Rowan is a queer, non-binary writer, illustrator, artist, and community activator of Mi’kmaq descent and white settler heritage. They hold an MFA in Writing and an MS in Library and Information Science. With over 18 years of experience in nonprofit and library services, Rowan brings a deep commitment to knowledge equity and community engagement. Her
Joshua Franks is the Director of Native Children and Youth Funding at the Children’s Funding Project and is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. He is committed to ensuring access to health and wellness resources for Native American and Alaska Native peoples. With decades of experience advocating for
Nancy Haque is driven by a passion for making the world a better place, a belief in the ability of people to make positive social change and an understanding that how we treat each other in the work matters just as much as the outcome. The daughter of immigrants from Bangladesh, Nancy never wanted
Ari Rosales (they/them) is a writer, educator, and nonprofit professional with over 20 years of experience working at the intersections of LGBTQIA+ justice, youth advocacy, and community-based philanthropy. A former Pride Foundation Scholar and former grant volunteer, Ari brings both lived experience and deep professional knowledge to their work redistributing resources to those most impacted
Favorite Quote: “Know who you are, and deliver it at all times” – Mama Ru Favorite Place in the Northwest: Pasco Washington Flea Market
A quote I liked from a book I just finished. “On a long enough timeline, endings are inevitable. Tragedy is inevitable. Fortunately, so is joy.” — Chuck Tingle, Bury Your Gays Favorite spot in the Northwest It could be somewhere beautiful outside or a cozy spot inside with something tasty on the stove—as long as there’s
I grew up in a farming town in rural northeast Ohio, and was raised by my parents, who both taught in the local public school system. I got my undergraduate degree from Ohio University, where I also started volunteering for the Ryan White program in ‘96. That was just as the first effective HIV treatments
M. Eliatamby-O’Brien moved to Washington from Canada in 2017, and currently directs the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at Central Washington University. Their professional work focuses on identifying and sharing how creative narratives and graphic art works by refugees and forced migrants, as well as by LGBTQ+ individuals, help capture overlooked experiences within these
Kendall holds more than 35 years of nonprofit management and public service experience, and her work is rooted in cross-sector collaboration, organizational development, community building, equitable practices, and sustainable leadership. Kendall loves to travel, and she always brings home a piece of art from every place she visits. She is a published author of a
Kailey (she/her) has spent most of her career providing trauma-informed services to survivors of gender-based violence working in both Montana and Idaho. Through her work in the movement to end gender-based violence, Kailey has come to believe that uplifting and empowering those who have been oppressed by racist, sexist, and classist structures is the key