JoANA MCNERTHNEY

JoAna grew up in Tacoma, WA and came to Bellingham in 1973 to attend WWU. She graduated in Accounting and Spanish in 1979 and chose to stay in Bellingham. Since then, she has worked both as an employee and a consultant in the Accounting field for the Lummi Tribe, many small businesses, non-profits and an Accounting firm. She has a keen interest and appreciation for cooperatives, as a consumer and a worker. Her volunteer activities have included, among others, working with Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, Central America Refugee Assistance, serving on the Board of the Community Food Coop, and recently working with the emerging network of cooperatives, Cascade Cooperatives and this emerging Community Land Trust.

One of her jobs as a young adult that instilled an appreciation of the empowerment provided by worker-owned cooperatives was planting trees with Marmot Collective. That seed planted inspired her to be one of the founders of a short-lived Pacific Accounting Cooperative in the 90’s and the ongoing Circle of Life Caregiver Cooperative in 2007. Currently she is a self-employed accountant with a variety of clients. She has two sons and a daughter who are adults and two granddaughters. She currently lives on Yew Street hill in Bellingham.

Zachary Robertson

Zachary is a homesteader, father and activist local to Bellingham. He’s best known for his community organizing efforts in Bellingham’s chapter of the World Naked Bike Ride, an effort to protest “indecent exposure” to fossil fuels, and challenge the narratives of our bodies prescribed to us by our media and culture. This event coincides with BodPos, a Body Positive Block Party held before and after the ride.

Outside of BodPos, you can find Zach vending his delicious dried apples and gluten-free vegan chocolate tortes at local artisan markets with his family— surely with a smile on his face.

Shelly Vendiola

Aida cordona

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