A magazine for your mind, body, and self.
Inspirational SPEC I AL EDI T ION
Martina McBride and 15 Local Women with a Message Sponsored By
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a special Inspiration edition Martina McBride
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Shannon Keith
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Megan Gram
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Hannah Buehler
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Lindsey Clark
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Bo Stern
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Cate O’Hagan
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Jane Sabin-Davis
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Abrianne Goss
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Bella Wiener
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Betsy Warriner
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Connie Worrell-Druliner ....................... Page 21
Mohini Bhardwaj
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Stephanie Alvstad
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Marlene Alexander
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Nicolle Timm
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A year ago, I was inspired to make a change. I walked into a new department, sat down in a new chair, made friends with new coworkers, and learned the ropes of a new job. I wasn’t quite comfortable and was pretty sure I was going to mess up somewhere down the line. But I realized that whatever mistakes I made, I’d have someone backing me up and cheering me on. I was inspired by their hard work to do well, to make this new chair fit. But this is just my job, and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t seem like that would make much of a difference to anyone. And yet, it does. A simple story in one magazine may inspire someone to take part in this little thing we call life. In Central Oregon, there are hundreds if not thousands of everyday people, women who spend hours, months and years working to improve our world and our community. They inspire us to work just as hard as they do. They are there on the hottest days of the year, helping farmers and ranchers. They are bundled up in winter gear, teaching girls of all ages how to ski. They are working to better the community close to home and the world far away. I am inspired by these women in this magazine for their commitment to their causes, for their message to the community, for their determination to get the job done. From big-name celebrities like
WOMEN WITH A MESSAGE
Martina McBride to the young high school students who make me look lazy, they should make all of us proud. They are inspirational. A year ago I put on my managing editor hat. But today will be my last little note to the readers, as I sign off and head out to a new challenge. In my stead is a new editor, a gal who inspired me a year ago to get the job
U Magazine is a product of The Bulletin’s Special Projects Division, P.O. Box 6020, Bend, OR 97708. All content is the property of The Bulletin/Western Communications Inc., and maynot be reproduced without written permission. Printed by Northwest Web Press, www.northwestwebpress.com
done and who now takes this chair with me cheering her on. I’m positive this Special Edition of U Magazine will inspire you, too. It’s one thing to sit down at a desk and do your job day in and day out. It’s quite another to be inspired to do so much more.
— Althea Borck, editor Photos by Kevin Prieto
Staff members for The Bulletin’s special projects division include: Martha Rogers, Special Projects Manager; Althea Borck, Special Projects Editor; Stacie Oberson, Special Projects Coordinator; Kari Mauser, Special Projects Associate Editor; and Kevin Prieto, Special Projects Image Coordinator. Published: Saturday, June 6, 2015 | Cover photo of Martina McBride U Magazine | June 2015 | 3
U Magazine CON TR IBUTORS
ANNISSA ANDERSON, a freelance writer and PR consultant, also studied culinary arts and worked as a pastry chef in another life. She now writes regular food and nutrition articles for The Bulletin. When not researching food trends and recipes, she prefers to spend her time with her husband and young son exploring Central Oregon’s lesser-known natural spaces. An avid crocheter and origamist, JOHN CAL worked as a baker, head chef, ukuleleist and Sno-Cat driver before settling into writing. He enjoys filling his time with yoga, postcard writing and collecting bowties. John also collects candy from around the world — he has a 100-plus specimen collection (and counting) — and lives in Bend with his dog, Hank. LAURA KESSINGER is a native Oregonian who lives in Bend. Eighteen years ago, her solar-powered smoothie cart was a bit ahead of trend, so she now spends her time working in restaurants, writing about food, narrowly avoiding parking tickets and embarrassing her kids with public displays of awesomeness. The Bulletin’s Special Projects Associate Editor, KARI MAUSER loves to uncover and share the interesting, inspiring and important stories that surround us. She and her husband spend their time rediscovering the magic of the world through the eyes of their two little boys.
Enthusiastic and outgoing, BRIDGET MCGINN enjoys meeting new people and sharing their stories. She spends her days working as a marketing and advertising professional, making photos or documentary films and spending time with her family. She may also be seen being dragged along the end of the leash of her newly adopted beagle puppy. GREGG MORRIS is a local freelance writer and musician. You can find him around town finishing articles at the local tea shop, performing with his band Organic Music Farm or homeschooling his 10-year-old daughter. Supposed free time is spent in the woods with his wife and daughter or skillfully executing his duties as a member of the Deschutes County Search and Rescue team. After three decades in Seattle, SUE STAFFORD returned home to Oregon to put down roots in Sisters. The “dry side,” with its beauty, weather and slower pace, affords her the opportunity to pursue her gardening, hiking, and movie going. Sue’s experiences with motherhood, teaching, fundraising, horticultural and expressive arts therapies inform her writing. 4 | U Magazine | June 2015
“I want to thank you so very, very much for all your help with my mother. Your loving, attentive help has been invaluable to me. Your caregivers were so tender and loving and have such tremendous life experiences from which to draw. Thank you from the depths of my heart.” Evergreen Client, Bend
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www.evergreeninhome.com U Magazine | June 2015 | 5
Martina’s MESSAGE by Kari Mauser, The Bulletin Special Projects
“Making the world a better place is a great thing to do on any level no matter how big or small.”
I
t can happen at any time, in the most obvious or the most obscure moment. We turn the music on, and it fills the space around us. And then a certain song rings from the speakers. Suddenly we’re moving our body in time with the melody and belting out the lyrics as if they are our own. Music is powerful. It transcends time and space. It stirs emotions, triggers memories, creates empathy. We see others, and find ourselves in songs; they become the anthem of our lives — especially, it seems, in the face of challenging situations or personal struggles. Sometimes a song resonates so powerfully with listeners that it becomes much more than a Top 40 hit. When country music star Martina McBride recorded the 1994 single, “Independence Day,” she knew that somebody somewhere would realize that they weren’t so alone. She didn’t know that the song would have the resounding impact that it did upon its release and that it still does, more than two decades later. “I loved the song, but I didn’t really know what would happen,” recalled McBride. “I hoped someone would find courage or inspiration in it.” The song, written by Gretchen Peters, tells the story of escape from domestic violence from the point-of-view of an 8-year-old girl. “When I recorded ‘Independence Day,’ I really got fired up about the issue of domestic violence,” explained McBride. “That was the first time I realized that I could do something really important with
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my voice other than singing.” Not only was the song a breakout hit for the up and coming star, but it had a profound effect on domestic abuse awareness and propelled McBride into an active role as a spokesperson for the cause through the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Tulsa Domestic Violence Intervention Services, a role she maintains today. Once McBride realized that as a star, lending her voice to a cause could make a difference, she ventured forward with determination and passion, working to raise awareness and foster support for various causes. She has used her voice time and again to bring life to songs that ask us to face some of the darkest realities that surround us. “I have been really blessed with this career and with a platform where, when you say things, a lot of people listen,” she said. “So I feel like it’s important to use that stage to raise awareness and give back.” In 1997, “A Broken Wing” once again brought the issue of domestic violence into the minds of listeners. In 1999, “Love’s The Only House,” asked audiences to consider how we’re all responsible for each other and that everyone needs compassion. The 2002 hit “Concrete Angel” used a heartwrenching story to force us to recognize the devastation of child abuse and the consequences of doing nothing. “It feels good. It’s good to know that you can use (music) to do more than just to make somebody dance,” mused McBride. “Even though dancing is good, too, and
sometimes you just need to dance,” she added with a lighthearted laugh. Devoted fan Sheila Jones found herself inspired to do more than just dance when McBride released, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” in 2011. The song, which tells the story of a husband supporting his wife through her battle with breast cancer, moved Jones so deeply that she reached out to McBride. “She wanted to walk in a breast cancer walk, and she wanted to wear Martina shirts,” McBride recalled. “I said sure, and (Team Martina) has just grown from there!” What began at the hands of one fan has evolved over the past few years into a global charity team dedicated to making the world a better place through volunteerism and donations. The organization’s efforts are far reaching and hard-hitting, from raising money for various causes such as cancer research and treatment to building playgrounds for inner-city kids. Team Martina members work to fulfill needs in their own communities and in each town where McBride performs. “Everything is individually chosen and researched and thought about,” explained McBride. “It’s so organic — it’s not a big huge organization — it’s fan driven and ongoing and it’s been really interesting to me.” Some of the group’s missions are inspired by McBride herself, including their efforts to support orphans in Guatemala, those living in Covenant House International — a home for young girls who have been orphaned, abandoned or victims of abuse
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“I can remember that when you first start dating you don’t know what you are doing, and sometimes what looks like love is really manipulation and abuse.” and human trafficking. “I wanted to help so we started talking and asking, ‘How can we help?’” McBride said. Once they hashed out their ideas, the team determined that bringing music into the girls’ lives would have a lasting impact, and so they set to work raising funds to provide instruments and classes to the house. “Music is healing,” McBride emphasized. “So they can really use that as an outlet.” McBride brought music to the girls living at the Covenant House homeless shelter in Newark, N.J., in another way. She, along with members from Team Martina, surprised the teens by stopping by to play some games and give them all ice cream, as well as tickets to her sold-out concert with George Strait for later that night. “It was just bringing a little
bright spot for them … to have somebody come in and make your day a little brighter, when you’re trying to overcome something,” McBride reflected, her voice warm and emotional. “We just try to do whatever we can to make a difference.” Abuse and domestic violence remain at the heart of McBride’s efforts to make a difference, prompting the mother of three daughters to take a stand against teen dating violence. Her passionate determination to increase teenage and parent awareness about teen dating abuse, and to educate young women about how to develop healthy relationships, led McBride to unite with the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline and Loveisrespect to create a program called My Time to Shine. When her oldest daughter entered her teens, McBride began to think
about her experience as a young girl. “I can remember that when you first start dating you don’t know what you are doing, and sometimes what looks like love is really manipulation and abuse,” stated McBride. “It’s hard to navigate those waters when you don’t know what you are doing. “Loveisrespect is such a great resource,” she said of the website. “It’s 24 hours, anonymous and it’s for everyone — whether it’s for you or if you have a friend or loved one who might be in a bad situation and you don’t know how to talk about it with them — it gives you the tools to start that conversation.” And starting the conversation is the first step to stopping the cycle of domestic violence. “Information is empowering, and it’s very important,” McBride said. My Time to Shine reminds us
that the teenage years are a time for self discovery, a time to explore passions and talents, a time to build healthy relationships, truly a time to shine. It’s something McBride makes sure to provide for her daughters. “I feel like once you become a mother your responsibility is to another human being first and foremost and that changes how you view the world and what decisions you make,” she explained, adding that she avoids touring for long periods of time so she doesn’t have to leave her girls behind. But at the same time she wants them to see that she really loves what she does. “It’s all about setting an example and it’s exhausting and it’s totally worth it.” As a mother and as an advocate, McBride embodies the concept of making the world a better place. On May 14, the star was
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awarded the prestigious Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award during the Music Biz 2015 Awards Luncheon in Nashville as recognition of her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. She is also the recipient of the Beacon of Hope Award, scheduled to be presented during the Night of Broadway Stars on June 9. But for her, it’s not the awards that measure success. “Making the world a better place
is a great thing to do on any level no matter how big or small,” she emphasized. “Giving someone a smile or a hello, or volunteering at a shelter — once you start thinking of the world as a community and to give back to that, that is what community is about. “If somebody is in a dark hole or a funk and you reach out to help … that can really make a difference in their lives, and that is what it’s all about.”
Martina McBride at the Deschutes County Fair
Award-winning country music star Martina McBride will perform at the Deschutes County Fair on Thursday, July 30 in the Bank of the Cascades Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and show starts at 7 p.m. The concert is free with paid fair admission, but you need a ticket. You can get tickets in June by looking inside GO! Magazine or listening to KSJJ 102.9. After June 1, tickets are available at all Central Oregon McDonald’s Restaurants each Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m. while supplies last.
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FOUNDER OF SUDARA | HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Shannon Keith
“No one knowingly wants to buy stuff (made by a) child or slave labor, but we do it all day long, and we can be better than that.” by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects
It was simple enough. For her in-law’s 40th wedding anniversary, Shannon Keith and her husband traveled to India to dedicate a new village well in their honor. Before her service projects in India, she had already done service work in Nigeria, West Africa, South Africa, Mexico, China and Chile. “But for some reason, India really captured my own heart,” she said. During the ceremony, there were all these kids running around not in school, and Keith began to grow curious. “It was one of those situations that immediately changed the trajectory of my life,” she reflected. In 2005, human trafficking wasn’t on anyone’s radar, so stories that Keith was hearing about these children were completely derailing. Women and children are trafficked every day. Some became temple prostitutes. Others were simply born into a life of sex slavery and had no choice otherwise. “I had no context for any of this,” Keith said. “India doesn’t have child protective services. There are no services for the elderly. It’s very familial, but if you’re one of the people on the outside of that, there’s no one to help you. … And once you know something, you can’t unknow it.”
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But Keith’s reaction was not one of helplessness or pity. Instead, she decided to take action. “I’m a super practical person, and honestly all of this happened in half a second,” said Keith. “I just remember thinking, ‘They need jobs, but don’t have any skills; and they’re all wearing these beautiful saris, but American women are never going to wear saris. Easy. Pajamas.” Shannon’s flash of inspiration was to create a business solution to a social problem. She formed Punjammies and the International Princess Project, which has now morphed into the clothing line Sudara. In its first year in 2006, the International Princess Project employed six women in a singular sewing center and made just 200 units of clothing. But today, in multiple sewing centers across the country, close to 180 women are employed. And in 2014, they produced 15,000 Punjammies, and are poised to produce 50,000 in 2015. “There are lots of organizations doing the good work of freeing sex-trafficked women and children. What we do is part of the next step. We give them a place to go. We give them jobs. … Often they don’t have skills or people won’t employ them because of their past. We want to give them a place to start so that they aren’t forced back into that life because they feel like they have no other options.”
Megan Gram ANIMAL LOVER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEND SPAY AND NEUTER PROJECT “Spay/neuter, education and adoption make up the multifaceted solution to ending pet homelessness. It takes a community working together, but it can be done.” by Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Megan Gram, executive director of Bend Spay and Neuter Project, credits her mother with instilling her with a passion for animals. She has many memories of her mother picking up stray animals and keeping them in the family garage while searching for their owners. “My Mom’s compassion for both people and animals has always inspired me to try harder and to treat everyone with respect and dignity, both human and animal,” said Gram. Originally from Indiana, Gram moved to Central Oregon in 2004 and volunteered at the Bend Spay and Neuter Project before working there in reception and management, eventually joining the organization’s board of directors. She accepted the executive director position in 2012. Gram is motivated by the idea that it is possible to end pet homelessness in her lifetime, citing Austin, Texas, as an example of an entire city that has achieved a “no kill” status, with many other cities across the country on the same path. “This is a problem that has a very clear solution,” Gram said. “It’s not like cancer, or other mysterious diseases that we are still doing research on. We know how to fix the problem, and we are making significant progress in doing so. In just 30 years we’ve gone from euthanizing over 30 million pets each year to just four million. It’s still far too many, but we are getting close. Spay/neuter, education and adoption make up the multi-faceted solution to ending pet homelessness.
It takes a community working together, but it can be done.“ With a heart set on caring for animals, Gram unexpectedly found that the relationships formed with the people attached to the animals that come into the clinic are one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. All of the clinic staff carry vouchers to give to people in need of providing care for their pets, and they regularly refer clients to social services to help meet their basic needs. “We get to know the owners and figure out not only how we can help their pets, but how we can help them too,” said Gram. “Bend Spay and Neuter Project is so much more than spaying and neutering, we bridge that gap to ensure everyone is able to care for their pet, and we are essential to maintaining a humane community for us all, human and animal.”
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT | HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Hannah Buehler
“When advocating for human rights issues in the world, remember that you are not working against evil, but you are working toward love and compassion.” by Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects
A semester abroad in France
during her junior year at Bend High School helped 17-year-old Hannah Buehler hone her language skills and paved the way for a summer internship in the French-speaking African country of Senegal. Living with a local family, she worked for a human rights law firm, compiling governmental reports on the status of human rights issues. “During my first interview with a chief of a rural African village — an hourlong horse-drawn cart ride from the nearest road — I asked if the chief’s wife would show me the water systems in their village,” said Buehler. “They told me that (a non-governmental organization) had built a well for their village but had never trained anyone within the village how to maintain it, so the well became contaminated and many people got sick.” Buehler recognized that if the NGO had trained people within the community to maintain the systems, it would have been much more sustainable and beneficial. Impressed by the work ethic she saw in the women of her host community, Buehler knew that installing better water
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systems would allow the women — primarily responsible for time-consuming water gathering — to turn their attention to more empowering activities. Her vision for the future includes creating an NGO focusing on water infrastructure development for rural communities abroad. “The idea of sustainable development is ex extremely important to me,” said Buehler. “Rather than donating objects like toothbrushes or shoes, donate to an organization that fosters sustainable growth. Rather than giving free shoes — train people in rural communities to be able to make shoes.” Buehler’s attitude toward other cultures is based on respect. “I want my message to be that when advocating for human rights issues in the world, remember that you are not working against evil, but you are working toward love and compassion,” said Buehler. “No positive change can stem from a place of anger or hate. Also it’s essential to remember that people in less developed countries don’t need to be ‘saved.’ They do not need us to come in and push western values or systems on them in order to help them, they already have thriving and intricate cultures of their own.” At the heart of her desire to be a change-maker is Buehler’s belief that we are all interconnected. “I think in western culture there is a huge emphasis on individuality, but in reality we’re all part of a greater pool of energy,” said Buehler. “In a selfish way, by helping others I’m helping myself because I will also have a better earth to live on with happier, healthier people.”
Lindsey Clark AVID SKIER | REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR SHEJUMPS “What an honor to meet amazing ladies … and support other women as they jump out of their comfort zones in the outdoors and in life!” by Annissa Anderson, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Lindsey Clark is a Ruffwear
designer, avid skier and regional coordinator for SheJumps, a national organization dedicated to increasing female participation in outdoor activities. As with most stories, Lindsey’s begins with a passion. Hers is for skiing, as is evident from her blog headliner, “Notes from a life spent in pursuit of skiing.” Her affiliation with SheJumps stemmed from a chance meeting, at the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow, with one of the organization’s founders, Lynsey Dyer. Clark was initially drawn to SheJumps by their logo. The Girafficorn — half giraffe, half unicorn — represents the idea of persevering and keeping your head held high. It reminds women to follow their dreams and to support other women as they jump out of their comfort zones in the outdoors and in life. When Dyer, a pro skier, told her about their mission, Clark quickly envisioned how this could be manifested in Central Oregon. “The SheJumps mission is really about creating new outdoor opportunities for women,” said Clark. As Clark began working toward this mission, she also helped to fill a void in her own life. While she loved skiing in Central Oregon, she had felt a lack of community between women skiers and snowboarders. Due to her role as organizer for local events, she was able to meet and connect with more of these like-minded women.
“An all-female learning environment is particularly supportive and non-threatening,” said Clark, in regard to learning outdoor skills. SheJumps, and their events in Central Oregon, have now helped Lindsey, and others like her, to “jump in” to other outdoor pursuits. Locally, the organization has provided opportunities for women to learn more about skiing and snowboarding, avalanche education, backpacking, and whitewater kayaking — all from female instructors and/or mentors. “These opportunities don’t naturally exist,” said Clark. “We have to create them.” The importance of creating outdoor education opportunities that exist in an allfemale environment cannot be overstated, said Clark. Women typically feel more comfortable learning with other women, and asking questions in an all-female environment, she said. “If she can do it, so can I,” is pervasive in the SheJumps culture, said Clark. Any woman interested in beginning (Jumping In), participating (Jumping Up) or teaching (Jumping Out) can get involved with SheJumps locally. Visit SheJumps.org to learn about upcoming events, or for volunteer opportunities, email Clark directly at Lindsey.Clark@SheJumps.org.
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PASTOR AT WESTSIDE CHURCH IN BEND | SPEAKER, WRITER & DEDICATED WIFE & MOTHER
Bo Stern
“I believe love is more powerful than sickness and even if sickness has the power to end a heartbeat, it can’t really end a life. Love makes life go on.” by Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Thirty years ago, Bo Stern
and her husband, Steve, honeymooned in Central Oregon. They always hoped to live here, and jumped at the chance to move to Bend 20 years ago. The couple have four children and one grandchild with another on the way, and family is the center of their lives. When Steve was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, four years ago, Bo found that her family increased to include an entire community of those impacted by the disease. “Right now I’m most passionate about helping my husband and family navigate the difficult road we’ve been on for four years as Steve has been battling ALS,” said Stern. “And helping others with the disease and the immediate caregivers of people with ALS is — and will always be — one of my driving passions.” When Steve was first diagnosed, Bo worked fast to research ALS, a disease she knew very little about. She discovered that it is always fatal, and has a two- to five-year prognosis. ALS destroys motor neurons, resulting in slow, steady paralysis until only the eyes and brain function. As a deeply spiritual person — she is an author, pastor and speaker who has always loved theology — Stern rose to the challenge of the difficult journey ahead, finding strength in the shared space of suffering. “I have a front row seat as brave souls sift through the soil of their battlefield to find the beauty that’s hidden inside of it: deeper compassion, stronger faith, greater capacity to love and this incredible bravery to face the scary stuff — just a few of the amazing things I’ve seen in the people I’ve been blessed to know throughout our journey with ALS,” said Stern. “Most of all, my husband embodies all these things in astounding ways — I’m amazed by him every single day.” Stern wears a ring on her wedding ring finger engraved with her husband’s name and the scripture Genesis 50:20, which speaks to the things meant to destroy us being turned into something that can help many others. “It reminds me that the ‘in sickness’ part of the vows are no less beautiful to live out than the ‘in health’ part of the vows. More difficult, yes, but no less beautiful,” said Stern. “I believe love is more powerful than sickness and even if sickness has the power to end a heartbeat, it can’t really end a life. Love makes life go on. Love gives life reality and purpose and hope. Love never fails.” 14 | U Magazine | June 2015
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FOUNDER OF ARTS CENTRAL & VANGO MOBILE ARTS | ARTIST
Cate O’Hagan
“My passion is to be out in the world, doing whatever I can to make art accessible to all people.” by Susan Stafford, for The Bulletin Special Projects
“I was raised by a mother who possessed
advanced art degrees. I toured art museums in my stroller. I was saturated with art,” Cate O’Hagan said, reflecting on how her love of art developed. That the world of visual arts would become her life’s work was decided after a transformative stint in Japan during her sophomore year in college. Prior to that, her art had been about playing the cello from the age of 10. She returned to Lewis and Clark College and declared a major in art with plans to teach art in schools. Instead, O’Hagan’s platform became public arts organizations starting as an educator with the Portland Art Museum and then as the director of marketing for the Oregon Symphony. “I got into the arts to work, not for the prestige,” O’Hagan explained. In 1990, the allure of Central Oregon beckoned, and she moved east of the mountains to do a little ranching. It wasn’t long before her expertise was called upon to assist with the opening of the Museum at Warm Springs — and the rest is history. The impact O’Hagan has had on the art scene in Central Oregon is impressive. As executive director of the Central Oregon Arts Association (COAA), in 1995, she was involved with saving the historic Goodwillie-AllenRademacher house in Drake Park from demolition and then transforming it into the Mirror Pond Gallery. In 1997, COAA was designated the Regional Art Council of the Oregon Arts Commission and in 2000 became known as Arts Central. The Art Station, where classes are held, was founded in 2000 and is housed in the historic Bend train depot. Another program managed by Arts Central since 2000 is the Artists in Schools program. A long dormant dream that originated when O’Hagan was in Portland became a reality in 2005 when the VanGo mobile arts program started bringing art to rural Central Oregon towns as well as working with youths in the juvenile justice system. Arts Central also facilitates the art program for Camp Courage, a week-long day camp run by Partners in Care hospice every summer. Her dreams for the future? A regional creative campus that would leverage artistic assets already existing in Central Oregon to encourage training and professional development of area artists and musicians. Don’t bet against her.
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Jane Sabin-Davis
FARMING ADVOCATE | MEMBER OF HIGH DESERT FOOD & FARM ALLIANCE
“All of the nonprofits I have worked with have been about equality. They improve people’s well-being, family to family, as opposed to big picture stuff.” by Gregg Morris, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Jane Sabin-Davis has spent her
entire adult life working to remove barriers to success for farmers and ranchers from Oregon to Nepal. She uses her first-hand knowledge of trying to make ends meet through farming to assist others attempting to carry on the tradition. “I know what it’s like to be a struggling farmer, and I believe in healthy food,” said Sabin-Davis. Sabin-Davis grew up in suburban Grand Rapids, Mich., as a normal kid with a thirst for the outside. But, it wasn’t until attending the University of Michigan that her green thumb began to show. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she moved to Fresno, Calif., with her husband, where she received her masters in social work from Cal-State Fresno. Because Sabin-Davis and her husband always liked the idea of growing their own food, they bought a cherry orchard in La Grande, complete with a one acre vegetable garden. The cherry orchard taught Sabin-Davis the all-consuming struggles of being a farmer. She learned the commitment to hard work and the creativity needed to earn a living working the land. Because the orchard did not pay the bills, Sabin-Davis worked the farm while holding down a full-time job in nonprofit organizational development. While in La Grande, Sabin-Davis worked for social change and an increase in sustainable energy farms as the director of Oregon Rural Action. She then traveled to Nepal, South America and Latin America, all the while assisting small farmers in their fight to maintain and improve their way of life. “All of the nonprofits I have worked with have been about equality,” said Sabin-Davis. “They improve people’s well-being, family to family, as opposed to big picture stuff. It’s where I feel I can make a difference.” In 2010, Sabin-Davis moved to Bend and began working with the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance. The HDFFA assists farmers by building markets, connecting farms with restaurants, and getting local food to the people. Through the HDFFA, Sabin-Davis works hard to increase demand for healthy food by raising awareness of the farmers’ plight and the importance of healthy eating. U Magazine | June 2015 | 17
NATUROPATHIC PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN | HEALTH & WELLNESS ADVOCATE
Abrianne Goss
“I have a passion for YOU fulfilling your utmost potential in this life; for loving yourself at the deepest level; for healing beyond your imagination.” by Laura Kessinger, for The Bulletin Special Projects
To most people, being “healthy”
means the absence of disease. We know that eating right, exercising regularly and keeping stress at bay are all important. But what exactly is “wellness”? And what can we do to achieve it? Helping people to answer these questions and to achieve true wellness is the driving passion of Dr. Abrianne Wiles Goss, a naturopathic primary care physician in Bend. Her enthusiasm for her patients and her own path to wellness is almost palpable. “Being healthy physically is important,” she said. “But being healthy mentally and spiritually as well is how wellness should be defined.” Growing up in a family of six, she began to nurture the well-being of others from a young age as she helped to care for her three younger sisters. Her mother — unlike her grandfather, who was a pharmacist — treated sickness in her family with whole foods and natural supplements instead of traditional medicines whenever possible. This inspired Goss to pursue a career in natural health care, graduating from Portland’s National College of Natural Medicine and opening her practice in 2009. As a primary care physician, she sees families and individuals of all ages, from routine physicals to problem-solving complex 18 | U Magazine | June 2015
medical issues such as chronic disease, hormone imbalance and autoimmune issues. As a naturopathic doctor, she can prescribe acupuncture and antibiotics, blending the best of western medicine with Chinese medicine principles to create treatment plans that take into account the whole person, not just the symptoms or disease. This is the gift she gives to others — in her practice and in her life: helping people connect to their true selves, to their passion, to their awareness of what “healthy” is for them and coaching them to begin making choices that are in line with these goals. A busy mother of three, Goss admits that it’s not easy to find balance and to love yourself unconditionally — two things she describes as essential to well-being. She struggled with autoimmune and thyroid issues herself in the past and realized there’s much more to it than simply eating right and making smart lifestyle choices. But when she decided that what she wanted to do was to help others find their true wellness and purpose in life, that is when she discovered hers. Her authenticity is invigorating, her positive attitude is contagious and her realworld advice and practical strategies inspire everyone around her to reach for their own vision of true well-being.
Bella Wiener
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT| ACTIVIST FOR SUSTAINABLE HEALTH ENTERPRISES
“While there are so many foreign organizations and efforts, so few of them are effective in creating sustainable change. I want people to be educated about what kind of organizations they should support.” by Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Bella Wiener credits a lifetime of world travel — starting at the age of 18 months — for instilling her with the values that drive her actions today. “My family values cultural experiences and we believe that the greatest form of learning is travel and experience,” said Wiener. “I believe that being able to travel the world has made me more wise, aware, open-minded, and independent.” As a fifth-grader, Wiener had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania and climb part way up Mount Kilimanjaro before having to return to the base due to her young age. This June, she will be returning to Mount Kilimanjaro. “Ever since that incredible experience I had the desire to return to Kili and summit it,” said Wiener, now 18 and a senior at Bend High School. “However, I wanted to make this climb more than just an athletic endeavor. I want to turn it into a project in which I can create social change.” Wiener recently attended the Leadership Institute at Brown University where she took a course that included the development of an action plan focusing on creating social change within a pressing issue. “I knew that I wanted to organize a charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, and I knew that I wanted to find a trustworthy organization
based in Africa to donate the money raised,” said Wiener. “When I was doing my research on potential organizations to partner with, I came across SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) and fell in love with their work and ideas.” SHE recognizes the need for equal education opportunities for girls and women in Rwanda, and found that one obstacle is lack of access to feminine hygiene products. Many female students opt to miss school every month during their cycle rather than face humiliation. In response to this issue, SHE assists women to jumpstart social businesses to manufacture and distribute affordable menstrual pads made out of banana fibers. “I appreciated how SHE isn’t just providing temporary aid, but rather creating entrepreneurs and creating a much more sustainable solution to the problems that women in sub-Saharan Africa face when trying to receive equal education opportunities,” said Wiener. “It is important to me that people know that while there are so many foreign aid organizations and efforts, so few of them are effective in creating sustainable change. I want people to be educated about what kind of organizations they should support.”
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER CONNECT | NONPROFIT ADVOCATE
Betsy Warriner
“Let’s all get to work and make our world the best it can be.” by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects
There are a million causes
to choose from: health care, the environment, animal rights, civil liberties. But what’s so amazing about Betsy Warriner is that she’s not passionate about any one cause; she’s passionate about all of them. “I believe in all the causes,” Warriner said. “Don’t you think everyone needs help at some point? Don’t you think everyone deserves to get help if they need it?” In 2004, Warriner and a group of community members started Volunteer Insights, a group whose aim was to connect students of all ages with service learning projects. She had prior experience coordinating volunteer centers at both Seattle University and at Portland Community College and saw the impact that volunteering had on young people. “It was powerful to see that light click on, to watch the effect that being involved in the community had on a student’s life. ... Making a difference in the world, feeling that you’re part of something gives people a sense of hope and helps students understand the world around them.” But then in 2010, Volunteer Insights evolved into Volunteer Connect and started working as a full service volunteer center for the entire Central Oregon community. “It’s a really simple concept,” Warriner said. “See how you can help.”
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Volunteer Connect’s website is one of its main resources, where more than 130 organizations post searchable positions for those looking to get involved. “Our primary purpose is connecting people who want to help with people who are in need. Each group is responsible for posting listings, and we have both one time and longterm volunteering opportunities available,” said Warriner. Each year Volunteer Connect’s services are used by 2,000-plus volunteers. “The involvement of people is what’s going to have an impact on solving the world’s problems, that we’re in this together and have to work together. … People are more likely to understand the issues from all sides when they volunteer. They’re more likely to donate to causes, more likely to make informed voting decisions, and the list goes on.” Warriner herself has volunteered in the U.S. and all over the world, even as far as Ethiopia. She’s done trail maintenance, taught ESL classes, and worked as a political volunteer. “Each time helps me understand the world a little bit better, to feel a part of something, to be counted. … Everyone has worth, everyone has the right to be involved, and people think that as volunteers, they’re the ones doing the impacting, but they soon learn that as volunteers they’re changed, too.”
Connie Worrell-Druliner
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE | OWNER OF EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS
“Work helps people find dignity in themselves. It helps give us purpose, and we not only treat people with dignity and respect, but we want to help people find that in themselves.” by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Work. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s an essential part of our lives. For more than 20 years, Connie WorrellDruliner has been helping match Central Oregon employers to Central Oregon employees. Druliner opened the Bend Express Employment Professionals franchise back in 1983. She was the 20th person to sign up for a franchise in what is now hundreds of offices across the country. “We’ve grown, our community has grown, but the need for work has always been the same,” said Druliner, who has watched the town more than double in her time as an employment professional and has felt the demand for work shift from mill workers to information technology professionals. “There wasn’t an elevator in town when we started,” Druliner said with a laugh. Druliner first began by working for Oran Teater, the former Bend mayor. “I managed a placement agency for Oran,” she explained. “He was very influential in my life and is one of the grandfathers of the community. And though a lot has changed, I do have to tell you what still rings my bell today is that helping people is still the same. It’s still what matters.” Along with her work in employee placement, Druliner also sits on many boards in the community. She’s on First Story’s Foundation Board, as well as on the advisory board for the Assistance League. She’s an Economic Development for Central Oregon board member,
as well as a board member of Redmond Economic Development. Still, even with all that she does, for Druliner, it’s about each individual person she helps. “I like to say that we’re putting America to work one person at a time,” she said. “It’s everything from industrial to commercial jobs, to executive searches where there’s no ceiling. … Work helps people find dignity in themselves. It helps give us purpose, and we not only treat people with dignity and respect, but we want to help people find that in themselves, feel good about who they are, leave our offices feeling more whole.” Each year Druliner and her team help place hundreds of people in jobs from accounting to IT to receptionist and administrative work and has even matched an insect pheromone specialist and filled a need for a worker to don a pickle costume. “Everyday is not the same, and I’m so lucky to get to be a part of that, to help people succeed. … It’s about hope, and if someone is willing to put in the work, to do the due diligence, we can find them a job.”
U Magazine | June 2015 | 21
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U Magazine | June 2015 | 23
Mohini Bhardwaj
OLYMPIC GYMNAST | FOUNDER OF OREGON OLYMPIC ATHLETICS
“I want to give back to my athletes the way so many amazing coaches gave to me.” by Annissa Anderson, for The Bulletin Special Projects
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Mohini Bhardwaj, an American gymnast who competed
at the 1997 and 2001 World Championships, also went on to lead her team — as team captain —to earn a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She is the first Indian American gymnast, and the second Indian American athlete overall, ever to medal at the Olympics. The UCLA alumna was inducted into UCLA Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 2013. Her college highlights include back-to-back NCAA championships in 2000 and 2001 and a pair of NCAA individual titles on the uneven bars in 2000 and floor exercise in 2001. Later this year, Bhardwaj is set to be inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame class of 2015. Now retired from competition, married with
a 5-year-old son and living in Bend, Bhardwaj’s passion for gymnastics is transferred to her students. As owner of, and women’s team coach at, Oregon Olympic Athletics, Bhardwaj puts herself in the place of the strong female coaches that guided her success. “I want to give back to my athletes the way so many amazing coaches gave to me,” said Bhardwaj. The accomplished athlete now sees her role as preparing other young women for life, through competitive gymnastics. Those who succeed in gymnastics, said Bhardwaj, are those who show up on time, are accountable, work as a team, are humble, and learn time management and organizational skills — all important life skills. “My Olympic experience was a lifelong goal, and a lifelong journey,” said Bhardwaj. Rather than a smooth path to her Olympic
goal, hers was one with a few bumps. A period of less-than-exemplary training in both high school and college slowed her progress. But once she mentally turned things around, there was no reason in her mind that she could not still be a serious Olympic contender. In the end, it was perseverance that helped her reach her lifelong goal. At the unlikely age of 25, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Bhardwaj and her teammates achieved the ultimate victory. “Sheer hard work is what pays off,” said Bhardwaj. For any athlete who aspires to great success, Bhardwaj reiterates that hard work — even more than talent — is what sets athletes apart. Instilling this ethic into other female gymnasts is what still inspires this Olympic athlete today.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR J BAR J YOUTH SERVICES | YOUTH SUPPORTER
Stephanie Alvstad
“Take responsibility for yourself, put one foot in front of the other, do the hard work, and you can create whatever life you want.” by Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Stephanie Alvstad grew up
in a large, loving family and together with her husband has raised two children of her own. Family is very important to her, and that includes her extended family: the hundreds of children she has served for several decades as the executive director of J Bar J Youth Services. “I love kids, and I love working with kids. Our youth are very resilient and inspiring. They often overcome many hardships,” said Alvstad. “When I was in high school, we got in trouble for chewing gum or not throwing our milk carton in the garbage. Now kids have to deal with drugs, alcohol, gangs, sex, weapons and more. I am constantly impressed by the youth we work with.” Throughout the years, Alvstad has shepherded J Bar J from a $1.9 million entity to a $6 million organization, providing information and support for hundreds of youth at risk and their families. “I have been working for J Bar J for over 20 years now, and what keeps me here is not only seeing the successes with kids — and the great folks that I get to work with here and in the community — but it’s the information that we are providing to the youth,” said Alvstad. “It’s the same information I learned growing up, the same information I try and teach my kids, 26 | U Magazine | June 2015
and it’s the information we provide to kids here. … Take responsibility for yourself, put one foot in front of the other, do the hard work, and you can create whatever life you want.” When youth who have been in one of her programs in the past reconnect with Alvstad, she is always delighted to learn more about how what they learned at J Bar J helped them along the way. She recognizes and appreciates the hard work that is involved in making life changes and is proud to support youth in that effort. “We can only provide the information. The kids are the ones that have to do the work,” said Alvstad. “Kids have the power to grow, learn and change. To become whoever they want to be. We teach personal responsibility, and hope kids become productive contributing members of society. We believe freedom and responsibility go hand in hand.” For Alvstad, success is best measured in terms of lives impacted by J Bar J programs. “The greatest successes for me are the hundreds of youth we have given information to over the years who have used that information to become better students, better partners, better spouses, better parents, better employees, better employers, and overall just better citizens and community members.”
WELCOME HOME
Kitchen MUST-HAVES Often referred to as the hub of any household, the kitchen serves as a common ground for entertaining and gathering over food with friends and family. When building a new home or completely remodeling, a kitchen can be laid out specific to your needs and wants. If you are one of the many that are working towards a smaller remodel, you still have an opportunity to update your space and make it more workable. Here are a few of our top picks to think about for your kitchen. Every kitchen needs a place to discard trash and recycling. In most homes you will find the trash under the sink right? Now that we are all trying to be earth conscious, the recycle bin may be used more than the garbage bin. It’s a tight space
under the sink already. Cramming two bins in there can be difficult. We feel that the roll out drawer system not only gives you more space, but allows for better organization of other common kitchen items. Reva-shelf has components that make this add on a piece of cake. Another commonly over looked factor in kitchens is where your pots and pans go. Let’s face it. You’re never going to stack them all nice and neat like they came in the box. It’s great if they can be located close to the range or oven. You need more height and depth than normal. We love a roll out shelf if they are located down low in a cabinet. If you have drawers we suggest using dowels or dividers to prevent everything from sliding when you have taken one piece out. Keep it simple. These are every-day items and ease in and out is important. If we asked you to give us the top
five wish list items for your kitchen, we bet the junk drawer won’t make the list. No surprise that it isn’t a glamorous item to focus on. There are thousands of organizers that will make this drawer a more manageable space. It’s easy to find a home for
the mixer and the toaster. But where do all your measur measuring spoons
go? Or how about those chip clips? And you need a pen and paper handy to make a list of groceries. Every person will separate out these little goodies differently. Pick out the items that you may use once or twice a week and then pick the items you may use once or twice a month. You can find drawer organizers almost anywhere. We often customize organizers. It’s easier than you think. These are only three of our top picks. If you are working on a kitchen space and want to make it fit your lifestyle more, please call us. We would love to help you make it wonderful. PHOTO CREDIT FROM HOUZZ
Comple ment s Home Interiors 54 1 . 3 2 2 . 7 3 3 7 w w w. complement shome. com 7 0 SW Ce ntu r y Dr. , Su ite 1 4 5 , B end , OR 9 7 7 0 2 U Magazine | June 2015 | 27
FOUNDER OF ARTS IN THE HOSPITAL | ARTIST
Marlene Alexander
“Art has the rare ability to mend social, psychological and physical ills by building community, inspiring change and celebrating life.” by Susan Stafford, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Marlene Alexander’s husband
Eric celebrates her creativity and dedication at the beginning of every year by sending her a bouquet of flowers with a card reading: “You’ve never lost your passion.” Her lifelong passion is sharing the joy and benefits of art. Even through her own battle with breast cancer, she never abandoned her art with her young students and her hospital patients. “Working with the patients while going through my own cancer treatment helped me,” she shared. Alexander, an accomplished artist in watercolors and acrylics, established the Creative Arts Children’s Art School in her home studio almost four decades ago. “Thirty-nine years and I still look forward to the kids coming through the door,” she said. Her work with arts in health care led to her founding the St. Charles Arts in the Hospital healing arts program to relieve caregiver stress and be a calming influence on patients, guests and staff. She designed a unique art cart to bring art to the patients, allowing them to engage in creative activities to assist in their healing. Her Art + Walk program encouraged patients to get up and walk by viewing artwork throughout the hospital. Alexander is sharing her Arts in Care program
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at Partners in Care Hospice. She works with patients as well as caregivers to process the emotional work of dying. She has established a rotating gallery of original art by regional artists in the administration center. Technology has allowed her to utilize art applications on her iPad when working with hospice patients, simplifying the process when art supplies are not practical to use. She shared the story of a 90+ year-old hospice patient, one of the original Navy frogmen who, after finishing a painting, told her, “Put this in by my hat with all my medals,” a place of honor. He died three weeks later. Outside of her work, Alexander has donated generously of her time to promote the arts by serving for 30 years on the local committee for Art in Public Places and for seven years on the board of the national Society for the Arts in Healthcare, which she helped found 26 years ago. In what little spare time she has, Alexander creates her own paintings in her downtown studio. She also shoots competitive pool and plays a mean bass. The sparkle in her eyes as she talks enthusiastically about her life’s work confirms the passion her husband celebrates.
Nicolle Timm
LOCAL FOODIE | FOUNDER OF CENTRAL OREGON LOCAVORE
“I grew up in this community. I love where I live. I want to give back by supporting the local farming community.” by Gregg Morris, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Nicolle Timm grew up
in Northeast Bend with her three younger brothers, father and mother, who happened to be a pioneer in Central Oregon gardening. Her family ate fresh vegetables from the garden and traded for milk from a neighbor’s cow. Unbeknownst to Timm, her experiences as a child living the farm life in a suburban neighborhood would shape her views and philanthropic path for the rest of her life. After graduating from high school, Timm earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Oregon Health & Science University in Ashland and moved to Denver, Colo., to work as a labor and delivery nurse. Recognizing an important part of health was being ignored, Timm began to research eating habits as a path to good health. “I realized nutrition wasn’t being addressed,” said Timm. “So, I looked for the optimum human diet for health.” Through Timm’s studies on nutrition, the benefits of eating local began to make up the cornerstone of her nutritional beliefs. Timm stumbled upon the work of the Weston A Price Foundation, which studied nutrition and health in isolated areas. Timm began to search for wholesome foods and took a job at a growing dairy farm outside of Denver. Quickly tired of the big city, Timm moved back to Bend in 2008, where she continued her search for local food and, in
turn, met many local farmers. A year after moving back to Central Oregon, Timm’s growing concern for the struggle of local farmers and ranchers lead her to start Central Oregon Locavore as a way to promote local food and local growers. “I grew up in this community,” said Timm. “I love where I live. I want to give back by supporting the local farming community.” Through events such as “Faces of Farming — The Past Present and Future of Farming,” and their Second Street marketplace, Timm and Locavore are attempting to reeducate Central Oregonians about local food. They stress the support of a local economy, humane treatment of animals, low carbon footprint and water conservation as benefits to health and well-being in our community. Although Timm has already seen major changes in the way the community looks at buying and eating food, she has big plans for the future. Timm hopes to expand the marketplace, develop a small farmer support program, work closer with local restaurants who use local food, and seek out more local government support.
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