Dr. Ahlmahz Negash is an Energy Resource Planning Analyst at Tacoma Power. Her role encompasses a wide range of activities including, leading regional planning efforts, energy modeling, evaluating policy impacts, public engagement and developing innovative energy solutions. She is currently on sabbatical from Tacoma Power to research and develop ways to systematically reduce energy poverty. Ahlmahz is a life-long community volunteer and public servant. She is currently on the boards of Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Associated Ministries, and Essentials First.

Dr. Smith is a Certified Nurse Midwife and currently the Clinical Nursing Director of Family Connects Pierce County. She received a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Minnesota before moving to Washington eight years ago. She is a member of the Tacoma Bahá'í community and helps to coordinate programs, both locally and regionally, for youth and adults that build their capacity to be of service to their community. Bahá'í activities frequently focus around education, as Bahá'ís believe we all are tasked with a twofold purpose: intellectual and spiritual growth, and working for the transformation of our communities. These must go hand in hand, and Dr Smith loves working alongside others and sharing these moments of growth, because they're not always easy!!

Catherine Pratt is on the management faculty in the School of Business at Pacific Lutheran University.  She specializes in organization behavior, leadership and change, strategic competitiveness, and family business.  She holds degrees from Brigham Young University, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle University. Ongoing research interests include family business, leadership, governance, and ethics.  She encourages others to appreciate the corporate and society impact of living out our values .  Dr. Pratt is advisor to the Latter-day Saint Student Association on campus.She is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently serves with the children.

Erin Guinup is the founding Executive and Artistic Director of the Tacoma Refugee Choir. She has spoken at TEDxSeattle, Starbucks, and national conferences for NATS, ACDA, and Chorus America and contributed to three books, including "So You Want to Sing Music by Women". As a composer, her choral and solo works have been featured on PBS and network television and she performed her one-woman show about female musical theatre composers internationally. Erin is a classically-trained soprano and has been featured with groups including Symphony Tacoma, Ensign Symphony and Tacoma Concert Band singing Puccini’s La Bohème, Handel’s Messiah, Carmina Burana, Disney’s Frozen, and her original songs. Other career highlights include directing the world premiere of Orson Scott Card and Mark Mitchell’s He is There; performing as Mary Poppins; conducting Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God; and singing with the Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musicians Workshop and Israeli-Palestinian choir Common Ground Voices in Jerusalem and Europe. Erin is an American Leadership Forum fellow and was recognized as an OL Reign Legend and one of five Women to Watch by South Sound Magazine. She recently completed an MBA in Arts Innovation from the Global Leaders Institute. 

As both a teacher and a union activist, Jacqui Cain has helped people use their stories to develop their ideas and make change in their communities for more than 20 years. She is currently teaching at Pierce College and working as an organizer for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Additionally, Jacqui is the Vice-President for contingent faculty for AFT-WA. In her free time she enjoys participating in community theater and exploring the beauty of our area with her husband. Jacqui Cain follows the principles of Unitarian Universalism.

Jasmine is above all, a mother.  

Her son, Jaylen, was the victim of an accidental overdose of what he thought was percocet.  In reality, it was the highly addictive drug fentanyl.  

Jaylen died from a drug that is flooding the streets of our cities, and claiming young people with their whole lives ahead of them.  Jasmine didn’t know much about fentanyl before Jaylen’s death; now she knows more than she ever wanted to.  

Jasmine is studying to be a Drug and Alcohol Counselor.  It is her mission to warn parents and their kids about the dangers of fentanyl. She speaks often at middle schools in our area, warning that even one pill can be deadly.  Join us as we hear Jasmine’s story in our workshop “The Curse of Addiction: How to have Hope and Resilience Navigating Addiction."

Kelly (Blucher) Brickhouse is a long time community advocate in Pierce County and beyond. She believes whole-heartedly in leading with the voices of community not often heard. Currently serving as leader and co-founder of Pierce County Community Engagement Taskforce, Community Engagement Coordinator for Workforce-Central, Kelly continues to share her own lived experiences through homelessness, addiction, mental health, childcare, education and more to help uplift others voices as a powerful tool for change. In 2019, Kelly received Advocate of the Year for WA State through Children’s Alliance and was invited to speak at the Whitehouse about the need for parent/family support in early learning. Through advocacy and sharing vulnerabilities, Kelly knows that together we can create a better life for all children and families.

Keirra Dyer is a mother to 5 daughters and wife of 28 years to Duff Dyer. She grew up in eastern Idaho but now resides in Northern California. She is passionate about family time and healthy living. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after having her last daughter, about 17 years ago, and has fought diligently to live a healthy lifestyle in order to overcome symptoms of her disease. Keirra will share about  of having a daughter who struggled with addiction, and the effects it has had on her and her family. She hopes to bring peace and hope to those struggling and to make sure people do not feel alone.

As a life-long educator, Leah Amyakar has often used books to stimulate thought and discussion among her students.  She has taught for many years in the California school districts, including early childhood education, independent studies, and adult education.  She holds a bachelor's degree in English and a Masters degree in in Early Childhood-Parent education.   Her involvement in the community is deep and strong, including hosting foreign exchange students from Yugoslavia, Uruguay, Egypt, Kenya and New Zealand.  She has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, and worked as a Guardian Ad Litem in Pierce County.

Rivkah Amyakar, Leah's 20-year old granddaughter, goes to Tacoma Community College. Rivkah loves to bake and cook for her family, but also makes sure to always bring baked goods to work to share! You can find her in the garden, constantly working on new projects and planting for the new season. Rivkah also has a love for live theater.

Event Chair

For the past 7 years, Melinda Huish has been deeply involved in the Interfaith Women’s Conference, sponsored by Associated Ministries.  She finds joy in meeting women of other faiths and discovering the many ideas, thoughts and values that they have in common.  She is a mother of 3 wonderful girls, and a grandmother to 7.  

Melinda spent more than 20 years as a financial advisor, helping others make sense of their financial goals.  She worked the last 15 years with her husband, in their own office in Silverdale.  She now travels, plays with grandchildren, and spends time outdoors.  She will be leading a workshop on networking, helping women to connect with one another.

Rev. Molly Fraser is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She is currently lead pastor at Gig Harbor UMC where she was appointed seven years ago, and hopes to remain. Molly believes that joy is the foundation to any healthy, growing faith community. While she loves worship and preaching, she is particularly interested in creating safe space for LGBTQIA+ persons and helping her congregation and community break down both deliberate and unintentional actions that divide and exclude. 

Patricia is an Indigenous Chicana; a descendent from her maternal grandmother of the Tarahumara Tribe (Mexico). She was born and raised in Toppenish, WA on the Yakama Reservation.  Patricia has resided on the land of the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma for the past five years. As the daughter of an Immigrant (Mexico) Farm Worker father and a Migrant Farm Worker mother who were activists in their Farm Worker community in Toppenish, she learned firsthand of the commitment to serving our community and the power each human holds. She is the mother of three, grandmother of 9 and great grandmother of 2: all amazing humans!

Patricia is certified in Qi Gong Energy Healing (China 2002), a Racial Justice Facilitator (Tacoma, WA 2020), and a Tao Hands Practitioner (Western Pacific Center 2021). Patricia has worked in the movement to end gender-based violence for many years.  She is now the executive director of Catherine Place, a place of hope and healing for women.

Qudsia is a double board-certified physician practicing in Pierce County for the last 15 years. Her practice focuses on treatment of substance use disorders. She is a member of Islamic Center of Tacoma and serves as their Interfaith Liaison. She strongly believes in the power of co-existence. Her involvement in the Interfaith work is an extension of her lifelong mission, which is to help people recognize that our similarities are far greater than our differences. She is a lifelong educator, involved in teaching medical students at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and medical residents at St. Joseph Hospital’s Internal Medicine residency program. She is a member of Pierce County Opioid Task Force. She is a proud mom of two humans and one fur girl. She loves to hike and explore the beauty of Pacific NW.

Rhea Goodrum is a CHamorrita with roots from Guam in the Mariana/ Micronesia Islands, taught by her parents the CHamoru culture to respect her elders and care for the land and community.  She resides on the indigenous land of the Squally-Absch (South East Tacoma) area with her husband and two children. Rhea works in public education, providing library services for young adults and serves as a multi-cultural and mindfulness advisor.  She is a Spiritual activist reconnecting us to the wisdom within us and life skills of Indigenous Peoples towards inafa’ maolek- meaning harmony.

An E-RYT in Mindfulness Yoga, Ayurvedic science, Master Reiki in the Usui tradition, and Trauma Informed Sensitive Yoga. Cultivating heart centered communities; for self study, understanding seasonal energy, and climate culture in awareness of the compounding health disparities and psychological impact of multi- generational and cultural traumas. She is an active member of St. John of the Woods and serves as a floral designer.

Her greatest joy is being with her family. Together, walking through museums, hiking the PNW trails, collecting rocks, playing with make-up and making dates to meet the sun when it  rises and sets. A foodie, favoring Chamorro BBQ, lumpia and soups. 

Sara Mitchell, a dynamic speaker hailing from the rich cultural tapestry of Morocco and Germany, brings a unique perspective to the Women's Interfaith Conference. With a decade of living in Germany and now thriving in the United States, Sara's journey is an inspiring testament to the power of unity and resilience across diverse backgrounds. Join us as she shares her insights, bridging faith and life journeys for a brighter, more inclusive world.

Sarah McGhinnis grew up in University Place and now lives with her husband, two teen daughters, and two dogs, in Lakewood. She was born into the Christian tradition, and continues to lean on the teachings of Jesus, as well as embrace any wisdom teachings that lead to love and wholeness. She has taught group fitness classes since 1998, where she began as an aerobics instructor for the PE department at WSU. In the midst of leading fitness classes, she has been the Northwest Director for Operation Christmas Child, Aquatics Director at the Lakewood YMCA, Children's and Family Director at Christ Lutheran Church, and Youth Host Home Community Specialist at Associated Ministries. She recently graduated from the Spiritual Direction certification program at St. Placid Priory and has recently opened her own spiritual wellness practice, Madrona Journey. Salish legend says that the roots of a Madrona tree "hold the earth together." Madrona tree roots hold a variety of mycorrhizal fungal species on their roots that help them establish communities with other tree species and increase access to vital resources for them to thrive. (thelichenist.com). This is Sarah's passion - to create non-judgemental space for people to connect to the Divine, themselves, and each other. She uses spiritual practices, the Enneagram, movement, journaling, guided meditation, and compassionate listening to share "vital resources" for people to thrive on their journey of life. At the conference, Sarah will hold an experiential workshop using various spiritual practices, in hopes of giving those who attend an idea of what Spiritual Direction in a group (and individual) setting can offer them. 

Shannon Sperry has been recognized by her peers as a “Super Lawyer” since 2003. Shannon is intent on helping her clients solve problems.  She focuses on real estate, estate planning, trusts and probate.  She is a good listener and brings hard work and common sense to her work. 

She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Utah and is currently a principal in her firm, Lasher, Holzapfel, Sperry and Ebberson, which just celebrated its 50^th year anniversary.

Shannon hopes to help conference attendees prepare for the future by having their legal affairs in order in the workshop entitled "Creating a Firm Foundation – Ideas for Financial and Legal Resilience.” 

A native of Jamaica, Sharon Chambers-Gordon spent most of her formative years there.   She earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University - Bloomington and a master’s degree in communication studies and organizational development from the University of Alabama.

Sharon has worked for over 40 years in nonprofit organizations as a community advocate for students and parents, developing outreach and vocational programs.  She has organized college students to travel overseas to participate in school development projects, working with elementary and junior high students in those countries with an effort to make their lives and living conditions better. For example, while working in Washington DC, she collaborated with churches and civic clubs to raise funds to build an elementary school in a poor, rural community in Jamaica Her passion has always been education and social equity for housing and basic needs. 

With her unwavering dedication to inclusivity and equity, she recognizes the importance of reaching historically underserved people and finding tangible ways to lift up those populations. Her DEI facilitation spans several decades and her commitment to change drives her to continue this important work.

Sharon currently works as a Realtor with Windermere Abode Lakewood, and also runs her nonprofit organization, Raising Girls. Raising Girls addresses hygiene insecurity and period poverty by providing essential products to students and young adults in the Puget Sound area. As a trusted community resource, we partner with schools and local organizations to distribute care bags to those in need. We believe that timely and reliable access to hygiene and period supplies is vital for the health and well-being of our young people.

Before that, she worked as the Director of the Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Fellowships and Scholarships at the University of Puget Sound for 15 years.

Away from the workplace, Sharon has a passion for travel, photography, gardening, exploring parks, diverse cuisines, the arts, and spending time with her daughter, Amara.  

Originally from the DC area, Stacey Soltoff moved to Tacoma in 2017. As she has reconnected with her ancestral Jewish faith in recent years, she has found a deep well of inspiration. She has become equally involved in her Jewish community, running a community Queer Torah study group, joining Temple Beth El’s choir, Sisterhood, a chapter of the Women of Reform Judaism, Keshet Q, TBE’s LGBTQ group, and TBE’s Daiyenu Green Team, part of a national organization helping the Jewish community respond to climate change. At any event at the Temple, she can often be found serving behind the scenes in the kitchen. Repeated themes in Torah of care for the marginalized (summarized in Torah as the poor, the widow, the orphan, & the stranger), and the exhortation to love one’s neighbor as oneself shape her work. “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof - Justice, justice you shall pursue!”

Reverend Susan has been in the ministry since 2004.  Before her call as a Spiritual Leader, she was a High School English teacher and an Art Director. Her education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master’s in Education, and a Master in Theological Studies. 

The most important thing to know about Susan regarding her vocation is that she does not view her ‘call’ as a leader of a church, but she understands her ‘call’ to be a companion with others on a spiritual and life journey toward a unity with something greater than all of us. Susan defines that “something greater than all of us” as Perfect Love.

Terri Conger is a Certified Financial Planner and has served in the industry for more than two decades.  She is committed to helping individuals and families work toward achieving their financial goals. She was named to the Forbes Best-In-State Women Advisors List in 2023. 

Originally licensed in 1994, Terri went on to work at Merrill Lynch for 23 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a focus on finance from Brigham Young University.  She is now managing director of her own firm, Pacific Legacy Wealth Partners.

Terri treasures her husband and their blended family of seven children plus 14 grandchildren. When not in the office, you’ll likely find her somewhere outdoors: hiking, snowshoeing, waterskiing, or traveling. She also lends her time to various church ministries and supports addiction recovery through the John Volken Foundation, of which she is Chair of the Board.

Yuni Medlin is a community advocate who is passionate about lifting up community voices and empowering others. Since 2017, she has focused her career in helping others become self-sufficient by removing barriers to housing and economic stability. She is currently managing an eviction prevention program at Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center.

Yuni has always had a love for helping people who have felt like “nobody ever thought or cared about them” and volunteers time to develop solutions for improving overall well-being for people. She currently serves on the boards of Associated Ministries, Elevate Health, AWLD (Adults With Learning Disabilities) Foundation, and Caring for Kids.