QUEER I AM 2016 WORKSHOP PRESENTERS
VERONICA BERRERA-KOLB
Vero holds four academic degrees including doctoral work in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and is currently a faculty members in the Humanities Department at Seattle Central College. She has been teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level on issues of race, class, and gender for the past 15 years. She is also a filmmaker working on topics of human rights and social movements.
VERONICA BELTRAN-LEYVA
Veronica Beltran-Leyva is a graduate of Clark College. Currently attending Washington State University of Vancouver, she is pursuing a degree in Social Sciences, and focusing on women’s studies, communications and psychology. Veronica advocates for marginalized communities through involvement with the WSU Diversity Center, Cougar Pride Club, and Latin@ Student Association.
TALCOTT BROADHEAD
Workshop presenter is a White, Trans(non-binary), Radical Social Worker, TransFeminist Professor, Activist, Parent, and Author of “Meet Polkadot.” who uses They/Them pronouns.
LYDIA BROWN (KEYNOTE SPEAKER)
JILL BUSBY
Jill Busby received her degree from Oregon State University. Some of her prior work experience includes the coordination of a program for homeless and streetinvolved queer youth in San Francisco, and extensive work as a trainer for various agencies in the California Bay Area. She is currently the Program Director for Pizza Klatch.
AMIRA CALUYA(******)
LUZVIMINDA CARPENTER
Luzviminda Uzuri Carpenter (pronounced Loose-b-min-dah ooh-zir-e car-pen-ter) aka Lulu, is a cultural worker and producer that has resided in Seattle, WA for ten (10) years and is the creator, producer, and host of #LuluNation + Crew on Hollow Earth Radio. She is known for her cultural productions and consultant work through Uzuri* Consulting & Productions which she founded to support queer and trans people of color organizing.
KRYSTAL CORREA
For the past four years Krystal Correa has worked in high school programs, focusing on opportunity youth who are at risk of dropping out. She graduated from Arizona State University where she focused on the LGBTQ+ community through her involvement in the first nationwide queer sorority.
HEATH DAVIS
Heath Davis is a librarian at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Washington, where she does her library thing and also teaches printmaking and critical multiculturalism classes. She created collaborative zines in her graduate program in cultural studies, which helped her make connections between theory and practice
MICAL DEGRAAFF
Mical is a Midwest native recently turned Seattlite. She works as an advisor for Renton Technical College, and loves the queer vibes in the PNW!
CYNTHIA DEVILLE
Cynthia DeVille is a transgender woman and activist who has presented “Understanding Transgender” seminars to numerous colleges, universities, conferences and the Keystone Conference in Harrisburg, PA. She will be the first transgender student athlete in the Northwest Athletic Conference, representing Columbia Basin College, competing in women’s golf.
MISSY DOMINGUEZ
Missy Dominguez is a Program Manager for Student Engagement and Activities at University of Washington Bothell. They’ve been passionate about the Queer community for years, from facilitating Gay-Straight Alliance in high school, to earning 3 LGBTQ college scholarships, founding an all-inclusive sorority, and being a Rainbow Graduation student speaker.
JESSICA ELM
Jessica Elm (Oneida / Stockbridge-Munsee) is a PhD student at UW, Seattle. Her research areas include examining American Indian and Two-Spirit health inequities, and the interactions between stress, coping, and resilience across the life course. She is currently working on is an analysis of predictors of suicide attempt among two-spirits.
SISTER GLO (FEATURED PERFORMER)
SHOLANDA HIGGINS (*********)
MATT IGNACIO
Matt Ignacio (Tohono O’odham) is a current PhD student at UW, Seattle. His research areas include exploring Native resiliency, as well as understanding ways to increase healthcare access and utilization for Native people and communities
KATIE JOHNTSON
Katie Johnston is a painter and poet new to Washington. She’s been making zines for seven years and writing for as long as she can remember. She hopes to one day complete a fantasy series she started her freshman year of high school, featuring a cast of queer women of color.
KRISTIN KALI
Kristin Kali, LM CPM is the owner of internationally renowned MAIA Midwifery and Fertility Services. Kristin provides preconception care, home insemination, prenatal care, and birth at home or birth center in Seattle, WA. She is an authoritative resource on LGBTQ conception and pregnancy, single parenting by choice, fertility insemination, intentional family-building, LGBTQ cultural sensitivity and midwifery model preconception care. Learn more at www.maiamidwifery.com.
MASA KAWAMURA
Masa Kawamura is a recent graduate of the Evergreen State College with a Bachelor’s psychology. He is a local artist, activist, and organizer. He currently works with Stonewall Youth to implement transgender friendly programming and support transgender youth leadership.
NOORY KIM
Noory is an educator and a community builder and received her A.A. at Highline College and B.A. in Psychology at Seattle University. They are part of Sahngnoksoo, a Korean American activist organization, and Zenyu Healing, working on well-being for queer folks of color. She currently works at Highline College as a Leadership Advisor.
MICHELLE KLEISATH
Michelle Kleisath PhD, is a professor in the Equity and Social Justice program at Shoreline CC.
ANGELICA LANGLEY
Angel ‘Moonyeka’ Langley is a young Filipina-American street dancer currently pursuing an Honors Dance Studies degree at UW. “BUTCH KWEEN” winner of Midnight Mecca Ball, is also founder of “WHAT’S POPPIN’ LADIEZ?!” , an ethnographic research project/community series focused on female-poppers’ experience; a dance teaching artist who can’t turn down thai food!
RASHIDA LOVE
Rashida Love is the Director of First Peoples Multicultural Advising Services at The Evergreen State College and has worked in Student Affairs for over 12 years. She enjoys working with students one on one and in group settings around a variety of issues that encompass diversity and inclusion.
ALEX MARTIN
Alex Martin is a staff member at Clark College. They facilitate workshops and trainings on topics ranging from safe zones to academic success to technology support. Alex is very passionate about feminism, queer theory, and literature. Oh and zombies. They identify as transmasculine and use they/them/their pronouns.
SCARLETT PEDERSEN
Scarlett Pedersen is a multi-racial black poet from outer space based in Olympia, Washington. She is a member of Old Growth Poetry Collective, with whom she helps run Olympia People's Mic, Oly’s only weekly poetry show. She was on the 2015 National Poetry Slam team from Olympia, and has perfrmed solo and with Old Growth Poetry Collective at various venues and events from Pride TOO! in Eugene, OR, and Raining Man by Cascadia Now. Her work has also been featured on KAOS radio and Oddball Magazine, and her upcoming mini-chapbook Honey, from MANGO publications.
MICHAEL PENHALLEGON
Michael “Crimson” Penhallegon is a Junior at Evergreen State College studying Computer Science and Public Health. He has been involved in the Radical Faeries for 9 years and has many years of organizing in queer community and communities of color.
EMILY PIEPER
Emily Pieper was born and raised in Olympia, Washington as a low income, first generation, white queer person and has deep roots to this fabulous queer community. She is currently working as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at the Evergreen State College.
LILY PIRAYESH-TOWNSEND (******)
CLIMBING POETREE (FEATURED ARTIST)
KATHLEEN PREZBINDOWSKI
Dr. Kathleen Prezbindowski serves on the TLC Board and PS OLOC Leadership Team. She is spearheading a special project to expand the PS OLOC role in documenting the history of old lesbians. She has authored six learning guides with major publishers and a senior wellness video series and presenters’ manual through a U. S. Administration on Aging grant.
MARAGRET PURCELL
Margaret Purcell (and many other PS OLOC members) have developed enormous expertise in Old Lesbian Herstories collection/compilation. She serves locally on the Tacoma Lesbian Concern, TLC, Board and is a part of the PS OLOC Leadership Team. Nationally, serves as President and Project Manager for the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project, (OLOHP) Dr. Kathleen Prezbindowski serves on the TLC Board and PS OLOC Leadership Team. She is spearheading a special project to expand the PS OLOC role in documenting the history of old lesbians. She has authored six learning guides with major publishers and a senior wellness video series and presenters’ manual through a U. S. Administration on Aging grant.
PAM RACANSKY
Pam Racansky MA, an applied anthropologist, works as Director for Diversity & Inclusion at NSC.
ZANE RAPIÑAN
Zane Rapiñan (they/he) is a passionate scientist/activist studying physics at Evergreen. They identify as trans and non-binary, a first-generation mixed race queerpunk who dreams of slowing planetary destruction and teaching STEM classes in diverse alternative education. Zane is from Seattle, likes cats and pushing back against oppression.
MICHAELLA ROSNER
Michaella Rosner is a recent graduate of the University of Washington Bothell and works there as a Social Justice Organizer. Ze advocates for social justice through prose, poetry, and community organizing. Their work centers on queer, trans, and disability justice with a consciousness of other intersecting identities.
BEVYN ROWLAND
Dr. Bevyn Rowland is a licensed clinical psychologist and instructor at Clark College. She works to facilitate students' understanding of helpful/unhelpful behaviors and thoughts, help them move toward healthy change, and provide a safe environment to test out new ways of being and thinking to maximize academic and personal success. She also teaches about mindfulness and resilience including adapting models for LGBTQQP2SIAA workshops and trainings.
LEAH SHELTON
Leah Shelton, M.A., is a staff member at the University of Washington Bothell, where she is grateful to work with and for students to advance social justice, equity, and community. Leah holds an M.A. in Education from the University of Nottingham.
NATHAN SILPAKIT
Nathan is fascinated by skin, both medically and socioculturally. By day, he works at a small dermatology clinic. By night, he hosts discussions on the intersection of race, class, and gender while drinking a lot of tea. Nathan is a proud SPSCC alum and former Senator for Diversity and Equity.
IMANI SIMS
Imani Sims is a performance poet and teacher from Seattle Washington. She currently teaches poetry and performance at the University of Washington, Hugo House, and is constantly searching for ways to engage diverse audiences with the Queer Woman of Color narrative.
SHAMBRICIA SPENCER
Shambricia resides in Olympia, Washington and one of her biggest goals in life is to be an agent of change. Besides working toward that goal everyday she is also a loving wife, an amazing friend, an awesome sister, daughter, aunt, educator, and a loving foster mom.
JACE STARETT
Jace Starrett has been a workshop facilitator for many years, with previous facilitation experience at SafePlace in Olympia. Currently, Jace works as a workshop contractor, using his talents to provide engaging educational opportunities in the local community.
CHILAN TA
Chilan Ta MS, manages the Women’s Center at North Seattle College (NSC) and teaches math and engineering.
JUSTIN TAYLOR (**********)
LAURIE TORRES
Laurie is a community organizer with the BAYAN Queer Collective and GABRIELA Seattle, a collective of Pin@ys who do cultural and political education work around labor issues impacting Filipino migrant workers. She has done work around environmental, economic, racial, gender and transformative justice in the community. In her free time she loves to sing, dance, and teach a community self-defense and wellness class for queer and trans people of color.
JADE VOGELSANG
Jade is a dutch Indonesian trans* street and contemporary dancer. Performed at various venues and events across the PNW. Mother of the House of Marco Marco and creator and founder of "En Vogue" Seattle's premier monthly ball competition. Strives to build queer culture and create space for QTPOC.
EMI YAMASAKI-MCLAUGHLIN
Emi Yamasaki McLaughlin has her own midwifery practice, Journey Midwife Services at Seattle Birth Center. Emi envisions a future where LGBTQ families and families of color are served by midwives that reflect their communities. She focused her graduate studies on women of color and health inequities. Her website is www.HomeBirthInSeattle.com
Vero holds four academic degrees including doctoral work in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and is currently a faculty members in the Humanities Department at Seattle Central College. She has been teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level on issues of race, class, and gender for the past 15 years. She is also a filmmaker working on topics of human rights and social movements.
VERONICA BELTRAN-LEYVA
Veronica Beltran-Leyva is a graduate of Clark College. Currently attending Washington State University of Vancouver, she is pursuing a degree in Social Sciences, and focusing on women’s studies, communications and psychology. Veronica advocates for marginalized communities through involvement with the WSU Diversity Center, Cougar Pride Club, and Latin@ Student Association.
TALCOTT BROADHEAD
Workshop presenter is a White, Trans(non-binary), Radical Social Worker, TransFeminist Professor, Activist, Parent, and Author of “Meet Polkadot.” who uses They/Them pronouns.
LYDIA BROWN (KEYNOTE SPEAKER)
JILL BUSBY
Jill Busby received her degree from Oregon State University. Some of her prior work experience includes the coordination of a program for homeless and streetinvolved queer youth in San Francisco, and extensive work as a trainer for various agencies in the California Bay Area. She is currently the Program Director for Pizza Klatch.
AMIRA CALUYA(******)
LUZVIMINDA CARPENTER
Luzviminda Uzuri Carpenter (pronounced Loose-b-min-dah ooh-zir-e car-pen-ter) aka Lulu, is a cultural worker and producer that has resided in Seattle, WA for ten (10) years and is the creator, producer, and host of #LuluNation + Crew on Hollow Earth Radio. She is known for her cultural productions and consultant work through Uzuri* Consulting & Productions which she founded to support queer and trans people of color organizing.
KRYSTAL CORREA
For the past four years Krystal Correa has worked in high school programs, focusing on opportunity youth who are at risk of dropping out. She graduated from Arizona State University where she focused on the LGBTQ+ community through her involvement in the first nationwide queer sorority.
HEATH DAVIS
Heath Davis is a librarian at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Washington, where she does her library thing and also teaches printmaking and critical multiculturalism classes. She created collaborative zines in her graduate program in cultural studies, which helped her make connections between theory and practice
MICAL DEGRAAFF
Mical is a Midwest native recently turned Seattlite. She works as an advisor for Renton Technical College, and loves the queer vibes in the PNW!
CYNTHIA DEVILLE
Cynthia DeVille is a transgender woman and activist who has presented “Understanding Transgender” seminars to numerous colleges, universities, conferences and the Keystone Conference in Harrisburg, PA. She will be the first transgender student athlete in the Northwest Athletic Conference, representing Columbia Basin College, competing in women’s golf.
MISSY DOMINGUEZ
Missy Dominguez is a Program Manager for Student Engagement and Activities at University of Washington Bothell. They’ve been passionate about the Queer community for years, from facilitating Gay-Straight Alliance in high school, to earning 3 LGBTQ college scholarships, founding an all-inclusive sorority, and being a Rainbow Graduation student speaker.
JESSICA ELM
Jessica Elm (Oneida / Stockbridge-Munsee) is a PhD student at UW, Seattle. Her research areas include examining American Indian and Two-Spirit health inequities, and the interactions between stress, coping, and resilience across the life course. She is currently working on is an analysis of predictors of suicide attempt among two-spirits.
SISTER GLO (FEATURED PERFORMER)
SHOLANDA HIGGINS (*********)
MATT IGNACIO
Matt Ignacio (Tohono O’odham) is a current PhD student at UW, Seattle. His research areas include exploring Native resiliency, as well as understanding ways to increase healthcare access and utilization for Native people and communities
KATIE JOHNTSON
Katie Johnston is a painter and poet new to Washington. She’s been making zines for seven years and writing for as long as she can remember. She hopes to one day complete a fantasy series she started her freshman year of high school, featuring a cast of queer women of color.
KRISTIN KALI
Kristin Kali, LM CPM is the owner of internationally renowned MAIA Midwifery and Fertility Services. Kristin provides preconception care, home insemination, prenatal care, and birth at home or birth center in Seattle, WA. She is an authoritative resource on LGBTQ conception and pregnancy, single parenting by choice, fertility insemination, intentional family-building, LGBTQ cultural sensitivity and midwifery model preconception care. Learn more at www.maiamidwifery.com.
MASA KAWAMURA
Masa Kawamura is a recent graduate of the Evergreen State College with a Bachelor’s psychology. He is a local artist, activist, and organizer. He currently works with Stonewall Youth to implement transgender friendly programming and support transgender youth leadership.
NOORY KIM
Noory is an educator and a community builder and received her A.A. at Highline College and B.A. in Psychology at Seattle University. They are part of Sahngnoksoo, a Korean American activist organization, and Zenyu Healing, working on well-being for queer folks of color. She currently works at Highline College as a Leadership Advisor.
MICHELLE KLEISATH
Michelle Kleisath PhD, is a professor in the Equity and Social Justice program at Shoreline CC.
ANGELICA LANGLEY
Angel ‘Moonyeka’ Langley is a young Filipina-American street dancer currently pursuing an Honors Dance Studies degree at UW. “BUTCH KWEEN” winner of Midnight Mecca Ball, is also founder of “WHAT’S POPPIN’ LADIEZ?!” , an ethnographic research project/community series focused on female-poppers’ experience; a dance teaching artist who can’t turn down thai food!
RASHIDA LOVE
Rashida Love is the Director of First Peoples Multicultural Advising Services at The Evergreen State College and has worked in Student Affairs for over 12 years. She enjoys working with students one on one and in group settings around a variety of issues that encompass diversity and inclusion.
ALEX MARTIN
Alex Martin is a staff member at Clark College. They facilitate workshops and trainings on topics ranging from safe zones to academic success to technology support. Alex is very passionate about feminism, queer theory, and literature. Oh and zombies. They identify as transmasculine and use they/them/their pronouns.
SCARLETT PEDERSEN
Scarlett Pedersen is a multi-racial black poet from outer space based in Olympia, Washington. She is a member of Old Growth Poetry Collective, with whom she helps run Olympia People's Mic, Oly’s only weekly poetry show. She was on the 2015 National Poetry Slam team from Olympia, and has perfrmed solo and with Old Growth Poetry Collective at various venues and events from Pride TOO! in Eugene, OR, and Raining Man by Cascadia Now. Her work has also been featured on KAOS radio and Oddball Magazine, and her upcoming mini-chapbook Honey, from MANGO publications.
MICHAEL PENHALLEGON
Michael “Crimson” Penhallegon is a Junior at Evergreen State College studying Computer Science and Public Health. He has been involved in the Radical Faeries for 9 years and has many years of organizing in queer community and communities of color.
EMILY PIEPER
Emily Pieper was born and raised in Olympia, Washington as a low income, first generation, white queer person and has deep roots to this fabulous queer community. She is currently working as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at the Evergreen State College.
LILY PIRAYESH-TOWNSEND (******)
CLIMBING POETREE (FEATURED ARTIST)
KATHLEEN PREZBINDOWSKI
Dr. Kathleen Prezbindowski serves on the TLC Board and PS OLOC Leadership Team. She is spearheading a special project to expand the PS OLOC role in documenting the history of old lesbians. She has authored six learning guides with major publishers and a senior wellness video series and presenters’ manual through a U. S. Administration on Aging grant.
MARAGRET PURCELL
Margaret Purcell (and many other PS OLOC members) have developed enormous expertise in Old Lesbian Herstories collection/compilation. She serves locally on the Tacoma Lesbian Concern, TLC, Board and is a part of the PS OLOC Leadership Team. Nationally, serves as President and Project Manager for the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project, (OLOHP) Dr. Kathleen Prezbindowski serves on the TLC Board and PS OLOC Leadership Team. She is spearheading a special project to expand the PS OLOC role in documenting the history of old lesbians. She has authored six learning guides with major publishers and a senior wellness video series and presenters’ manual through a U. S. Administration on Aging grant.
PAM RACANSKY
Pam Racansky MA, an applied anthropologist, works as Director for Diversity & Inclusion at NSC.
ZANE RAPIÑAN
Zane Rapiñan (they/he) is a passionate scientist/activist studying physics at Evergreen. They identify as trans and non-binary, a first-generation mixed race queerpunk who dreams of slowing planetary destruction and teaching STEM classes in diverse alternative education. Zane is from Seattle, likes cats and pushing back against oppression.
MICHAELLA ROSNER
Michaella Rosner is a recent graduate of the University of Washington Bothell and works there as a Social Justice Organizer. Ze advocates for social justice through prose, poetry, and community organizing. Their work centers on queer, trans, and disability justice with a consciousness of other intersecting identities.
BEVYN ROWLAND
Dr. Bevyn Rowland is a licensed clinical psychologist and instructor at Clark College. She works to facilitate students' understanding of helpful/unhelpful behaviors and thoughts, help them move toward healthy change, and provide a safe environment to test out new ways of being and thinking to maximize academic and personal success. She also teaches about mindfulness and resilience including adapting models for LGBTQQP2SIAA workshops and trainings.
LEAH SHELTON
Leah Shelton, M.A., is a staff member at the University of Washington Bothell, where she is grateful to work with and for students to advance social justice, equity, and community. Leah holds an M.A. in Education from the University of Nottingham.
NATHAN SILPAKIT
Nathan is fascinated by skin, both medically and socioculturally. By day, he works at a small dermatology clinic. By night, he hosts discussions on the intersection of race, class, and gender while drinking a lot of tea. Nathan is a proud SPSCC alum and former Senator for Diversity and Equity.
IMANI SIMS
Imani Sims is a performance poet and teacher from Seattle Washington. She currently teaches poetry and performance at the University of Washington, Hugo House, and is constantly searching for ways to engage diverse audiences with the Queer Woman of Color narrative.
SHAMBRICIA SPENCER
Shambricia resides in Olympia, Washington and one of her biggest goals in life is to be an agent of change. Besides working toward that goal everyday she is also a loving wife, an amazing friend, an awesome sister, daughter, aunt, educator, and a loving foster mom.
JACE STARETT
Jace Starrett has been a workshop facilitator for many years, with previous facilitation experience at SafePlace in Olympia. Currently, Jace works as a workshop contractor, using his talents to provide engaging educational opportunities in the local community.
CHILAN TA
Chilan Ta MS, manages the Women’s Center at North Seattle College (NSC) and teaches math and engineering.
JUSTIN TAYLOR (**********)
LAURIE TORRES
Laurie is a community organizer with the BAYAN Queer Collective and GABRIELA Seattle, a collective of Pin@ys who do cultural and political education work around labor issues impacting Filipino migrant workers. She has done work around environmental, economic, racial, gender and transformative justice in the community. In her free time she loves to sing, dance, and teach a community self-defense and wellness class for queer and trans people of color.
JADE VOGELSANG
Jade is a dutch Indonesian trans* street and contemporary dancer. Performed at various venues and events across the PNW. Mother of the House of Marco Marco and creator and founder of "En Vogue" Seattle's premier monthly ball competition. Strives to build queer culture and create space for QTPOC.
EMI YAMASAKI-MCLAUGHLIN
Emi Yamasaki McLaughlin has her own midwifery practice, Journey Midwife Services at Seattle Birth Center. Emi envisions a future where LGBTQ families and families of color are served by midwives that reflect their communities. She focused her graduate studies on women of color and health inequities. Her website is www.HomeBirthInSeattle.com