish culture and history. Also, I am active in the environmental justice movement working in partnership with local tribes in affiliation with the Indigenous Environmental Network. I do the best that I can to care for our mother earth and my own elder mother, while passing the baton on to the next generations. I follow the philosophy of peace and honorable community engagement as a facilitator, mediator and collaborator.
What do you love about this area?
That’s a big question, since I am part Swinomish and was raised here on the Salish Sea. I love the nature here, the water, salmon, cedar are icons for our Coast Salish peoples. We farm the sea, we are people by the water, we are people of the salmon. I love that so many people are stepping forward to fight for the water. Our most powerful teaching stories include the water. And I love that so many of our young people are pulling in those sacred canoes, pulling for strength, healing and life. We are stronger together, when we are united and that is part of the work that I do. I stand with unity, I stand with Standing Rock, #NoDAPL, #NoPipelines, #KeepFossilFuelsInTheGround, #ProtectTheSalishSea, #PaddleForLife ~ t'ig'wicid
What do you do?
I am the Mayor of Bellingham.
What do you love about this area?
The people.
