Alley Greymond, B.A. 2004 and M.A. Whole Systems Design 2007

Alley Greymond, B.A. ’04, and M.A. Whole Systems Design ’07, is a Port of Seattle document control specialist, Engineering, who has just been named the organization’s 2009 Charles Blood Champion of Diversity Award recipient. She was selected from among six finalists.

A ceremony in her honor will be held 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at Pier 69 West Atrium in Seattle. You can also email her your congratulations at greymond.a@portSeattle.org.

According to a recent port email, “during Greymond’s tenure at the Port of Seattle, she has consistently put ‘diversity into action’ in extraordinary ways and truly modeled the Port leader competency leverage diversity by leading with her ideas, by making good things happen with energy and perseverance and by holding firm to a vision of a fair, inclusive, and productive workplace.

“When Greymond worked in Accounting and Procurement Services (now Accounting and Financial Reporting – AFR), she initiated a brown bag series for department members to speak about culture issues that reflected their personal passion.

“Additionally, she was a founding member and lead for the AFR “Enrichment and Diversity” initiative that involved creating a diversity library, providing web content, and hosting meetings between AFR and other affinity group leaders. Most notably perhaps, as part of this effort, Greymond was the project manager of the Port’s first Portwide Diversity Day Celebration.

“In her current role in Engineering, Greymond co-designed and hosted a booth that focused on communication differences and worked with staff in HR&D to facilitate four workshops on navigating transitions. These workshops added great value and gave staff hope and a sense of possibility during a time when Port employees were facing many challenges.

“As a member of the 2008-2009 Development and Diversity (D&D) Council, Greymond was a consistent and conscientious contributor with imaginative ideas. She was a skillful facilitator at one of the four “2009 Diversity Day” celebration panels and also hosted two outreach sessions as part of the council’s partnership with Executive in gaining employee feedback on the recently adopted statement of values.

“Finally, within the broader Northwest community and region, Greymond has made significant contributions to the Red Sky Poetry Center. As organizer of the 2010 series her goal is to showcase women and people of color.”

Jesse Mae Metts, B.A. 2008

Jesse Mae Metts, BA ’08 with a focus on arts and literature, is the new student services coordinator in the Antioch University Seattle B.A. program. Since she graduated, Jesse has started the arts organization, Ampere, and her first book will be published in 2010.

Ampere connects artists of all mediums to each other and to the Seattle community through events and other activities. Her new book will be called Please. It’s made up of side-glances and anecdotes about pleasure. In it she also takes a look at the different ways that people realize, share, withhold and appreciate joy in their lives.

Patricia Paul, B.A. 1993

Patricia’s life always includes travel!  In 2009 she was a panelist speaker of indigenous women activists at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY to students in native and women studies.  She also participated in a Women’s Talking Circle in Buffalo, NY and saw Niagara Falls and visited friends in Syracuse, NY and on Seneca tribal lands.  Her visit spurred a small family reunion in Saegertown, PA with two aunts and their families and cousins from West Virginia and New Hampshire. In her hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, she was the Parliamentarian at the annual shareholder’s meeting of Doyon, LTD. 

In addition, she was appointed co-chair of the Washington State Bar Association Bar News Committee and as a member of the WSBA Continuing Legal Education Committee and was appointed as a 2010 Fellow with the WSBA Leadership Institute. Finally, she moved her private law practice to a waterfront office in La Conner, Washington.

Christopher Key, B.A. 1994

Versatility was the critical criterion for the Whatcom County Medical Society (WCMS) in its recent search for a new Executive Director. The group found that quality in Christopher Key, former Marketing Director for St. Francis of Bellingham, and has named him to the position.

A graduate of Antioch University – Seattle, Key has extensive experience in both communications and non-profit management. He will assume his new duties on January 4, 2010.

“We think Christopher’s unusual breadth and depth of experience will be an enormous asset to the organization,” said WCMS President Dr. David Lynch.

WCMS was founded in 1889 and now counts more than 300 active and retired physicians among its membership. The society is a 501(c)6 fraternal organization that promotes public health and physician education. It also provides scholarships and a physician-finder service on its Web site http://www.whatcom-medical.org/.

Maria Blankenship, B.A. 2006, M.A. Psychology 2009

Maria Teresa Blankenship is currently a mental health therapist for Sea Mar Community Health Centers and recently opened a Sea Mar office in Anacortes WA. “It has been fun to watch it grow little by little.” She is also the new general assistant unemployable coordinator for the Sea Mar Mt. Vernon medical office and is enjoying every minute of getting people back on the road to recovery mentally and working again. She also is attending school on line and will be graduating in 2013 with a doctorate in Psychology.

Twylia Westling, B.A. 2009

Hi Eric,

I just wanted to let you know that, while I still have a full time job, I’m also the New Director of Training/Volunteers for StandUp For Kids - Tacoma. I have been working with the organization for over a year, but once I graduated, I moved into a leadership position with them.

I love this organization for many reasons, some of which are: the organization is almost solely volunteer based (there are only five paid positions in the whole national organization); we tell kids that we care about them and then we prove it at every turn; our main mission is to end their hopelessness, and then we try to address their homelessness through cooperative endeavors with local organizations; our volunteer base is passionate about helping kids!

Just wanted to keep you in the loop!
Here’s to good snow this year!

Thanks
Twylia Westling
Alumna 2009

Betty Patu, B.A. 2007, M.A. Education 2009

Betty Patu, B.A. ’07, M.A. Education ’09, a retired Rainier Beach High School teacher who has toiled for more than 30 years in the Seattle Public Schools trenches, is one of several new faces on the Seattle School Board representing District 7. She is eager to improve the school district, saying she wants to unite the board in an effort to ensure a quality education for all students.

Betty, who was outspent by almost five to one and was managed by her daughter, won her race by a huge 68% to 31% margin. She has been active in the Seattle community, serving on a number of boards including the Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition, the Asian Counseling Referral Services and the Rainier Beach Foundation, and is the Founder/President of Islanders Children & Youth Services (ICYS).

Petr Horak, B.A., 2009

Greetings Fellow Antioch Alumni,

My name is Petr Horak, and I am a recent B.A. graduate of Antioch University Seattle. I am contacting you at this time because I am currently looking for employment in the Seattle area. Below is information about myself and the kind of job that I am looking for - I would appreciate it if you would take a minute to look over my request and let me know your thoughts, contacts/referrals etc., that may be helpful in my pursuit.

I completed my A.S. degree in Health Promotion and Education with a B.A. in Liberal Studies/Health Psychology (application of human physiology, psychological theory, spirituality, and holistic health to well-being At Antioch University Seattle) this past spring, 2009.

In my previous jobs, I was responsible for planning and executing health and community related events, tracking progress of new college students, and providing admission/clerical services at the registration office. Most recently, my experience with the Seattle Shanti Program as a volunteer provided me with a more direct step towards my ultimate goal in the Health Psychology field. It served as excellent training for future work in the field of patient care.

During my studies at Linn-Benton Community College, I was involved with the student leadership organization and coordinated educational events such as: AIDS/STIÕs Awareness Week, Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar, Breast Self-Examination Workshops, and GLSEN Lunchbox Training to name just few. My hard work, attention to detail, and exceptional organizational and program skills were rewarded many times with awards and accolades. My experience and skill set qualifies me to contribute excellence to program creation and implementation. I enjoy the creativity and am confident in my ability to work professionally on an independent level as well as serve as a team player. I am a hard worker, strong advocate, and compassionate listener.

Ideally, I am interested in working with a health care/ health education/ human resources/ hospice community either privately and/or in a hospital setting as a program/special project coordinator. I am open to beginning at the customer service representative level if the fit is right. Additionally, I am available for full time or part time work and it can be on a project/limited time basis.

Currently, I have applications in at: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington Medical center, Children’s Hospital, Evergreen Hospital, and Seattle University. As you know without a contact name/referral, many of my
efforts are futile.

Please view my attached resume and feel free to forward it to professionals in the field who you think would be interested in my background and skills. I am also available to speak with you by
phone if you have additional questions and/or would like some more information regarding my search - I’m at 206.437.7781

I appreciate your time and support.

Have a beautiful day.

Petr Horak
18602 21st Place NE, Seattle, 98155
Phone: 206.437.7781
E-Mail: horaco@gmail.com

Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree: Liberal Arts- Health Psychology June 2009
Antioch University Seattle (AUS), WA

A. S. Degree: Health Promotion and Education June 2006
Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC), OR

Experience

Shanti Program Volunteer, Multifaith Works, Seattle, WA present
* Provide emotional support to people living with life-limiting illness in a non-judgmental, confidential, compassionate, and non-directive way
* Completed an extensive training program created to introduce its participants to the various health and social detriments that Shanti Program Clients encounter daily

Starbucks Barista, Seattle, WA, 2006-2007
* Provided friendly, professional service in a timely manner to Starbucks customers in a high-paced environment; took orders/prepared customer transactions

Registration Clerk Specialist I, LBCC, OR, 2005-2006
* Provided student registration services in BANNER, processed/balanced student fees and payments
* Responsible for clerical and customer service tasks: phones, FAX transmital, filing, copying, and services regarding admissions, registration, and student accounts
* Mastered problem solving skills, exhibited detail oriented and independent work

Events Planner/ Student Leader, LBCC, OR, 2003-2006
* Organized events for LBCC and community at large – Topics included: health promotion and social awareness
* Supported office staff – Performed general clerical and customer service-oriented tasks: answering phones, FAX transmittal, filing, copying, data-base maintanence, student resource information facilitator
* Coordinated the Student Ambassador Program supporting fellow student leaders (meeting preparation/leadership, coordinated projects of the Student Ambassadors)
* Updated/implemented New Student Orientation training for LBCC student body
* Speaker at regional National Organization Directors Association conference
* Appointed as liason between the student body and student services/administration

Breast Self-Examination Seminar and Workshop Organizer, LBCC, OR, 2004, 2006
* Organized and implemented events, coordinated/created financial support
* Recruited participants, interfaced with medical community and breast health specialists, marketed event to public and led evaluation process

Skills/Awards
Computer Skills
* PC: Intermediate level understanding of Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint applications
* Macintosh: Intermediate level understanding of Microsoft Office 2004 (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and managing iCal
* Cultural Presentations Speaker, 2005-2007
* Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, 2005-2009
* Outstanding Student Scholar, 2005
* Recognized by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and awarded for raising attention of diversity and organizing programs that educate LBCC students

Rajaa Gharbi, M.A. Whole Systems Design, 1998

The works of painter Rajaa Gharbi will be on display during the month of October at Port Townsend’s Artisans on Taylor Gallery and marks the first gallery showing in Port Townsend of the Tunisian-international artist.

Gharbi, a Seattle resident, is a painter, poet, and filmmaker whose paintings and work (www.rajaagharbi.com) are highly sought after in the United States and internationally by private collections, galleries, museums and scholarly reviewers. Her career has spanned her lifetime and is born from her life experience, the tradition of story telling within her family, the vivid imagery from her home country, her work in film and languages, as well as the travels and life she has chosen and created. She is also an accomplished poet and was also a national fencing champion in her native homeland during the 1970’s.

Gharbi will present a body of semi-abstract paintings bursting with color, nuance, mystique, and beauty. Her works take the viewer into a world that hits one on a guttural level. They show evidence of her birth in a foreign land and maturing in both her native Mediterranean and the Northwest, where she has resided for nearly thirty years. The vivid colors and brush strokes give way to poetic explorations in ancient scripts, small sketches and slashes, and worlds that balance between reality and mysticism.

“I paint images that explore real or imagined, ancient or contemporary stories and myths. Sometimes my paintings are last images of dreams or film fade-in-fade-out frames where the fantastical and the realistic converge in liquid movements and miniaturized, subdued or sweeping contrasts of light and dark. I like to explore human inner emotional and intellectual landscapes or our collective psyches.” Her use of gouache, acrylic, pen, and ink through layer upon layer invites each viewer to take a closer look and engage with the work on an intensely personal plane.

An artist’s reception for Gharbi will be held at Artisans on Taylor Gallery, during Gallery Walk Oct. 3 from 6 to 8 pm. The gallery is located in Port Townsend at 236 Taylor (across from the Rose Theatre) and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please call 379-1029 for questions or visit them on-line at www.artisansontaylor.com.

Linda Kathleen (Kate) Davenport, B.A. 1991

Linda Kathleen (Kate) Davenport, Austin, TX,  died of brain cancer Aug. 14, 2009. According to her husband, Mikail Davenport, she was proud of her Antioch degrees and loved her time spent in Seattle pursuing her B.A. Kate also received her Masters in Psychology from The MacGregor School of Antioch University in 1994. Her life’s work included radio, television, theatre, psychotherapy, and dedicated service to humanity. In her psychotherapy work, she lovingly served her clients in understanding and reaching their fullest human potential. She was an active and contributing member of her church, serving the youth and young adults, co-managing spiritual retreats, maintaining the church’s flora, and many other areas of service. Kate was an exceptional example of Christian faith and life, according her husband. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Kate Davenport Scholarship Fund, c/o Church of Conscious Harmony, 7406 Newhall Lane, Austin TX, 78746.

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