Yesi Castro was born and raised in Hood River, Oregon and is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants from the beautiful states of Durango & Zacatecas , Mexico.

She holds a Public Health degree from Oregon State University, where she focused on community health promotion and health behavior. She also earned a Community Health Worker certificate from the The Community Capacitation Center of Multnomah County. Yesi has worked in the nonprofit sector for 8 years and currently serves as a Director at Large for the Board of Directors at the Oregon Public Health Association. Yesi has over 10 years of experience in community health and prevention, and has worked extensively in the areas of community organizing, curriculum development, social determinants of health, health and the outdoors and farmworker rights. She is an experienced trainer and facilitator, and believes in the transformative methodology of Popular Education. She is passionate about programs that support community self-determination, and is deeply committed to addressing systemic and institutional oppression at all levels of her work.

Carolina has over two decades of professional experience in media and nonprofits in both Brazil and the USA. Her nonprofit work has focused mostly on youth, at first through art education with museums and art organizations, or as co-founder of a cultural center to name a few. She has been with CultureSeed since 2018. Carolina’s nonprofit management approach is place-based and collaborative, with a focus on organizational coherence through story and systems. Her work has revolved around questions of purpose and belonging. Carolina came to the USA for an MFA and ended up an incidental immigrant. She believes that to be home is to be present and engaged with the place we live. In late 2022 Carolina stepped into a part time Co-ED support role to be present to her children as they enter adolescence, and to make time for her writing. She is excited for Yesi’s contributions and CultureSeed’s continued role in our community.

Imelda was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, where a lot of her family still resides. A place that to this day, remains a huge slice of home. She remembers being on the road, and she’s been told that was in 2004; and although they didn’t originally place themselves in the Columbia River Gorge, they seemed to follow the Big River all the way here. Imelda heard her mother share the other day — this is her home. Every time she lands on a plane and she catches a glimpse of Mt. Hood, that’s when she knows. Something that Imelda is still learning today. She graduated from Columbia High School and experienced first-hand rural White Salmon as a teenager, living just outside of the Mt. Adams recreational area, but within city limits. She describes feeling as if she had stumbled her way to CultureSeed, finding a slice of home here, where she could tangibly see what generations past, hers included, needed all along. Learning to belong. Imelda’s background is in Psychology and Human Development, but she has shifted focus to support Programming with back-end systems, data and evaluation, translations, information technology and social media. Imelda is professionally inspired by prevention work in rural communities as well as creating safe spaces for divergence of any kind.

I am a first generation Puerto Rican-American and the first person in my family to have the privilege to recreate outdoors. I believe that the outdoors is the most powerful setting for evoking mental & emotional growth & healing within people. Some credentials of mine include: Certified Professional Guide with the American Canyoneering Association - Certified Wilderness First Responder - Volunteer Search & Rescue Skamania County. In the past, I have worked as a canyoneering, backpacking, rafting & mountaineering guide. And have had the privilege to volunteer with various organizations who work to provide better access and equality to Rohingya Refugees in Thailand, Tibetan Refugees in India and urban slum communities in India. I now spend over 200 days a year both personally & professionally in the backcountry. It is my greatest joy to do so with our youth and I am thankful that CultureSeed has provided myself and our community this resource.

Kelcey's childhood outside of Philadelphia and pursuit of her degree in Spanish with additional studies in Portuguese and Latin American studies in Pittsburgh, built the strong foundation of a compassionate but also a no nonsense go-getter who is passionate about sharing her first love, the outdoors, with as many different people and communities as possible.

She first floated down a river in the middle of a 14-foot canoe, cradled by the gentle waves and the smooth paddle strokes of her parents, when she was just barely eighteen months old. She's been chasing rivers and big sunny boulders to lay on across the Americas ever since. This instant love for the outdoors and desire to work outside was fostered by her attending and working at a kayak school on the Ottawa River. As she grew, her deep love for rivers helped lead her to travel to South America to further her studies and wander in new wildernesses.

Through her time working with indigenous communities abroad in Bolivia and Ecuador, Kelcey learned so much more about natural experiences and the disparities in them. She came home with a desire to focus on equity in access to the outdoors. Ever since that first job on the river, Kelcey has always found her professional life to be in the outdoors--whether on a river, trail or office, she has supported bringing experiences in nature to as many people as possible before she could even articulate why. Now a full time resident of the White Salmon valley, she remains in awe of the beauty of the natural world around her and works passionately at CultureSeed to allow others to see that wonder and feel that peace in nature. She strives to support everyone and brings a sense of belonging to those she is with.

When she is not at work, she is often found flying off waterfalls, spinning around on eddy lines, skiing, painting, playing Settlers of Catan, baking, trying new recipes, gardening or strolling in the woods with her pup, Otter.

"I don't know what to tell you, I just know that friendship is born from a SMILE" — I learned this phrase from a very young age when, due to destiny, my family and I had to travel and move to another city and therefore change our house, neighborhood, school, friends and more… but always full of love and understanding from my parents. The truth is that a smile is a universal language and does not need translations. I was born in beautiful Chihuahua, Mexico, grew up in more than 5 cities and went to more than 10 schools until I "settled" in Chihuahua where I met my husband and we formed our own family with three children, but the trip did not end there. In our life together, we have moved many times, but the biggest change was arriving in the United States, with our suitcases full of illusions and dreams; dreams that are more difficult when you have the barrier of language and customs, but how good it is to know that you have the love, support and understanding of your family no matter how difficult the daily battle is. I can say that living here in the Gorge is where I feel like home is, it is where I have lived the longest of my life, almost 12 years! I love nature, walking and enjoying a sunny day. It fascinates me to see how the seasons of the year change. It is so wonderful to see how the trees lose their leaves, hibernate, wake up and give us their fruits again. Every morning I give thanks for the new day. I feel happy for the footprints that I have left in my path and excited for the ones that I can leave. Every day I am ready to have a SMILE for whoever needs it.

My name is Joe, and I am a non-binary Queer person who uses They/Them pronouns. I am a clinical social worker and I have over nine years of racial and gender advocacy, survivor support, community facilitation, and individual care work.

I’ve spent much of my life traveling all around the west, sometimes running and other times healing from my past of trauma. Along the way I have lived and worked in many capacities over the years (I’ve been a stone mason, ranch hand, barista, wilderness therapy guide, moose hunting guide, farmer, housekeeper, nanny, and the list goes on). I am very proud to center the lessons learned and the diversity of teachers I have met over those years as a pillar in everyday practice. I believe that each individual is full of amazing things they can teach, as much as they are full of things to learn. I don’t think there is ever just one right way to be in this world and I hold that belief as a guide in my social work. I am thrilled to meet, learn with, stand beside, and laugh with the CultureSeed community.

Taylor grew up in Eugene playing in the woods and fostering a love and appreciation for sharing time in nature with others. Her interest in trying new outdoor activities led her to The Gorge where she was able to work seasonally in positions that allowed her to learn to ski and kayak. After realizing the personal mental health benefits from her outdoor adventures and the important role time in nature played in addressing her grief, Taylor was inspired to explore the connection between nature and mental health. In 2022, Taylor graduated with her Masters of Social Work degree from Portland State University where she first connected with CultureSeed as a student intern. Taylor is excited to return as the Development Coordinator! When she is not studying or adventuring outside Taylor can be found baking chocolate chip cookies or playing with her pup, Agatha.

Chris was born in a densely populated area in North Carolina. From a young age he found any opportunity he could to get into nature; even if it meant sneaking into someone's backyard to play in their creek. As an adult, playing in strangers' backyards became more frowned upon and it became obvious that he would have to live somewhere with more public land.

This quest led him to live in many different wild places over the years; Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Washington, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina to name a few. In these places, Chris found ways to make money working in the outdoors and then found some creative ways to make that money last (a-lot of times this involved living in a truck or van down by the river). All of this was to be able to continue finding connection to self, others, and the world around him through nature. Not only did he find the connection that he needed in these places, but he found more ways to recreate outside than he ever knew existed; This is what led him to settle in The Gorge; where more outdoor sports are available for a larger portion of the year than anywhere else in the world!

As a Psych major in college, but a raft-guide/kayak-instructor to pay the bills, Chris found himself in search of a field of work that combined his passion for mental health with his passion for the outdoors. This led him to wilderness-therapy, eventually back to grad-school to pursue a Masters in Social Work, and most recently, to CultureSeed as a therapist.

Fresh to the world of clinical-therapy, but seasoned in the transformative power of the outdoors, Chris aims to help youth navigate the challenges and complexities of life while also encouraging them to utilize our vast outdoor playground to explore their own connections to self, others, and the world around them.

“I draw from Solutions-Focused Therapy, CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy and am always learning new models that help to find a path forward that fits your unique needs. I pride myself in finding creative solutions to problems and will never be offended by being told that something is not working for you. It is way less about what works for me, and way more about what works for you.

Finding a path forward can be challenging at times, but as we continue to navigate together, you will find that you’ll quickly accumulate tools for overcoming any obstacles in your way."

Emily is a licensed clinical social worker. She has over five years experience supporting adolescents, children and adults in schools, inpatient and outpatient settings in both rural and urban areas throughout the country.

Emily takes a holistic and individualized approach in therapy. She works to normalize the experience of mental health with her clients and explore how each person's human experience impacts their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Emily loves working with children and adolescents, supporting them as they grow, overcome challenges and discover who they are as individuals.

Emily is a certified yoga teacher, she enjoys going on hikes, camping, cooking and traveling.

Temira (they/them) is an avid athlete, a trained mindfulness instructor, and a passionate advocate for others. They have been a counselor since 2017, and they see counseling as a way to help people discover the strength and courage to be their best selves. Temira recognizes the impact of history, trauma, oppression, social structures, and gender norms on mental health and strives to help folks see all the forces impacting their lives. Knowledge, in this case, is power!

Devin has been finding joy in nature ever since he was scaring his mom by diving into glacial lakes, mountain streams and even the North Sea one stormy fall day. This love of water and adventure has translated into finding a home in the Pacific Northwest with his partner and their adorable dog, Otter.

He has spent time working as a kayak instructor, raft guide, an ill fated day as a fly fishing guide, middle school math teacher, high school math teacher, and an ill fated semester teaching chemistry. When he isn't in a classroom or sharing his love for the outdoors with others, you can find him riding his bike, taking photos, honing his chess or cribbage skills, making homemade pasta or sourdough and trying to figure out how he can take Otter whitewater kayaking safely.

Hello there! I’m Clare, and I use she/her pronouns. My name comes from a song by Gilbert O’Sullivan. I’m not Irish though–truthfully, I’m in the market for 23 and Me. Currently, I am living in the Gorge, I just wrapped up my MSW program at the School of Social Work of Portland State University. I’m honored to be working with CultureSeed as the co-facilitator of the Women’s Health Group at Columbia High School! I have years of professional peer support behind me as wilderness therapy guide for two years, a Youth Advocate for Columbia and Clackamas County for about another two, then as a Lead Peer Support Specialist and team supervisor for a remote, peer support organization. Every year, I am reminded of the power and wisdom of lived experience, and I am grateful to be in a community that shares similar values. I hope to show up with advocacy, critical thinking, humor, curiosity, anti-racism, feminism, and justice to everything I do! It shows up as I rock climb, birdwatch, protest, play with my dog, sit around a fire with friends…all of it.

Alyson Castonguay moved to the Columbia River Gorge just before starting 8th grade and spent her middle and high school years in Skamania County, living in a house that her family shared with her mother’s art gallery. She graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, minoring in Music and Women’s Studies, where she discovered her passion for activism. After college, Alyson lived and worked in Portland, serving as Assistant Director on the boards of the Lesbian Community Project and LGBTQ Mormons (Latter-day Saints), all while building a career in live sound. In 2006, she returned to the Gorge to work at Renaissance Learning as an Audio Engineer, where she remains a valued member of the creative team. The pandemic reignited her love for podcast editing, leading her to work on two #1 fiction podcasts. When she’s not in her home studio, you can find her mixing live shows across the Gorge. Alyson currently serves on the board for the Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse and helps to organize Skamania Pride events and activities. She is passionate about ensuring that youth have the support they need to be themselves, connect with nature and their communities, and feel a sense of belonging. In her free time, Alyson loves swimming and being on, in, or under water.

Axel, Azsah, Zaida, Zandra, Japhia, Sophie, Nyemah