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Who Am I?
I am an artist and facilitator living and working on the northwest coast of the Salish Sea. My work experience intersects a number of different industries and skillsets, including facilitation, graphic design, project management, conference and event production, land trusts, marketing, facilitation, illustration, farming and food systems, cooperatives, fiber sheds, copywriting, and art for cultural transformation.
As a generalist, I am drawn to projects and organizations that practice relational courage, curiosity, daring, and generosity in the ways they interact with the world around them. If that's you, or you are drawn to this way of being, I am already excited to meet you. Yes you.
What It's Like To Work With Me
In my work I practice generosity, transparency, as well as enthusiasm for learning and growth.
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As a tenacious and creative colleague invested in your success, I value seeing and supporting your big dreams.
I’ll always bring my whole self, skills, and experiences into our projects and invite you to do the same.
Testimonials
​​"Rhys is a gifted and creative facilitator who can hold an engaging and connective space for leaders. This includes both those used to working with gifted facilitators and those skeptical to the very idea of workshops.”
Manda Aufochs Gillespie
How I seek to show up in the world
I collaborate individuals and organizations working to make a more just and interconnected world.
I believe that change is a constant that must be embraced with love in order to reach our fullest potentials as organizations, individuals, and communities. To that end, I place a high value on personal growth, learning new skills and information, and keeping shit real.
I want the messiness of sharing power, responsibility, and accountability in my relationships at work and outside it, and always welcome you to say that which is uncomfortable.
VALUES
Authenticity
Compassion
Humor
Clear Communication
Cross Pollination
Radical Transparency
Mutual
Liberation
Community
Justice
Nonduality
Lineage of learnings
A very incomplete list of the people and places from which I have learned and whose thinking deeply informs my work and presence in the world.
My gratitude to those who have contributed to my learning and whose deep inquiry continues to inspire.
Current Collaborations
Whatcom Food Network
Whatcom Food Network believe a vibrant local resilient food system is a community asset to be protected, strengthened, planned for and celebrated. Our mission is to model democratic ecofeminist principles, build coalitions and civic belonging; and to champion food justice policies, programs, and practices.
Since 2022 I have served as the network representative to the Whatcom County Food System Committee, the defacto food policy council. I was elected chair in January 2024, and am working with my collegaues to implement and oversee the 10 Year Plan for an Equitable and Sustainable Food System, adopted by County Council in June 2023.
Wild Abundance Expeditions
Wild Abundance Expeditions was a 5-day outdoor wilderness adventure camp for fat-bodied folks in the Pacific Northwest organized in collaboration with Mallory Hagel.
With 40+ attendees in two years from up and down the West Coast, participants had opportunities to hike, do a high ropes course, canoe and kayak, and other adventures designed with their bodies in mind. Check out the hashtag on Instagram
Laid to Rest
Green and Growing Community Real Estate
Green & Growing was my two-year ethnographic exploration of the real estate industry. I went in to this work seeking to find a way to witness the deep injustice of our land transactions in the US, and to seek models for repair within the existing legal framework.
After two years of residential real estate sales, I came to the conclusion that there was no ethical way for me as a s white person to financially benefit from private land transactions and closed the business.
I am looking forward to using my real estate license to disrupt land commodification through collaborative co-housing and radical land trusts.
Clients include
Let's Connect
I enjoy being in community with all kinds of people and all kinds of spaces. Pick a place (and pace) of connection that feels right for you at this moment.
I’m on social media- sometimes a lot, sometimes only a bit. Follow along for an assortment of shares as varied as my interests.