My Story…

If I’m not hosting a dinner party, rallying friends to go on an adventure, or cuddling up with my Bible and a cup of coffee, you will inevitably find me “playing” outside on a mountain or in an ocean wave.

From growing up in the Pacific Northwest to living in a small village in Africa, and every stop in between, I have always looked to create a home for myself by finding community.  Joining one, creating one, or growing one has always come naturally to me. I grew up as the third of four kids in a pastor’s family and was known as the kid who never met a stranger. From a young age I saw how our family’s open-invitation to Sunday dinners gave people a sense of belonging and organically grew community. I didn’t know it then, but my adventurous spirit and deep-rooted desire for relationships were what would take me around the world seeking to build communities, learn stories and create environments where anyone would feel welcome.

As a high school teacher I stepped beyond the classroom to develop the school’s first theater program, creating a new venue for student involvement and empowerment. As a tour guide in Alaska, I designed individualized experiences to fulfill visitors’ desires for adventure and bonding with their travel partners. At Kanakuk Kamps in Golden Missouri, I worked as a camp counselor helping kids build foundations for growth outside of the limited opportunities of inner city childhood.

In moving to Africa to learn what life on the other side of the world was like, I learned the most literal sense of community ‘building’ as I initiated and completed a fundraise-sponsored rebuild of an impoverished elementary school that resulted in over two hundred children re-enrolling in the school. As I saw individuals and families re-enter the community, I realized this was my true calling – to identify needs and to build welcoming and sustainable communities around those needs. For the next five years I pursued this passion by working with a large church in Southern California to reshape their existing culture and rebuild the heart of their community. The transformation and growth over those five years was amazing. We created a culture that instilled passion in the roles of individual volunteers, empowered team leaders to lead through stewardship, and created an inclusive environment rooted in hospitality and care.

Throughout these experiences I have learned that regardless of how similar communities may seem, each environment, place of gathering, or common group endeavor needs to develop a culture that is uniquely its own. This is something many organizations and communities struggle with, and something I am passionate about helping to achieve.

After seeing the way God has used me to re-shape and empower communities across the globe, I want to broaden my reach to help you experience this same success. No matter where you are, or how close or far you are from your vision, I can help you build your community, develop your leaders, and reshape your culture.