Recent Articles
2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Karen Bryant
For Seattle Storm CEO Karen Bryant, it’s all about impact, whether she’s leading her team to its second WNBA championship or reaching out to inspire girls. “It’s so important,” says Bryant. “I’ve been so fortunate in my life to have so many great adults supporting me, starting with my parents
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Mike Heinisch
Mike Heinisch moved to Seattle from Wisconsin to make a life for himself. In the process, he has changed the lives of countless local families. Heinisch has always been drawn to working with families in need, so he earned a master’s degree in counseling from Seattle University. “I saw that when k
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Rebecca Mallos
When families with adopted children struggle, traditional therapy rarely works. Rebecca Mallos, a founder of Attachment and Trauma Specialists, heals these families by helping adoptive parents become a trusted safety net. “Parents are desperate by the time they get to us,” says Mallos, who usua
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Ron Sher
He’s a successful developer and the creator of vibrant local retail community centers, including Crossroads Shopping Center in east Bellevue, and Third Place Books and Third Place Commons at Lake Forest Park Towne Centre. The 68-year-old Bellevue grandfather also earned a Ph.D. in agricultural econo
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Dr. Beth Harvey
Beth Harvey knew she wanted to be a pediatrician when she was in the third grade — lucky for the children of Washington. Harvey, a native of Olympia, completed her medical education in Kansas City and her residency in Salt Lake City. Then she returned to Washington to join the practice that had care
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Karen Kodama
Karen Kodama wishes she had learned Japanese from her grandmother. It’s a little ironic, given her role as the international education administrator for Seattle Public Schools. Kodama began her career education in 1970 as an elementary school teacher and eventually served as the founding principal o
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Estela Ortega and Roberto Maestas
It has been quite a year of highs and lows for Estela Ortega, who lost her beloved husband, Roberto Maestas, last September. Maestas was the cofounder and longtime director of El Centro de La Raza, and a nationally recognized advocate for social justice. In February, Ortega, now the executive direct
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2011 Superheroes for Washington families: Shandra Benito
Last summer, 19-year-old Shandra Benito — with the help of Ashoka’s Youth Venture — founded Reach Out, an organization that runs summer camps and programs for children at Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS). It was just the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Benito, who
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