What do you do?
I am a Curator of elevated events. I own a creative planning business MOMAD Productions where I dream up design concepts for special events, style photo shoots and coordinate weddings ensuring my clients have the day they've always wanted! I am also the Events and Programming Coordinator at the Downtown Bellingham Partnership where my passion for creating OOF YES experiences is applied to the Commercial Street Night Market and creative lecture series, Morning Jam.
What do you love about this area?
I am born and raised in Bellingham. In 2007 I moved to Seattle then Oakland. After 8 years of being away I returned and decided to get reacquainted with this place as quickly as possible. What was obvious right away and what I love about Bellingham is that it has a strong community of women that have big visions and goals. The power of networking and collaboration are real here. I love working with so many other businesses owned by badass women that I call friends. I will be calling on their talents this year as I take my vision for MOMAD Productions to the next level.
http://www.momadproductions.com/
https://www.facebook.com/momadproductions/
What do you do?
I'm a Job Skills Instructor for the Lummi Nation. I'm also a writer and occasional speaker, and teacher of poetry workshops.
What do you love about this area?
I love living in this region for the deep connection I have with it as an indigenous person, and for the family ties I have here. I love to look out my window at the bay and know that I am the product of thousands of generations who have lived in this place over tens of thousands of years, and that we have been nurtured and made strong by the beautiful and abundant gifts of this land and water. I feel very fortunate to have this connection to my home.
What do you do?
I'm an auditor by day, writer by night
What do you love about this area?
That we have local video rental nonprofit Film Is Truth!! The community I've built through the store is the reason I'll never leave Bellingham!
What do you do?
Full-time, I am the Housing Programs Supervisor at Lydia Place, an organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of homelessness and promoting sustained independence for current and future generations in Whatcom County. Part-time, I own and operate Love Beauty Makeup Artistry. I offer makeup services for weddings and special events, as well as teach classes empowering others to feel more confident in their makeup routine. I also write as the Beauty Contributor for Bellingham Alive magazine.
What do you love about this area?
Beyond the beautiful nature and scenery, I love that Bellingham truly feels like a community to me. At Lydia Place, I’m daily blown away by the generosity of donors, volunteers, businesses, and individuals who are committed to creating a community solution to solve homelessness. As a local business owner, I try to never take for granted that my company continues to grow based on the community support I receive and I’m humbled every time someone goes out of their way to refer me. Because of my two positions, I have the privilege of encountering so many community members from all walks of life on a daily basis. They all teach me so much and I’m always left feeling inspired by the incredible individuals that make this place home.
What do you do?
I spend my days working as Bookkeeper/ Office Manager of Casa Que Pasa, and by night I write and publish epic fantasy novels.
What do you love about this area?
It's hard to pick one thing to love about Bellingham, but if I had to choose I'd say the close proximity to nature. I love that just a short distance from my home I can be surrounded by deep forest, or sitting on a beach off Chuckanut, or walking along the shore of Lake Whatcom, or even seeing wild otters at Boulevard Park. We are blessed to be surrounded by mountains, sea and forest here.
www.selahjtaysong.com
What do you do?
Right now, I'm a whirlwind of work and play. I'm a freelance communications consultant and event planner, working mostly with local government and nonprofits. I'm also proud to serve on the Bellingham School Board, which I was elected to last year.
In February, I launched my new business, WinkWink, an adult boutique that specializes in expertly curated sex and body products. Right now I'm doing pop-up shops, a Sex Rocks! lecture series, private parties, and online sales, but will hopefully be moving into a retail space in the near future!
And finally, I'm a mom to my 4-year-old daughter, Luella. She has cerebral palsy, is non-verbal, and the coolest kid ever. She's also an expert wheelchair-spinner, music-lover, and cat-snuggler.
What do you love about this area?
We live in the heart of downtown Bellingham because we wanted to be close to the things we love about this area: the restaurants, music, community events, and creative energy. I love the inspiring people living and working here, who launch and support new projects that make our town a better place.
What do you do?
I own and am the chef of Cosmos Bistro.
What do you love about this area?
I grew up in the northwest and honestly love the weather. The rain and cloud cover promote inward thinking (and fresh dewy skin!) So, for me it is inspirational and motivating. It also gives me great appreciation for the sun when I can plant my garden. Living by the Puget Sound and the many lakes is so beautiful and powerful. Nature...love it! I need to get out of the restaurant more!
What do you do?
I am the Marketing Director and Customer Relations Manager for Riverside Health Club.
What do you love about this area?
I love being just minutes from the water! There is really nothing like Bellingham.
What do you do?
I am a Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services, which means that I get to spend my days (and nights!) thinking about how to make college the best possible experience for students.
What do you love about this area?
I love the understated quirkiness of the people, the geography, the whole style of this area.
What do you do?
I'm a Realtor with Brandon Nelson Partners and a Partner at Fairhaven Floors
What do you love about this area?
Bellingham is such a relational town. I love that anywhere I go I see familiar and friendly faces. It's got that small town vibe with a touch of 'city life'. I also love that there are so many locally owned businesses in which the business owners are highly involved in bettering our community.
https://www.brandonnelson.com/agents/134675-Paulina-Antczak/
What do you do?
I am the executive director of Bellingham Makerspace. It is a non profit creative workshop that offers access to tools, technology, education, and community skill sharing. I am very lucky because I get to see the amazing variety of projects that people in this area are making. If you come by the makerspace you may see someone working on programming a robot or creating laser cut costuming for performance art. The makerspace has an inspiring energy and members of all ages and backgrounds. Its a comfortable collaborative safe space to try something new or share your own skills with others.
What do you love about this area?
Bellingham is full of creative, intelligent, and interesting people and I am always learning new things from them.
https://bellinghamfoundry.com/
What do you do for a living?
I am a Lecturer at the University of Washington Bothell, School of Nursing and Health Sciences. I love teaching and learning with students. I also serve as a WWU Board of Trustee and as a Board of Director at Brigid Collins - and - Planned Parenthood VOTES GNW&HI. My favorite job is being a mom and wife. Life is good!
What do you love most about living in this area?
The people for sure! There is such a strong sense of community engagement here and the wonderful friends I’ve gained from community work mean the world to me. Of course the physical beauty can’t be beat and I particularly love the close proximity to Vancouver and Seattle. Bellingham has been a great place to raise a family and build life-long friendships — so grateful for all that Bellingham has given us!
What do you do?
I am the Events Director for the Downtown Bellingham Partnership. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the vibrancy and growth of our downtown. I have had the pleasure of being a part of this blooming organization for almost ten years, and I have absolutely loved playing a role in its story. My job is to produce big community celebrations! Some of our most popular events include Downtown Sounds, First Friday Art Walks, Spring and Holiday Wine Walks, the Downtown Trick-or-Treat and Downtown's Tree Lighting Ceremony. I've also been a bartender at Bayou on Bay for almost ten years, however I only muddle mojitos on Tuesdays these days. Bayou holds a special place in my heart and I have been so fortunate to cross paths with countless amazing people while standing behind that bar.
What do you love about this area?
The daily feeling of community, love and comradery; being surrounded by passionate, thoughtful, hard-working people who strive to make Bellingham the best place to be.
Womxn Among Us // March 14th // Gail Smedley
What do you do?
I have taught the humanities portion of the highly capable program at Vista Middle School for both 7th and 8th grades for 30 years! I love introducing my students to the beauty of the world through history, writing, and literature, while, also, preparing them for its realities. Striving to teach them critical thinking skills, I hope to help them analyze the events of both the past and the present, while imagining and working towards a better future. My goal is to help my students become life-long learners and aware, active citizens working towards peaceful solutions and social justice throughout the world.
What do you love about this area?
I LOVE where we live, nestled between beautiful mountains and the Salish Sea. I can drive 10 minutes to my friend’s house, where I keep my horse, and ride in our beautiful mountains for hours at a time or hike our amazing local trails or along magical beaches. If I have more time, I feel blessed that I can take a short drive up to Mt Baker for a high country hike – although I do not ride my horse up there, as she is a hot Arab and enjoys galloping too much. As the day ends, I enjoy our many restaurants and all the entertainment our area offers. Surrounded by natural beauty; fantastic, creative people; great restaurants; and entertainment, Whatcom County is a special place to live.
What do you do?
I’m retired but busier than I ever was working. I spend most of my time volunteering at the Bellingham Theatre Guild where I currently serve as President, direct shows, design lights, stage manage, build sets and assistant direct.
What do you love most about this area?
I love everything about living in this area…including the weather! But I mostly love the depth and breadth of our artistic community, particularly the performing arts. We have so many talented people in our area, most of whom are doing theatre because they love it and not because they get paid…because they aren’t.
What do you do?
I am Co-Owner & Director of Sales, Marketing and Distribution of Atwood Ales Farm Brewery
What do you love about this area?
I was born and raised in Bellingham, I am what folks refer to as a Hamster! I was imported to Blaine a couple years ago by my husband, but still consider myself a Bellinghamster. Besides the obvious reasons like mountains, water, beer and food one of my biggest reasons for loving Bellingham is the sense of community, and not just within the beer industry but within small, local businesses as a whole. Bellingham supports and encourages buying local, collaborations of all sorts and building a healthy community, and I am honored to be a part of it.
What do you do?
I taught drawing, design and sculpture for many years in colleges and universities around Puget Sound and on the San Francisco Peninsula. Currently I enjoy collaborating with college art and dance students to create installation/performances around Bellingham. I love the teaching-learning mentor relationship, with no grading or evaluating involved!
I am a working artist, creating life-sized figures of wire netting, using lights on the sculptures and then drawing the shadows to make multi-dimensional environments. I am just beginning to incorporate video to add movement and time to my installations.
I am also interested in the Waterfront Development. I served as a city juror for the art in the Renovation Project, and now “planting seed ideas” for good design and more artists/art presence in the Waterfront District.
What do you love about this area?
It is crucial for me to live in a university town! This particular college town has not only the progressive values in culture and politics that I need, but its location is exquisite! Set on a bay of the Salish Sea, where the Cascades to the north are pink in the morning sun of winter, and the skies are shot through with the dramatic colors of sunsets over the water, with Mount Baker watching over our shoulders and the Chuckanuts rolling down to the shore – wow! I love being situated an easy distance from both Vancouver and Seattle but so close to wilderness.
I love the size of this city – large enough to regularly meet some interesting new person doing exciting things, yet small enough to have a bit of an impact as one individual.
And I do love the climate!
What do you do?
I work part-time with the Univ. of British Columbia’s “Aboriginal Health and Community Administration” program, supporting the learning journey of First Nations adult students from throughout BC. My other work is as a volunteer in Bellingham with the food bank and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center.
What do you love about this area?
I love the sometimes-concentric, sometimes-overlapping circles of friends I have here AND the opportunity to feed my soul within the majestic natural beauty that surrounds us. Oh! and I love the bird watching here, too.
What do you do?
As the Executive Director of Max Higbee Center, I help deliver community-based recreation programs for teens and adults with developmental disabilities in Whatcom County. In my work, it is a pleasure to support and advocate alongside people in gaining opportunities to experience the friendships and joy of recreation. I am energized by efforts that improve our community's capacity to welcome people with disabilities and support every person to uniquely design and pursue a meaningful life.
What do you love about this area?
The people, community, and natural environment of Whatcom County have restored a sense of wonder and adventure that I misplaced at some point while "growing up". I love that our backyard holds endless opportunities to explore trails, mountains, lakes, rivers, and the Salish Sea and the community is full of wonderful people to share in the experience.
What do you do?
I am a coach, speaker, and leader. What this means is I get to have in depth, curiosity based conversations with powerful people all day long; and what they walk away is the insight and action to create the results they want in their lives. I get to use WHO I am, to inspire WHO THEY are, and the magic we create together is what changes the world one life at a time. I am also a loving wife, a dog mom, and a fanny pack wearer.
What do you love about this area?
I love the people of Bellingham, and all the pockets of community that exist here. I adore being a part of the artistic community with Sylvia Center for The Arts. While also having amazing connections with young professionals and entrepreneurs throughout the business community. And there isn’t anything better than being minutes away from the water, being near the ocean brings me peace and power and I have unlimited access living here.
What do you do?
I'm currently attending Whatcom Community College and hoping to get into the nursing program by next year. I will also be working soon for a non profit organization and will be volunteering in this area. I also wrestle for the Whatcom Free style club and i praise and worship God with all my heart.
What do you love about this area?
What i love about this area is the community. The community is filled with love and joy that i love, its such a great environment to be in.
What do you do?
I'm currently a part time Beertender/Bookkeeper and a full time puppy petter for Stone’s Throw Brewery down in Fairhaven.
What do you love about this area?
I love Bellingham because you can hike Baker in the morning and kayak the bay in the afternoon. Pretty much any outdoor activity is accessible and has a community to support you.
What do you do?
I am the president of Bellingham Technical College which is an institution that provides high quality professional technical education for today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities. BTC strives to maximize our students’ potential which in turn supports a healthy, vibrant regional economy.
What do you love about this area?
The recreational opportunities throughout the Pacific Northwest, the mild climate, and the opportunity to live near the coast is what drew my husband and I to move to the area.
What do you do for a living?
I am the Executive Director of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership.
What do you love about this area?
I’m an avid hiker, backpacker and camper so the accessibility to nature is one of the biggest things I love about living here. I also love how lush and beautiful our setting is with the incredible mountains and views out over the islands. Bellingham is blessed with all of that plus a great supportive and collaborative vibe that I think is pretty rare and special. People genuinely want others to succeed in their business and creative ventures and go out of their way to offer support and encouragement. I also love that we are pretty laid back and authentic – we aren’t that invested in being hip or cool, which is refreshing. Lastly, I have a brother and sister who also live here as well as my son, daughter and grandson so having my extended family here is also a huge bonus.
What do you do?
I am an acupuncturist and a mother of three.
What do you love about this area?
I love living in this area for several reasons. One reason is that I am close to a large portion of my family so my children can grow up knowing their cousins, aunts and uncles. Being able to see Bellingham Bay everyday is another reason. I like being near Mt. Baker to sled with the kids in the winter and hike up to Artist Point in summertime. Whenever I go on vacation I always like to come home to all of the greenness and clean air.
http://www.onpointbellingham.com/
What do you do?
Executive Director at Make Shift / Station Manager of KZAX 94.9LPFM / Musician
My new motto is “be good, do good, look good” and in that order. Step one, be good, meaning check in with myself; are my needs met physically and mentally? Step two, do good; do things that improve things for others. Whether that’s improving the day for a friend with a coffee or encouragement or improving my community through larger projects over time or maybe even improving the world! (if we’re dreaming big here) Step three, look good, pretty self explanatory but it also feeds the cycle. When I feel like I’m put together or looking fly it makes me feel good which makes it easier to do good. This motto seems simple but that’s part of why I like it.
What do you love about this area?
I love living in this area because I can grocery shop after midnight, and find vegetarian options every time I go out to eat. I love it because I can always find live music playing. I love Bellingham because everyone and their mother is in a band. I love living here because every day I meet someone new who is genuinely trying to better the community. I love living here because I can always find something good on tap. I love living here because it’s beautiful and so are the creative weirdos who live here.
What do you do?
I am the owner of Flying Bird Botanicals, an organic tea and drinking chocolate company that also makes delicious herbal body care on the side :) My role is mostly working with farmers here in the USA- including right here in Whatcom county- to source the most amazingly delicious organic herbs to make our herbal tea blends. Together with a team of amazing women and the support of my family we do our best to get our teas into as many hands as possible offering beauty and wellness to the world. We are proud to be growing our business while supporting small organic family farms and always putting community and planet above profit- it can be done :)!
What do you love about this area?
I love the incredible abundance we live in! We have amazing locally grown food and herbs, an incredibly creative community and an absolutely beautiful and amazing natural playground! Snowboarding, skiing, hiking, biking, swimming- you can do them all here. We even have an incredible youth and adult soccer league which I love too.
https://www.flyingbirdbotanicals.com/
What do you do?
I am the Executive Director at Pickford Film Center and work with a crew of smart and creative people as we come up with ways to satisfy Bellingham’s constant desire for fact, fiction, and connection.
What do you love about this area?
Bellingham seems to be in a constant state of becoming, people are comfortable with change, they accomplish a lot, they are sincere and motivated by that sincerity.
What do you do?
I had a life experience of dealing with intersectional challenges as a Deaf Black Indigenous Womxn of Color (DBIWOC) which guided me to be creative in seeking transformative solutions to dismantle systemic oppressions. From this contemplative insight, I am a co-founder and creative visionary of Cascadia Deaf Nation, a For Profit Social Enterprise which empowers Deaf Black Indigenous People of Color (DBIPOC*) in BC, WA and OR to co-create solutions to dismantle systemic oppressions or injustices through its transformative cooperative economic model (can be also known as solidarity movement model). I am also a Ph.D student in Transformative Studies at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). I also offer transpersonal/spiritual guidance on the side when time alignment permits me to.
What do I love about this area?
I truly appreciate what Bellingham offers: fertile ground of the need for authentic social and cultural change that could lead Bellingham to become more conscious of what needs to be change on the local level through critical dialogue about race and privilege. I also appreciate some people in Bellingham taking the time to communicate with me in American Sign Language (ASL) reflecting the willingness to co-create a healthy cultural shift in rebuilding human connection.
While organizing this project there came a moment that forced us to stop and think about what this campaign means and why we started it.
We knew it was about women's legacy--that the stories of women are often not preserved. The passion has always been to preserve the stories of those who have been historically minimized and/or excluded.
One of our nominees declined to participate because there was as an assumption of their gender based on their appearance versus lived experience. We knew--right then--there was a gaping hole in our campaign. Our first step was to change the "e" to "x," something we wish we would have done from the beginning. But what we've come to understand is that there is no "fix" that is easy. The conversation of inclusion is just that: it's a conversation.
The person who declined their nomination agreed to meet with us, and we talked at length about inclusion, the assumption of gender, and the fact that we're still seeking language that embraces people as they are. This person was open, generous, and so supportive of our campaign which made it a double-blow that there was no space to honor them in it.
So, for the final day of Womxn Among Us, we would like to bring attention to people. We want to participate in this conversation of awareness so that the larger culture can see people as they are. It is our goal that this campaign can evolve to be a place that honors ALL left from our history books.
To the LGBTQQIAP2S community: we will continue to listen, constantly communicate, and bring awareness to these blind spots we find within ourselves. To the one--the many--our campaign excludes: we honor you.
