Shelita Birchett Benash, MSW, is a community-engaged social work practitioner, interdisciplinary artist, researcher, and mindfulness educator. She is dedicated to transforming health literacy, self-love, self-care, and wellness in historically underserved communities through innovative mindfulness-based educational programs. She specializes in the fusion of relational mindfulness, love as health justice, and contemplative methodologies with vulnerable populations. Shelita is deeply honored and grateful to be selected as part of the first cohort of the 2024 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Advancement Intensive (TAI) Level One Training for People Serving Historically Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups in the Mindfulness Field, offered by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University School of Public Health under the guidance of Professor Eric Loucks. Her passion for lifelong learning continues at the Antioch University Graduate School Leadership & Change Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program Cohort 24, where her research focuses on developing mindfulness and indigenous wisdom-attuned health justice community engagement and leadership strategies.

Shelita is a Board Member-at-Large for the International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG.org) and Co-chair of the Marketing Committee. She also serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Adelphi University School of Social Work. Shelita's commitment to collective liberation is the cornerstone of her work. She firmly believes that mindfulness is relational, connecting us to our inner serenity while fostering love, interconnection, and peace with our surroundings, all beings, and the natural world.

Meg is a multi-passionate creature who loves to explore the many facets of creative expression, both recreationally and professionally. Her empathetic nature offers a unique sensitivity to those around her, and aids in the curation of a space for people to freely express themselves through play, art, and coaching. 

My name is Chantrelle. Some of my self identifiers include mom, maker, skeptic, and reveller. My core values are compassion, integrity, and intellectual curiosity. I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest and currently enjoy city life in Seattle as well as just about any activity that gets me out of the city and into the mountains. My day job is at Google where I help product development teams understand how everyday humans think about and interact with Cloud computing technology.

I am a certified Google "Sprint Leader" and have used this framework with Google.org (their philanthropic branch) to help non profits teams take complex, ill-defined problems and quickly align under a shared vision with clearly defined goals and deliverables.

I am also a 3rd degree black belt in an Indonesian martial art called Poekoelan. I was head instructor at a Seattle-based marital arts school and have over 15 years experience teaching martial arts and self defense to women, children, and men. I completed a two year intensive teacher training and apprenticeship program focused specifically on women’s self defense. In addition to private workshops, I have taught self defense to hundreds of women and children through organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, Seattle Central Community College, and Seattle Public Schools.

I’m Whitney, a desert rat living in Tucson for almost 2 years! I used to be a dance instructor in my home state of New York, but I moved to the Southwest to become an outdoor guide. It is my dream someday to own my own guiding and healing organization working with women who are survivors of trauma. I have become the person I am today through my experiences outdoors, and I love teaching and talking about hiking, camping, backpacking, and nature as much as I love experiencing it!

Philip Andujar earned his master’s degree in social work from Widener University in Pennsylvania and brings more than 14 years of diverse experience in the mental health rehabilitation field. Philip’s journey spans from assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities to higher education and case management. Philip finds resonance in providing vital support to individuals as they navigate life’s challenges and strive to accomplish their goals. His commitment lies in empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve personal growth, fostering resilience and well-being along their journey. Beyond his professional endeavors, Philip has a wide range of personal interests. He enjoys building intricate Lego structures, delving into captivating books and exploring the culinary world through cooking. Additionally, he is a fan of dad jokes.

I'm a social impact professional focused on digital storytelling, community building and free education programs. I currently work for TikTok managing philanthropic partnerships and scholarship programs. I was recently appointed to the Seattle City Council on the Community Technology Advisory board. I started this journey as a public heath researcher and became passionate about technology, mental health and community-building. I love learning languages (I'm on #7, free diving, and am trying to face my fears through standup comedy!

Jen Edney is a seasoned storyteller, adventurer, and explorer of the world's wonders. From the vast plains of Nebraska to the endless horizons of the open seas, Jen's journey has been a quest for meaning, connection, and truth.

Her lens captures more than images; it encapsulates the essence of human existence—the raw emotions, fleeting moments, and untold stories beneath the surface. As a sailor, a traveler, and a self-proclaimed "water baby," Jen's adventures have taken her to the far corners of the earth, where she has sailed over 50,000 nautical miles and explored over 30 countries. Named one of the "Nine Top Female Adventure Photographers" by National Geographic, Jen's career began as a photographer but has since evolved into a multi-faceted journey encompassing film, writing, teaching, mentoring, and speaking.

Jen's signature style is to immerse herself in the story, capturing the expeditionary heart of every situation she shoots. Whether creating a short film, penning a captivating article, or teaching others, her mission remains the same: to use storytelling to connect with people, inspire exploration, and bring joy to their lives. Through her photography, film, writing, teaching, mentoring, and speaking, Jen is helping to create a world that is more adventurous, more connected, and more alive.

I am a Master's student at the University of Wyoming studying public administration and environmental policy; my background is in wildlife ecology and I am an avid birder, backpacker, hunter, and forager. I grew up in Wisconsin, and spent time in Colorado, Louisiana, and Oregon before settling in Wyoming in 2020. In my free time I enjoy fiber arts (spinning and knitting) as well as drawing and painting in many mediums, bookbinding, leatherworking, cooking elaborate meals for my friends, playing roller derby, and spending time with my dog, Waverly. I have a passion for understanding the entirety of a topic, making beautiful things, and love to slow down and appreciate small details.

I have spent the past year putting a significant amount of work into my personal growth and mental health, including receiving a formal autism diagnosis and working out what that means for my life and self-care routine. I am spending time leaning into building understanding, accepting community, allowing myself immersion in special interests, and beginning to unmask in ways that allow me to be more present and authentic in my day to day life. I am hoping to continue into the future building more genuine connection in my life and learning as much as I can.

Traumatized biracial kid turned osteopathic Family Medicine doctor. Trying to overcome generational trauma any way he can—for himself, his family, and his patients. Has a love for teaching, and is core faculty at a community based residency program in Hillsboro, Oregon. Passionate about fighting health disparities, and teaching the next generations of physicians how to practice trauma informed care. Also a proponent of a mental health first approach in primary care (if we don’t ask, sometimes they don’t tell, even on the questionnaire’s!). Mostly allopathic these days, but wish I could practice more OMT! “I’ve heard people say our traumatic experiences come roaring back in our 30’s, and that’s true for me—thanks Pete Walker. Long time lover of meditation, yoga, books, journaling, the outdoors, and therapy—lots of therapy. I’m learning to find peace & solace in deeper spiritual practices as I look inwards, and shed light on painful wounds. I’m a work in process, but there are some good insights included! Thanks for having me :)”

I am a photographer, creative writer, mental health advocate, and paradox-holding mystic of an empath who is an all-around intense neurodivergent single mom to a 21-year-old son and a 14-year-old autistic trans son. I adore diving into the human psyche to try to understand the human mind. Yet, I am repeatedly reorientated to my energetic body, which reminds me that it has an intelligence my mind will never comprehend. I have learned to dance with both through years of work with my mentor and coach, Adriana Rizzolo, who has shown me a path toward my purpose and to love in ways I never imagined. I consider my primary language to be through visual emotion. My photography allows me to speak when words fail me. In my day job, I am a Creative Producer for a winery and olive mill in Oregon, and in my personal life, I have found a sense of purpose by using my art to hold space as a healing modality for people's grief, my own included.

In my work life, I help fee-for-service financial planners get out of their own way in order to grow their practices. With over two decades of industry expertise, a knack for making meaningful connections, and a deftness for breaking emotional and mental barriers, I spend my days in delightful 1:1 coaching or small group coaching experiences. When I am not with clients I create content and tools to help them better create the businesses they love.

Most of my life is not work, however. That's when I enjoy traveling, reading, skiing, hiking and riding bikes—road, tandem, or e-bike depending on mood and circumstances. I try to experience gratitude every day, whether it is something as simple as the fact I still love my husband even after almost 40 years and three kids, or the hummingbirds that love to hover around our flowers.

In many respects I don't feel my background life story is particularly remarkable. I was and am very fortunate to have had the socioeconomic status and resources I do available to me. The pursuit of what interested me led me down a path fraught with self-created misfortune and also life altering experiences that granted me the space to be grateful for everything and everyone I have had in my life. I found my way into my career through a passion for health, and osteopathic medicine was the the first path in healthcare training I was shown that was more in line with that concept. I've learned through the many years that we as a profession and a society at large are disconnected from the lifeline of health. It is my goal to bring us back on the path to the inherent healing that is present in the universe and within us all.

I grew up on Rainbow farm in the Oregon coast range with back to the land hippy parents.  After college I was a bike mechanic before accidentally having a career at Microsoft bringing ads to the internet.  After a decade of corporate life I decided that I wanted to be a doctor and went to medical school at 38yo. This pretty much bankrupted us but my wife has a flair for adventure and didn't mind at all.  I lived in the Caribbean and then NYC during medical school before returning to my roots in the Pacific Northwest.  I am an outpatient adult medicine doctor and love my life.  I also love all things with 2 wheels, unusual people, and having adventures. My superpower is not being judgementa

Hi, I'm Camille, a 31-year-old clinical social worker and the clinical director of a small group practice in Bozeman, MT. When I'm not working with clients, you can find me painting, being a human in nature, or curled up with a good book. My work and passions are centered on fostering connection—whether it’s through therapy, creativity, or nature.

Hey everyone! I'm Wendy. I haven’t written a bio in…well, ever, so here it goes. I am a somebody to many and a nobody to many more. I call Indiana my hometown, and nature my home. I’m a Christian and a sinner, sister to 4 older sinners, daughter of 2, and mother of 1. I’ve always had friends, played sports and made good grades, but my emotional deprivation and sense of wanderlust always had me feeling a tad displaced. After moving back and forth from Indiana to Tennessee after high school, mixed with having a child and getting divorced, I wound up in Indiana to help with the care of my aging parents while my son stayed in Tennessee. He will be 34 this month and I love him beyond words.

Nate is a sweet silly goose who's crazy for nature, connection, and noodles. He's driven by food, a curiosity for all things in the natural world, and an appreciation for the splendid and challenging variety experiences that come with existence.

A lifetime of pursuing ever-changing interests has seen him explore a degree in theater and video production, professional experience as a coffee artist, DJ, vintage vendor, and cannabis expert, and many hobbies in photography, cooking and fermentation, and foraging. An intense case of burnout from a thriving 6 years in the cannabis industry made him decide to change direction, buying a camper van and spending the last year and a half healing, exploring, seeing beautiful sights and cultures, and reconnecting with his loved ones and self. He finds himself recently landing in Bellingham and is looking forward to building his next chapter, one he wants to make full of love, community, creativity, and again, noodles.

I don't have bio from this incredible gal yet but let me (Katelyn) tell you a bit about her. Natalie is the kind of friend who you call at any hour for anything and she's there. Her kindness just seeps into every action. She in inherently joyous and permission giving and so damn real. She is always down and the kinda friend that supports your dreams in absolutely every way possible. She's inclusive and treats and sees humans as humans. As a Doctor she saw a few transgender patients who were so impressed with her respectful and whole-hearted professional support that they sent their friends. Natalie now has magnitudes more trans patients than the average doc and is excited to act as a bridge person for colleagues who have had less exposure. I'm sure she wouldn't put this in a bio but I'm writing this thing and I think that that shit, says a lot. She also starts her answer to complex questions with 'I'll tell you what I don't know' and it's the most disarming and wonderful shit you'll ever experience in a chat.

Rachael identifies as a Jill of all trades, with ADHD, so a master of none. :) Her first love has always been the outdoors followed closely by anthropology, art, music, dance, and journalism. Rachael’s initial dream was art school or the Peace Corps, but finances pushed her into the unlikely direction of the Air Force. After an eye-opening experience on active duty as a loadmaster, Rachael returned to a more authentic path determined to help and heal the community of people displaced by war around her. She pursued a BA in International Studies with minors in Arabic and International Development at Colorado State University, studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, and volunteered as an English, GED, and Naturalized Citizen Testing tutor at the Immigrant & Refugee Center of Northern Colorado.

Eventually, it was time for Rachael to return to the peace and pace of the outdoors and allow her creative energy to expand. A partnership with an outdoorsman quickly set her on a journey of seasonal life between Alaska & Colorado and became a guide for wilderness expeditions for veterans and retreats for family caregivers. With a little one in the mix, Rachael got a flexible full-time job at CSU serving student veterans in higher education and a real estate license. She is now finding passion in being a socialist landlord, building a lady commune, and helping veterans, first time homebuyers, and women build wealth through investing in real estate.

I'm Terri and was born in Alaska and raised in the NW.  I was a competitive Ice Skater from the time I was 6yrs old and started coaching right after high school.  I spent 3years in Washington DC working for Eastern airlines and came back to Seattle in 1988.  I've been a Flight Attendant since then for Alaska Airlines and spent 20 years at the Anchorage base before returning to Seattle in 2017.  I have a wonderful 25 year old son and have been trying to figure out my escape from the airline business for the last several years after a divorce.  I look forward to meeting you all!

I am a mom of 13 year 13-year-old and 3 month old, engaged to Bryan, I own my own financial planning business called WeRise Financial, I love to cook, entertain, fuss with my plants, go on outdoor adventures, attend live music and have movie marathons. I am also casually interested in astrology.

Born and raised in New Jersey, I loved my childhood but quickly realized I possessed a west coast soul after adolescence. That pull caused me to move shortly after college to Southern California, Northern California and finally Washington; fulfilling my northwest migration. I currently hypothesize that kind/adventurous/curious/open minded people, and searching for/spending time in wild places are the source of my pilgrimage. Three years ago on this journey, I found a caring partner and quickly became a father to my now 12 year old silly yet emotionally mature stepdaughter. Three months ago, I met my newborn son who I now love taking on little adventures. I still cling to a strong sense of personal identity with this relatively new family but have a strong desire and vision to build a more expansive identity with them.