Add a free community “to-do” to your holiday fun hit list: Mount Baker Theatre’s holiday tower lighting. December 1, 2017 marks the inaugural illumination of the MBT tower with new permanent LED lights. The lights will enhance the visibility of this beloved building in the night sky and can also change colors to celebrate different community celebrations.
Mount Baker Theatre’s iconic town will be a beacon of holiday cheer. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
Join MBT for hot chocolate, cider and live music from local student musicians in the main entry foyer on Commercial Street around 5:00 p.m. After a brief dedication, MBT will flip the switch and brighten your night at approximately 5:30 p.m. While the lighting celebration is free of charge with no reservations required, you can purchase tickets to come inside afterward for A Charlie Brown Christmas, starting at 7:00 p.m. Downtown Bellingham’s monthly art walk is also happening that evening for some extra pre-show entertainment.
On May 24 Ingela will celebrate her 65 birthday by participating in her 25th Ski to Sea race with yogic power.
My husband and I are not particularly fitness-minded people. We do not belong to a gym or run in races or play organized sports. We do, however, have our own ways of keeping fit and healthy, both mentally and physically. I like to put on my running shoes and head out the door to jog on the dike along the creek. He likes to grab a pair of pruning shears and head out to the woods and clear brush. My sanctuary is a yoga pose, his is the steep hill behind our house. I like to focus on myself, he likes to accomplish something. Either way, we manage to stay happy and able bodied.
As the seasons change and we settle into autumn, I am feeling the need to ramp up my own exercise routine. Gone are the long days of effortless workouts like swimming with the kids and hours-long hikes across our property. With winter comes more time spent indoors where we tend toward a more sedentary life. We also tend toward baking more bread, cookies and cakes. And eating them.
My husband loves the arrival of colder weather and rain. He never has a problem getting outside and moving around. I, on the other hand, need a little push out the door and into the cold, damp day. So I’ve made a decision to mix it up this year and find some running alternatives to actively embrace the seasonal shift. Here are some options I’ve come up with to stay fit for fall in Whatcom County:
Indoor Soccer:
Bellingham Sportsplex boasts two indoor turf soccer arenas. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports and Recreation.
I played soccer competitively from age ten through high school. My strong legs and gift of endurance made me a natural midfielder. I could run up and down the field the entire game, never subbing out. That was 20 years ago. In the two decades since my senior year, I’ve played an organized game of soccer maybe ten times. But I bet I’m still pretty good, considering. Maybe it’s time to find out.
The Bellingham Sportsplex adult leagues offer competitive skill-level-based games. The registration is by team, which means a player/manager organizes a group of players and applies for the league based on their skill level. They offer Men’s Open, Over 30, Over 40, Women’s Open, Over 25 and Co-Ed divisions.
With a trio of young children at home, I do not venture to many group yoga classes these days. My home practice is coming along quite well, but I would definitely benefit from some professional guidance.
There are countless yoga practices to choose from, which can be overwhelming and confusing. I have tried several. My preference is Iyengar, which is a dynamic and rigorous form of yoga that focuses on balance, strength, stamina, flexibility and relaxation. But what I most appreciate is the emphasis on alignment. Yoga Journal refers to Iyengar as “the practice of precision.” When following the Iyengar school of yoga, you pay close attention to anatomical details and the alignment of each posture. And if this sounds simple, easy or boring, my description does the practice an injustice. It is a challenging and rewarding form of yoga that is as therapeutic as it is strengthening.
Ingela Abbott, the founder and director of Yoga Northwest in Fairhaven, has assembled quite possibly the most highly trained, certified group of yoga instructors in the greater Pacific Northwest.
There are a bevy of nice facilities for everyone to enjoy at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center.
I’ve recently enrolled my kids in swimming lessons and now spend a couple hours a week sitting poolside watching children of all ages divided up into the lanes. One day I thought, “Why am I not in diving in?” After many, many years of pounding the pavement, swimming seems like a soothing activity for my joints. I’ve never been an avid swimmer and I don’t know any specific strokes, but I can make my way from one end to the other at least a few times without stopping. And you’ve got to start somewhere.
There are several indoor pools in Whatcom County with lap swim times sure to fit into anyone’s busy week.
Biking is another great way to get some fresh air and exercise all year round.
A new concept for me is the idea of group training, which adds a bit of socializing and accountability into a workout. I used to lift weights regularly but it has been over five years since I had any sort of routine. And I’m a safety freak. I won’t venture into a high-intensity, competition-driven situation where I’m vulnerable to injury. I want a high-energy, thoughtful workout detailed to my needs.
And I have found the perfect place. It’s called Trailhead Athletics.
I spoke with Nicola Mann at Trailhead and she explained that their philosophy is a holistic approach to fitness training that involves cardiovascular and muscle conditioning, balance, flexibility and nutrition. At Trailhead, you schedule your workouts. And, for me, this means I will go. If I schedule and pay for a session you can bet I will show up—even on a cold, drizzly day.
In addition to group workouts, Trailhead offers personal training or a combination of both. Whatever your fitness level, beginner or seasoned athlete, Nicola stresses that the ultimate goal of Trailhead is to provide not only a qualified staff of trainers but a safe, calculated fitness schedule to encourage positive results.
Now I’m not saying I’ll get out and do all of these things each week, or each month, or at all. But it is nice to have options. The easiest choice for me will most likely remain my trusty running shoes, always at the ready to the right of my front door for when I get those 45 free minutes to be alone, moving and thinking just for me. And even as the autumn days get shorter and colder, I will just find myself running faster.
The new Meals on Wheels subaru will make a big difference for those receiving Meals on Wheels services in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Meels on Wheels and More Facebook Page.
In honor of the vehicle donation, Dewey Griffin Subaru will host a celebration at their new Iowa Street Dealership on Friday, October 27 at 11:00 a.m. The event will feature the presentation of the vehicle, wrapped with Meals on Wheels America and ‘Subaru Loves to Help’ co-branding, to the Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA) by a representative of Subaru of America. Immediately following the reception, WCOA and Dewey Griffin staff will join a volunteer driver on the new vehicle’s maiden Meals on Wheels delivery and then on to Bellingham Senior Activity Center for a second celebration at 1:00 p.m.
Why: This fall, Subaru donated 50 new 2018 Subaru Outback vehicles to select Meals on Wheels programs throughout the country, to be used in the delivery of an estimated 53,000 meals to an additional 3,700 seniors across 39 states. Subaru has supported the national Meals on Wheels network for the last nine years through its annual philanthropic event, Share the Love, contributing more than $12 million to Meals on Wheels America and providing more than 1.7 million nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to seniors.
The Subaru and Meals on Wheels partnership is part of Subaru Loves to Help, a pillar of the automaker’s larger Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment effort dedicated to making a positive impact on local communities across the country.
Where: Dewey Griffin Subaru, 1800 Iowa Street in Bellingham.
On November 8 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Lydia Place and The Upfront Theatre will partner to take a serious stand for homeless families at the second annual Humor for Housing. Presented by Pysden Team at Caliber Home Loans, this comedic event is an annual fundraiser benefitting Lydia Place, a Bellingham non-profit celebrating 28 years of housing and supportive services to local families.
“The Upfront Theatre is partnering with Lydia Place to address a serious need in our community,” said Billy Tierney, General Manager of The Upfront Theatre. “We are thrilled to host Humor for Housing again for a hilarious hour-long improv show where we will use our action-packed comedy to bring forth the chuckles and belly laughs from the supportive folks of Whatcom County to help Lydia Place end family homelessness.”
Proceeds of this exclusive event will help Lydia Place get families out of cars and into homes this fall. Along with housing, case management and rent support, Lydia Place provides in-home parenting education and counseling. These services support Lydia Place’s mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations. The vision of Lydia Place is a compassionate community where everyone has a home and the opportunity to thrive.
“From the moment our opening act took the stage (last year), it was an hour and fifteen minutes of jam packed laughs, applause and joy,” said Lydia Place Community Engagement Director, Shultzie Willows. “Having unique and accessible events that the community can support like Humor for Housing is a central component of our engagement program, giving space and opportunity to support the work of Lydia Place, and families we serve.”
For the event’s title sponsor, Melanie Pysden, and Pysden Team at Caliber Home Loans, the mission of Lydia Place hits close to home. “Lydia Place’s dedication to ending homelessness for the children of our community is what drives my passion to support them. It is truly a great honor to partner up for the second annual Humor for Housing event and to be given the opportunity to share my own history with child homelessness, and help others who are currently experiencing it. I hope to see a sell-out crowd again this year!”
Seamstress Karin Porret (left), assists trainee Maddie Bishop (right), in the sewing. Photo credit: Megan Blight.
Stephanie Murillo is the owner of Snap-EZ, a home-based business that creates cloth diapers in a range of sizes, from a child’s 2T to size 44” adult. The mention of cloth diapers can sometimes create images of cotton fabric, safety pins and leaky plastic pants. However, the concepts of yesteryear are nothing like the cloth diapers of today, and Stephanie knows exactly what it takes to produce the absorbent product in her Blaine home.
An array of colors are available. Photo courtesy: Snap-EZ.
Stephanie has owned the company since March. She produces the cloth diapers with the highest quality materials and all of her supplies (excluding the elastic, snaps and hemp fleece) are made in the USA. Snap-EZ has an array of products to meet all their customer’s needs, offering the Pocket Diaper, Stuffable Brief and the All-In-One Training Pant. The Pocket Diaper is as described, consisting of a pocket at the back where an insert or pre-fold is put into place for absorbency. The inner layer next to the skin consists of soft knit polyester microfleece to keep the wearer dry. The outer waterproof material is sewn with latex free swimwear elastic which can last up to years of use.
The Stuffable Brief is made with the same concept and fabrics, except with a plush fold over the elastic, making the brief similar to underwear that can be taken on and off with ease. The All-In-One Training Pant is equivalent in child and youth sizes. All of the diapers are made with multiple rows of snaps for comfort and for allowing the best fit for the leg, hip and waist. Removing the insert can also create a swimwear product. Size charts, cleaning and washing instructions are on her website at www.snap-ez.com.
Stephanie Murillo demonstrates the concept behind the Stuffable Brief. Photo credit: Megan Blight.
Stephanie is focusing where the need is most and is concentrating on modernizing the company and making it more affordable. Using cloth in lieu of disposable may be an individual choice or an economic one. Estimating that a person can go through an average of two to six diapers per day, switching to cloth could be monetarily beneficial, not even considering the green or allergy advantages. Physically challenged and/or adults with incontinence issues may also benefit.
Stephanie packs and ships the items herself, clarifying there is no outside mention of diapers on the packages or boxes, as some customers – especially adults – appreciate the discretion.
“I love being able to help people with something that works,” Stephanie explains.
She especially understands that her adult customers need a product that does the job, while providing the utmost freedom without the swish, swish of a noisy disposable diaper. As such, Snap-EZ has perfected their merchandise. The company even offers regular-rise (for overnight), and low-rise (for daytime use). With approximately 60 percent of her clientele being adult men, Stephanie is focusing on masculine colors like black and dark green for the mature line. For her child and youth products, she is leaning towards brighter, fun colors and has even delved into a pre-order print line that is popular. The company does not offer preemie or sizes under 2T, as Stephanie feels that this market has been filled. “There are so many other companies that make those sizes,” explains Stephanie.
All the cloth diapers are made by hand. Photo credit: Megan Blight.
Snap-EZ employs three part-time seamstresses and three more in training. This is currently a perfect part-time opportunity for stay-at-home moms.
During my interview with Stephanie, every so often the bustle of activity from her home-schooled children seeped into the living and kitchen areas. It was apparent that this home is a well-run organization. It must be for it all to work.
Periodically, her small children approached Stephanie with requests like a quick homework check, assistance finding a toy, to simply be held or, during the noon hour, requests for food. Her eldest son helped by walking into the kitchen and making lunch. Competently and independently swirling pasta on a hot stove and serving his siblings, it is evident that the care that has gone into raising her children has ultimately spilled over into her company.
It is the same service, quality and care that goes into each one of the diapers her business creates. Believing in a product, constantly striving for efficiency and continually studying ways to make it more affordable all meld together to form a thriving local business.
Hugh and Alex Newmark's Best Buds Gaming Lounge is located in Fairhaven's McKenzie alley. Photo courtesy: Best Buds Gaming Lounge.
In early October, costumed gamers line the alleyway outside of Best Buds Gaming Lounge as they eagerly await the grand opening of Fairhaven’s newest venue. Wafts of the delicious aroma of melted mozerella and chicken wings can be smelled and thundering echoes of World of Warcraft can be heard amidst cheers from the employees inside. The lounge is bordered by sleek wood — each piece hand-stained with great care by the owners — luxurious leather couches, board games and, of course, giant televisions and gaming consoles as far as the eye can see.
This is newlywed Hugh and Alex Newmark’s first business venture together. Hugh and Alex’s love of gaming was a big inspiration for wanting to create this business, Hugh says, as gaming has always brought them together. “This is a place for all gamers to unite,” Alex says.
Gamers unite as they play a vast array of video games at Best Buds Gaming Lounge, home of 1,794 games and counting. Photo courtesy: Best Buds Gaming Lounge.
Best Buds is in the heart of Historical Fairhaven, in the underground McKenzie alley. Although this area has long been zoned the entertainment district of Fairhaven, Best Buds is one of the first establishments to be open late at night. “That was what really drew us to want to open in Fairhaven,” Hugh explains. “It previously had almost no nightlife appeal and we saw how we could help develop that.”
Best Buds is one of the only places in the world that hosts a full-service console arcade, restaurant and bar, Hugh says, all at an affordable price. Not only can you play one of 1,805+ games (and counting) on 22 different platforms, but you can also enjoy mozzerella sticks, chicken wings and locally brewed beer at the same time.
Making Best Buds a reality was a creative endeavor, Alex says. She and Hugh hoped to do as much of the work as possible, to save money as well as to give it a truly unique feeling. Alex explains that when they first were given the keys, the venue was barren, with cement floors and walls and little individuality.
Today, the space is warm and inviting – elegant for a gaming lounge. The wood working and custom bar are pristine and flawless. You can tell that attention has been given to every last detail. “When we aimed for high-end, we never pictured that this would be where locals would come when they wanted to go somewhere fancy, but it is,” Hugh laughs. “Every detail is meticulously thought through to make it the best possible gaming experience for everyone.”
Best Buds offers late night food and entertainment in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy: Best Buds Gaming Lounge.
“We wanted this to be a place that everyone could feel at home,” Alex says. Best Buds is focused on creating a welcoming, positive environment. Gaming is often considered to be a solo activity, but that’s the beauty of the lounge. Best Buds provides a place where people can come together and play the games they love.
Best Buds focuses on celebrating diversity within the community and being an accepting and welcoming place for all, Alex explains. “The environment is different every night. You’ll see a married couple out on a date night and before you know it, there’s a ten-year-old asking if he can play Mario Kart against them,” Alex laughs. “There’s really something for everyone here.”
“Even my Rabbi loves to come in and play Super Smash Brothers,” Hugh says with a smile. They are hoping to affectionately rename this corner of Fairhaven, “Nerd-haven,” with the help of neighboring Moon Base Games and Comics, another McKenzie alley establishment.
By day, Best Buds provides a space for all ages to come and play games. At 8:00 p.m., the venue changes to being 18+; one of the only places in Fairhaven to provide entertainment for those under 21.
There are hourly and daily passes available at an unbelievably affordable price, ranging from $5 to $15. For the most avid players, there is a monthly $45 membership, providing them with 10 percent off food and drinks, as well as guest passes.
Hugh and Alex Newmark’s Best Buds Gaming Lounge in Fairhaven’s McKenzie alley. Photo credit: Ryan Chapman/ Chapman photography.
The lounge also welcomes games and donations in exchange for membership credit. “All of the money spent on memberships goes directly back into buying new games or powering our incredible power bill, as well as making it possible for us to host release parties down the road, or having themed pajama movie nights,” Hugh says.
“One of the most rewarding parts about running Best Buds is our ability to give back to the community,” Hugh explains. Already they have donated $1,000 in memberships to the Bellingham Police Department to help raise money for the K-9 units bulletproof vests, as well as $2,000 to the Bellingham School District.
Best Buds will be hosting a Halloween costume party on the evening of Saturday, October 28 and the lounge is now booking private events and parties. Come early, Hugh says, as the venue fills up quickly.
Hugh and Alex are already looking toward the future of Best Buds, hoping to soon add Dance Dance Revolution pads to the mix. Best Buds is something they will continue to pour their heart and soul into, as it is both their passion and their business. “The most rewarding part of this experience is having an amazing wife as a business partner,” Hugh says. “We continue to learn from each other every day. We did this though constant hard work and determination, and that’s the most rewarding part.”
Rocky helped comfort kids during therapy. Photo courtesy: Julia Creech.
If you’re a working parent with zero time for anything else (because two full time jobs is plenty, right?), you should meet Julia Creech. Julia is a Physical Therapist Assistant at Saint Joseph Hospital in Bellingham. She has three kids and two grandkids. In her “spare time,” she plays soccer and runs marathons.
Julia is a busy problem solver. After finding a dearth of products to display her marathon medals, she started Marathon Memories n’ More, a local business dedicated to eternalizing life’s priceless triumphs and benchmarks. But it is Julia’s most recent endeavor that has the power to eternalize her story and, much more importantly, the survival, independence and triumph she stands for.
Julia is always running. Photo courtesy: Julia Creech.
In the summer of 2014, Julia founded Kids in Motion Therapy Clinic (KIMTC), a nonprofit which provides both in-home and center-based speech, physical and occupational therapy to children with neurodevelopmental disorders throughout Whatcom County.
The clinic grew organically, finding roots all the way back in Julia’s first career as a professional horse trainer in California. After a pelvic injury, her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Air Force and her family’s eventual relocation to Washington State, Julia and her family decided to raise service dogs. Julia loved training animals and wanted to spend more time at home with her children, so it was a perfect fit. What Julia didn’t expect was how inspired she would become by the simple way service dogs impact peoples’ everyday lives.
Enter: Rocky. Rocky was supposed to be trained as a Certified Assistance Dog for a person in a wheelchair. Rocky, however, just couldn’t pass the final test. He was perfectly behaved inside the house, but outside, the overwhelming desire to chase sticks got the better of him every time. So, Assistance Dog was out. But Julia isn’t one to give up, especially not on someone with such spirit! They switched gears and began working on Rocky’s therapy dog certification. He was a perfect fit.
When Rocky was invited to visit a young woman in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital, everything changed. After a horse riding accident put her in a coma, she was starting to wake up. Her family asked if Rocky could be there, hopeful his presence would comfort her. Rocky sat diligently at her side, paws up on the bed so he was right at eye level. The moment she saw Rocky, her eyes lit up.
Rocky relaxing during a hospital visit. Photo courtesy: Julia Creech.
After that, the young woman’s physical therapist and occupational therapist requested that Rocky be present for all her therapy sessions. As Rocky faithfully assisted her toward health, the hospital’s Pediatric Occupational Therapist began to take notice, eventually asking if Julia and Rocky would be able to help in the Children’s Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP). It was working there, alongside Rocky, that Julia saw how great the need was for children’s therapy services.
Julia was already working on her prerequisites for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at Whatcom Community College with the intent of becoming an outpatient sports PTA, but she was so deeply moved by the impact Rocky and the CNP therapists had on children’s lives, she knew her direction had to change.
But in November 2013, Rocky fell ill. Shockingly, that same week, Julia was diagnosed with cancer. After hormone therapy and multiple surgeries, Julia beat cancer. Beloved Rocky, however, did not make it. It was a heartbreaking time for so many whose lives had been transformed by Julia and Rocky’s unwavering commitment. Of course, Julia and her family felt it the deepest, but Julia had to keep going.
Rocky helped comfort kids during therapy. Photo courtesy: Julia Creech.
When Rocky passed away, she and her daughter got matching tattoos of his name. (Their tattoo artist was the father of the first patient that Rocky had helped at CNP.) Rocky became the reason and inspiration for Julia’s next mission: continuing the work she and Rocky had started together and taking the next steps of advocacy, awareness and expanding access, so that all children who need therapy have therapy.
With Rocky’s passing, Kids in Motion Therapy Clinic was born. Immediately, Julia wanted to go buy equipment and find a space to house it all. But a Speech Therapist she worked with suggested, “Let’s do it from the home first.” Neither of them realized how ground-breaking this idea would be.
Many of the kids who need therapy are from large families or single parent families. Having to pack up the whole family, haul them across town and keep them occupied for an hour, just for one child’s therapy session isn’t always realistic. Now imagine if more than one person in the household has weekly appointments. These types of situations make it extremely challenging for families to meet their children’s therapy needs.
Home health services allow the therapist to come to the patient. The therapist and the child meet for an hour of therapy. The therapist brings therapy balls and games, while also integrating items in the home environment, which facilitates carryover. The parents are taught the routines, which when repeated provide better and more thorough results. Also, by giving families the opportunity to work on daily “therapy homework,” parents have another way to strengthen their relationship by working toward a common goal.
The Fall Gala is Kids in Motion’s biggest fundraiser. Photo courtesy: Julia Creech.
In addition to unwittingly tackling the common disconnection between home and therapy, Kids in Motion Therapy Clinic fills a critical care gap in Whatcom County by providing therapies to children whose families wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them.
Most insurance companies only cover a handful of visits per year. This is where Kids in Motion steps in. KIMTC doesn’t prioritize private insurance over state insurance. With the proper funding, KIMTC would be able to take this even further. The goal is to be able to provide therapy regardless of insurance payments. If a child is near a breakthrough, such as being able to speak or walk, they should be able to continue with needed therapy to reach these important milestones, regardless of their family’s finances.
The importance of getting kids therapy in a timely manner cannot be overstated. Kids move through developmental milestones like rolling, crawling, walking and skipping very quickly. Without timely intervention to meet these “windows of opportunity” for each milestone, disabled children are robbed of more and more pieces of the meaningful, fulfilling, independent lives they all deserve.
The reality, however, is that without selfless inspirations like Rocky and envelope-pushing go-getters like Julia, these stories don’t get shared and the most vulnerable children among us suffer. Julia and Rocky have started something crucial with Kids in Motion, but it will take all of us to make the difference.
This November is Kids in Motion’s second annual Reach for the Stars Gala. The Gala is KIMTC’s biggest opportunity to raise funds for direct services and spread awareness about neurodevelopmental disorders and the need in Whatcom County. The first Gala in 2016 raised over $8,600, which has supported the clinic over the past year by providing the therapists’ salaries and equipment necessary for high quality therapy.
Join Julia and KIMTC on November 4 from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Bellingham Country Club to carry on Rocky’s legacy and support their life-changing work: bringing therapy to the children in Whatcom County who need it most.
It’s time to break out the Halloween decorations and stock up on candy! The spooky holiday is just around the corner so why not go all-out? This year, make your house the spookiest on the block!
Do you have your costume picked out yet? Will you be scary or silly? Will you make a statement or opt for something a little more conventional? There are lots of good ideas out there. Get creative and have a little fun! And while you contemplate the perfect costume and decoration ideas, be sure to check out the many great things to do this weekend in and around Bellingham—Oct. 20—22. Don’t forget to check our full events calendar for all the great local happenings.
WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.
Najla Mohamedlamin has had many positive experiences with the Simpson Intercultural Center at Whatcom Community College. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
Nestled in a corner hall of Whatcom Community College, the Simpson Intercultural Center is surrounded by students studying together at tables and taking a rest between classes. Inside, the atmosphere is warm, filled with posters and manifestos of inclusivity and tolerance. Students sit around the room in small groups, talking amongst themselves and laughing. The Intercultural Center provides a safe space for students from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities, and supports them as they balance their schoolwork, hone their leadership skills and build friendships.
Dr. Betsy Hasegawa thanking the Lummi Blackhawk Dancers during the Indigenous People’s Day celebration co-sponsored by the Simpson Intercultural Center. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
For student Najla Mohamedlamin, the Intercultural Center is a place where she feels safe being herself, something that she doesn’t feel everywhere on campus. “I attended the Student Leading Change Conference and asked where on campus I could practice my prayer safely. Betsy (Director Dr. Betsy Hasegawa) answered that the Intercultural Center was working to provide space for Muslim students to do prayer. After that, I felt the I.C. was such an amazing place to meet people who are different from me, but same in heart.”
Midday on Wednesdays, the center is lively. Students and faculty members come together for their pot-luck lunch discussion group, Stone Soup. The gathering provides the space and structure for discussions on culture and current events important to the students. For Najla, discussions with her cohort through Stone Soup has helped her shape a new perspective. “I have always had an open mind and am a tolerant person, but all the discussions have helped me see others in a new light and opened my mind even further. It has allowed me to embrace others on a deeper level.” She continues, “The I.C. has especially been helpful to me in the practice of listening and in the mindful consideration of others. We take turns speaking and I’ve learned to lead and participate in discussion in a way that doesn’t marginalize anyone in the group.”
The Simpson Intercultural Center, located in the Syre Building of Whatcom Community College, on a sleepy Monday morning. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
Much of the focus of the Simpson Intercultural Center is on developing leadership within students. The center holds workshops to help them develop public speaking and organizing skills, and they practice with each other in a supportive space. In this way, students who transfer to other institutions to finish their schooling have the confidence to continue practicing their leadership and organizing in other settings as well. “A lot of our students who transfer to Western take up leadership roles there,” says Director, Dr. Betsy Hasegawa. “They get involved in student government and associated students activities, and they work on campus. Many who otherwise hadn’t considered going beyond their undergrad, do go on to graduate school or intend to become administrators and come back to colleges.”
Student Jackie Rumble has been involved with the Intercultural Center since 2015. “For me, the I.C. has allowed me to not just find my community, but to see my community through new eyes.” For many students, the skills they learn participating in group activities at the center allow them to take further steps as leaders. For Jackie, “Working with the I.C. has expanded my leadership skills and taught me to reach out. I just recently facilitated a workshop at the Students of Color Conference on Heart Mapping.”
Najla Mohamedlamin has had many positive experiences with the Simpson Intercultural Center at Whatcom Community College. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
When asked in what ways the extended community of Bellingham could better support intercultural students, Dr. Hasegawa is clear. “People could hire our students. It is a great way to diversify work forces and I’d love to see more employers take chances on folks who are systemically non-dominant.” She continues that many of the students face barriers to work and school that are out of their control. “A lot of folks who come to the center are first-generation college, sometimes English is not their first language. For queer and trans students, they face objections around who they are and what they represent. For our undocumented students, even when they have social security numbers, there are fears and stigmas associated with them.”
As students who attend Whatcom Community College move through their studies and on to bright futures, Dr. Hasegawa recounts what she sees as the payoff for the efforts students have put into the center. “For students who started out thinking they weren’t college material, to move forward and for them to say ‘I can be a city councilperson if I want to,’ and see themselves as intellectuals and academics and change makers, that is the goal. For the students who find their way here, I hope for them to really take up their leadership in the world and to change the world. That’s the world I want to live in.”
The cards are simple yet artistic. Photo courtesy: Sara Holdnick.
Submitted by: Sara Holodnick
Bellingham-based writer and multimedia artist, Sara Holodnick, will debut her Sweet/Nothing Oracle Deck on October 17 through the crowd-sourcing platform, Kickstarter. The Sweet/Nothing Oracle Deck is the first of its kind. Unlike standard illustrated tarot or oracle cards, the deck features a minimalist design with one word per card, all selected from original poetry written by Holodnick.
The poetry is poignant and powerful. Photo courtesy: Sara Holodnick.
“As a writer, I’m a word person. I’ve always found great meaning and inspiration in words,” said Holodnick. “They paint a picture in my head instead of seeing one someone else has painted for me. I wanted to try my hand at making a deck that took advantage of all the beauty and meaning a single word can provide in the context of a reading.”
The Sweet/Nothing Oracle Deck features 77 cards with an accompanying 128-page guidebook. Within the guidebook, readers will discover 33 original poems with bolded words to denote the oracle cards in the context of their written whole. The guidebook also provides best practices and a journal for reading reflection.
Designed for those who love words and are inspired by their meaning, the deck is for people seeking opportunities for self-care, healing, divination, creative inspiration and reflection.
Pre-orders of the Sweet/Nothing Oracle Deck will be available for $50 through Kickstarter beginning on October 17, with a limited number of early bird orders available for $45. Decks are slated to ship in February 2018.
The cards are simple yet artistic. Photo courtesy: Sara Holodnick.
The Sweet/Nothing Oracle Deck features several local collaborations, including printing of the deck and guidebook through LithtexNW and an original Golden Gate constellation painting by Skagit artist Christina Miglino on the back of the cards. Original music and video production for the Kickstarter project were also provided by Bellingham-based singer-songwriter Sarah Goodin and Campfire Photography.
Holodnick debuted the project—including the poems, cards and a series of handmade altars—at a gallery opening at Honey Salon (310 W Holly, Bellingham) during Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s first Friday October Art Walk. The collection will be on display through the end of November.
Sara Holodnick (aka Sara Galactica) is a Bellingham writer and artist best known for her work as co-founder of Good Time Girls Tours. Holodnick utilizes inventive and unexpected mediums such as original cocktails, walking tours and divination decks to tell and examine stories.
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