Board
Mineral School is redeveloping its board in the wake of the (worst of the) pandemic and a variety of organizational changes. We’re honored that a nucleus of folks with complementary skill sets are setting us on the path:
Claudia Castro Luna (she/her), of Seattle, Washington, is a poet and a writer whose books include Cipota Under the Moon (Tia Chucha, 2022), One River, A Thousand Voices (Chin Music Press), and Killing Marias (Two Sylvias Press). Her latest prose is found in There is a Revolution Outside, My love (Vintage, 2021). In addition to her work in poetry and prose, she played a pivotal role in creating the Spanish-language residency run in partnership with Seattle Escribe at Mineral School, and she has held public office as a poet through roles as an Academy of American Poets Poet Laureate Fellow (2019), Washington State Poet Laureate (2018-2021), and Seattle’s Civic Poet (2015-2018). Born in El Salvador, she lives in two languages — English and Spanish. She currently teaches at Seattle University.
Jane Hodges (she/her), of Seattle, Washington, founded and volunteer-directs the residency program at Mineral School and spends about one-third of the year in Mineral. A journalist, editor, book author (Rent vs. Own, Chronicle Books), and creative writer, she served on the Lit Crawl Seattle board and completed University of Washington’s nonprofit management certificate program as well as training via the Artist Communities Alliance; she has written Mineral School’s grants and freelance-edited grants for other arts nonprofits. A graduate of Dartmouth (BA) and Sarah Lawrence (MFA), she manages Mineral School’s residency and culinary program every summer as well as program staffing and resident logistics. She’s quietly working on a nonfiction project.
Liz Jones (she/her), of Seattle, Washington, is a journalist with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. She’s an editor at KUOW Public Radio, where she also worked as a reporter covering underrepresented communities and social issues for more than a decade. Her stories have taken her all over Washington state, and also to India, China and to Mexico again and again. She has served as a mentor for NPR’s Next Generation training program, and also currently serves on the board for the NW chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She has lived in Peru, Spain, NYC and in various NW towns including Olympia, Everett, Ritzville, Basin City and Forest Grove, Oregon. She’s experimenting with new creative nonfiction.
Jason Sawyer (he/him), of Morton, Washington, is one of two principals at SML (Simple Modern Living), a creative studio that designs furniture, fabric and upholstered items, and household goods from local and sustainably-sourced materials. He holds a BA in Architecture from the University of Washington, and works with materials including wood, concrete, and metal. A builder and entrepreneur at heart, he supports all who strive for a well-designed and meaningful life that allows time for creativity, ingenuity, and civic engagement. He goes by “Sawyer” — so don’t call him Jason!
Who else would like to join us?
We are actively looking to build our board to a group of at least seven and are particularly interested in finding Northwest-based and Lewis County-based folks willing to lead and participate in work including fundraising, board governance, and projects including jurying, events in and beyond Mineral, and culinary service. Write us at mineralschoolarts@gmail.com!
PAST BOARD/COMMITTEE (2014-2022)
Rebekah Anderson (board ’16-’18), writer/marketing professional, Seattle
Stesha Brandon (board ’14), literary programming professional, Seattle
Val Cashman (board ’19-’20), culinary enthusiast and healer, Portland
Elisabeth Eaves (board ’15-’17), writer and journalist, Seattle
Jordan Friedman ’19 (committee ’20-’22), screenwriter, Mercer Island
Dora Hale (board ’15-’16), painter, Mineral, WA
Nicole Hardy (board ’15-’17), writer and teacher, Seattle
Kait Heacock (board ’18-committee ’22), writer, editor, marketer, Portland
Tracie Luthi (board ’14-’15), small business administrator, Seattle
Gary Johnson (board ’14-’15), facilities professional and unofficial mayor of Mineral, WA
Jess Martin (board ’15-’19), marketing and sales professional, Lakewood, WA
Renate Raymond (board ’15-’19), arts administrator and fundraising professional, Seattle
Putsata Reang ’17 (board ’18-’19), writer and journalist, Seattle
Alexandra Reinken (board ’19-committee ’20), visual artist, marketer, and event specialist, Bainbridge Island
Susan Roden (board ’19-’20), poet, writer, and literary enthusiast, Onalaska
Derek Scheips (board ’14), educator and writer, Seattle
Jason Vanhee (board ’19), writer and nonprofit and literary arts professional, Seatle
SPECIAL SUPPORTERS
Kirsten Anderson, painter and art teacher, Ashford, WA
Dave Brewer, UX professional/telecom boss, handyman, board spouse, Seattle
Phil Brooke, governance professional and historic preservationist, Portland, OR
Teresa Luengo Cid, writer, teacher and library services leader, Bellevue, WA
Katy Hannigan (Thread Support, White Center Coworking), nonprofit advisor and small business operator, Seattle
Tessa Hulls (chef ’17), culinary professional/visual artist, graphic novelist, Seattle, WA
Diane Mapes (Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center), journalist, roadhouse pianist, advocate, Seattle
Brian McGuigan (at large), writer and nonprofit leader, Seattle
Carolyn McKelvie, innkeeper, Mineral
Star Roberts, arts supporter and writer, Seattle
ROCK STAR VOLUNTEERS
We’re an all-volunteer organization. Seattle Central Community College helped us redesign our web site, and Michelle Szwedo stayed after class to help us with our technology and design problems; we are all learning together. On the culinary help front: We received solid advice from Olympia food sourcing czar Brian McDonald, and quality kitchen time from chefs and cooks including Bastyr University students Julie Heath, Brittany Rouse, and Sarah Wall; sports nutrition grad student Kelly Neville; talented home cooks Val Cashman, Jackleen delaHarpe, Laura Gilliam, Dianne Niemann, Jane Taylor, Theadora Tolkin, and Dana Wolff; organic farmer Brittany McGrath; and pro cooks Jessica Callahan, Jason Cohen, Tessa Hulls, and Siolo Thompson.
We also need to give a shout-out to April Rebollo, Chris Arkills, Steve Botts, Sara Everett, Katharina Sharpe, Todd Oman, Elise Glassman, Bruce Yarrow, Anna-Marie Sannes, Andy Holmes, yogini Cynthia Land, Lisa Brewer and Big Tall Rick, writers Joni Blecher and Megan McMorris, mystic Fia, Joe Ray, Chelsea Werner-Jatzke, Lisa Sutherland Johnson, Amanda Castleman, and Kirsten and Nathan Lunstrum, for some unglamorous tasks in the buildings. Not to mention Portland Rob, the contractor-musician with a heart of gold and a box of tools. Cindy Pestka donated art, and many anonymous Northwest readers help us jury applications for residency. Michelle Goodman, Sarah Zurat, Jenny Hayes, and Mia Lipman have all helped, too.
FRIENDS OF MINERAL SCHOOL
Along the way, we’ve received valuable programmatic and other support from our fiscal sponsor Shunpike and from The Alliance of Artists Communities and Cascadia Artist in Residence Network.
Putsata Reang (Mineral School ’17) generously raised her hand as our first alumni board member and Jason Vanhee (Mineral School ’16) also volunteered. Writers Jeremy Pataky, Linda Johns, Samiya Bashir, and Jack Downs have contributed their valuable time. We’re grateful to dancer and choreographer Bennyroyce Royon who nudged us toward launching a little earlier than we thought we were ready — to terrific results. In addition, we’ve gotten great advice from Robb Andrade, of Seattle. We also appreciate the help and encouragement of Harry Bhagwandin, Dick and Leslee Dunlap, Dave and Susan Manger, Carolyn McKelvie, and many others in or from metro Mineral. We’re grateful to Apex Law. And we’re happy to know and partner on projects with Fire Mountain Arts Council, Centralia College, Rainier Independent Film Festival, and Hugo House.