Name: Kimberly Walker
Occupation/Volunteer Organization: Finance Director at Amazon and President of the Bellevue Schools Foundation Board.
Do you have an overall vision for 2021?
My parents were educators who instilled the importance of public education in me. That's why I volunteer at the Bellevue Schools Foundation. I want to do my part in making a high quality education possible and accessible to all students in Bellevue.
What will be new to you in 2021?
Stepping out of my personal comfort zone to make meaningful connections while also helping BSF earn the trust of donors and stakeholders. I'm an introvert-extrovert. My natural inclination is to be home, and if I'm in public, I'm typically the observant, quiet one.
Why did you decide to try this new thing?
Being in the pandemic isolation magnified the importance of building and maintaining relationships. I took for granted the chance meetings, running into each other in the grocery store or in the hallway. Striking up a conversation about nothing and laughing together. I miss those opportunities to witness each other’s lives and support one another.
What steps will you take?
I took a big first step when I moved cross country without knowing folks, but now...I don’t know! Be more intentional? Set an appointment to do something? Join a book club? Maybe attend some Bellevue Chamber of Commerce networking meetings? Help!
Biggest obstacle toward completing your plan?
Connecting virtually. I giggle when I'm nervous. I’ve heard that laughter is good for your health. I guess this year I'll be really, really healthy as I giggle through my nerves while meeting new people.
What outcome do you hope for?
I hope that I meet more people and connect with those who share my passion for public education. I hope that together we're able to make a substantial difference in our community and grow our future leaders.
Name: Amelia McDonald
Occupation/Hobby:
I am a nurse in the Bellevue School District, a mother, and a potter.
Do you have an overall vision for 2021?
In 2021 I see myself helping my school communities return to in person learning with a focus on health and safety. I have spent so many hours discussing hand washing! My hope is that we all use this pandemic experience to be kinder and more understanding with each other.
What will be new to you in 2021?
My goal is to expand on my pottery business. My website www.potterybyamelia.com is a new adventure and there is a lot to learn.
Why did you decide to try this new thing?
My first experience creating with clay was in the late 1980’s. My three kids will always be my greatest achievement, but they are growing up, and looking to find their passion and chase it. In 2017 I decided it was time for me to do the same. I took a pottery class through the Bellevue Parks Department before I knew it, I had a pottery wheel and a kiln in my garage.
What steps will you take?
Selling my work has always been uncomfortable for me. It is a pleasant surprise that other people like my art enough to buy the final product. My first few sales were motivated by my kids. They noticed that the garage was overwhelmed by the volume of things I was making. I needed to sell some if they ever wanted to access their bikes again!
Biggest obstacle toward completing your plan?
Nothing will hold me back in 2021! This past year has taught me that I am stronger than I ever imagined.
What does success look like?
Success for me looks like ending each day exhausted by the pleasure of the day. My family, my job, and my art all provide that joy.
Name: Roxanne Kröon Shepherd
Occupation and/or Hobby and/or Volunteer/Organization Affiliation: Interim Executive Director, Performing Arts Center Eastside
Do you have an overall vision for 2021?
Yes, I hope that it’s nothing like 2020!
What will be new to you in 2021?
After a lifetime of saying I had no interest in gardening, I have found I love it! Perhaps it’s a life preserver for the craziness of 2020, but it’s my new passion. In 2021, I will enjoy improving my budding gardening skills and deepening my knowledge.
Why did you decide to try this new thing?
My husband, Jerry, and I bought property on Whidbey Island that had been neglected for over five years. Suddenly I had a new outlet for my creative energy and an entirely new body of knowledge to explore.
What steps will you take?
Started with several professional assessments of the trees and the property so we could understand what we had to work with. I’ve been reading a lot about plants and gardening design ideas. And then we just tackled it! Pre-Covid, I prided myself (foolishly, I admit) on always having perfect fingernails and now my nails are as short as they can be.
Biggest obstacle toward completing your plan?
Not sure it’s exactly an obstacle, but it’s certainly a factor I didn’t know enough to anticipate: the time that must elapse between our efforts and seeing whether they will be successful. For example, we won’t know whether we prepared the soil correctly for the 21 rhododendrons, 13 peonies, and 95 tulip bulbs we planted until sometime next year!
What does success look like?
Full flower vases throughout the blooming seasons!
