
Yesenia Castro (She/Her/Ella)
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 Pfister (She/Her)
Carolina Pfister was CultureSeed's Executive Director since 2018, the co-Executive Director since 2022, and she looks forward to the organization's new chapter under Yesi's leadership! Focusing once again on CultureSeed’s programs, Carolina will wrap up her time with the organization revisiting and codifying the organization's work. With almost three 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. Carolina is also a mother, a multimedia artist, and a writer.

Imelda Quintana (She/Them)
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.

Andrew Jimenez (He/Him)
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 Hadden-Leggett (She/Her)
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.

Taylor England (She/Her)
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 Barker (He/Him)
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 Jimenez (She/Her)
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)
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!
Temira enjoys wind and snow sports, meditation retreats, fantasy and sci-fi novels, a good cup of coffee with heavy cream, and gardening, especially growing giant pumpkins.

Devin Kuh (He/Him)
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.

Clare Stanfield (She/Her)
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.

Phoenix Dorsey-Billy (He/Him)
Hello, my name is Phoenix Dorsey-Billy. I am an enrolled member of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe and a descendant of many cultures along the Nch’i Wana (Columbia River). I am a hunter, fisherman, gatherer, brother, uncle, and educator. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Education from The Evergreen State College and have remained dedicated to teaching the next generations the importance of life, resilience, and the belief that anything they set their minds to is possible.

Michelle Dillon
Michelle Dillon grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the cold, tight-knit community shaped her diverse interests in music, theater, the outdoors, and volunteer work. As a child, she enjoyed water-skiing on icy lakes, participating in community sports, tutoring, and engaging in crafts with her creative parents. She pushed herself out of her shy comfort zone in band, choir, and dance. In 1998, Michelle attended the University of Nevada, Reno, through the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program, studying Pre-Nursing and Psychology while singing in the Chamber Choir. She completed her Biology degree and Psychology minor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where she met her partner, Tom. Michelle worked at the Boys & Girls Club, as a chiropractic assistant, and at Hospitality House, a nonprofit providing residential, family-style treatment for at-risk youth in Alaska.After moving to San Tan Valley, Arizona, Michelle and Tom had two children, Michael and Athena, but longed for a milder climate. In 2015, they settled in North Bonneville, WA, where Michelle relished being a stay-at-home mom, enjoying crafts, hikes, and coaching youth sports. She later worked as a substitute para-educator and teacher for grades K-12. In 2021, Michelle discovered a passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which she shares with her family.
Michelle earned a Fitness Professional Certificate from Mt. Hood Community College in 2023, becoming a licensed trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and adding certifications in Silver Sneakers Classic and Aquatic Exercise. She also resumed studying Spanish and American Sign Language. In fall 2024, Michelle joined CultureSeed as a co-facilitator for the Skamania Young Women’s group and is thrilled to be supporting local teens with mental health needs. She is currently working as a long-term substitute music and band teacher for the SCCD, where she enjoys playing euphonium with the pep band and singing with kids of all ages.

Rin McElderry (They/He)
Hi! I’m Rin McElderry (they/he). I grew up In Hood River and moved back to the gorge 2 years ago after getting my degree in Bioengineering. I have grown a renewed appreciation for the beautiful place we live in and love to share that with others. I have spent five years working in different outdoor education spaces, all with an emphasis on activism and accessibility. I am passionate about creating inclusive outdoor spaces and providing opportunities for people to explore the outdoors in new ways. I recently spent a season working at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center running courses in adaptive outdoor sports for individuals with disabilities and at-risk youth. I currently work in special education at Whitson Elementary and coach middle and high school water polo in Hood River. I love to spend time skiing, hiking, backpacking, climbing, camping, sewing, painting, playing music, and am most at home paddling my outrigger canoe. I am stoked to work with CultureSeed and continue providing safe spaces and outdoor opportunities for the youth of White Salmon.

2024 Junior Guides
Axel, Azsah, Zaida, Zandra, Japhia, Sophie, Nyemah














