Welcome to January – new Board Members and Friends of Storyknife!
Storyknife is welcoming in the new year with three new board members! We are excited for new ideas and leadership of these three amazing people:
Esther Cetina
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Esther Cetina is of Alutiiq and Filipino descent. Her mother is from Old Harbor, AK and father from Oregon. She is married to an Army Veteran and together they have 4 children, three boys and one girl. With over two decades in the non-profit healthcare sector, she has seamlessly transitioned through various roles, including serving as the Director of External Affairs at Old Harbor Native Corporation and the Administrator of Medical Services at Southcentral Foundation and currently is the CEO & Founder of Rising Solutions, consulting firm. As a consultant, she works with her clients in partnership, organizing comprehensive problem-solving strategies and developing strategic plans, ensuring alignment of business objectives, opportunities and driving sustainable growth.
Esther holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University, complemented by a bachelor’s in human services and Psychological Studies. Her dedication and impact were emphasized in 2017 when she was honored with receiving the “Top 40 Under 40” award from the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Adding to her accomplishments, she co-facilitated the “Charting the Future of Primary Care” training at Harvard Medical School.
Claudia Mauro
Claudia Mauro is a poet, science writer, and the founding director of the nonprofit literary publisher, Whit Press. She is the recipient of two Seattle Arts Commission CityArtist Grants, and a Wyoming Arts Council Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry.
She is a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle, PENAmerica, and The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. An alumna and former board member of Hedgebrook Writers’ Retreat, she has also served as a judge for the Lambda Book Awards.
Her books include; Stealing Fire and Reading the River (Whiteaker Press 1999, 2004), both Lambda Book Award finalists. She was a presenter at the inaugural TEDxSeattle speaking on the importance of independent media. Claudia also has extensive experience as a backcountry pilot in Alaska and was employed for over 20 years as a field science tech for the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, and for NOAA as Marine Survey Tech crew on their research and survey vessels.
Dawn Peppinger
Dawn Peppinger is a born and raised Alaskan Native. She retired from the US Postal Service, Alaska District, after a 38 year career starting as a clerk then promoted to various management positions within the Marketing and Operations Departments. Now retired, she is involved in volunteer work, traveling, beading, sewing and discovering new craft hobbies. She enjoys reading many genres and appreciates the opportunity to support Storyknife’s vision.
We’d like to take this moment to reflect back on the amazing generosity of the folks who supported the writers of Storyknife last year. We’ve updated the Friends of Storyknife page to honor those who donated at all levels. Honestly, as I read over the list, I am overcome by the connections on it – alums of Storyknife and their friends and families; longtime donors who’ve now become like family to us; fans of Dana and her work; donors who have been introduced to Storyknife by other supporters; and the ripples that go out every time a writer crosses the threshold back home and tells about their time at Storyknife overlooking Cook Inlet.
You may be tired of hearing me say it, but thank you, thank you, thank you. None of this is possible without the generosity of the donors.
Finally, today has been set aside to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his work in the world. Rather than posting a quote from the large archive of Dr. King’s speeches and essays, we suggest that each of us consider the concrete actions that we can take, especially in this time, to evoke the mission of the King Center: to create a just, humane, equitable and peaceful world by applying Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. Let us also remember the work of Coretta Scott King, an author, activist, and civil rights leader who was truly a force in her own right. What can each of us do today and going forward to carry on Dr. King and Coretta Scott King’s legacy?
Sincerely,
Erin
Executive Director of Storyknife
Storyknife Writers Retreat 