A closer look at the diverse backgrounds and life experiences within the Rooted Northwest community.
One of the things that gives Rooted Northwest its character is the wide range of life experiences people are bringing with them.
Future neighbors come from many different professional and personal paths. Some are retired after long careers. Others are still actively working, creating, teaching, or building businesses. Together, they reflect something meaningful about the kind of community taking shape here.
Rooted Northwest is defined not only by the land, the homes, or the vision for village life, but also by the people drawn to it and the lives they have lived along the way.
Meet some of our future neighbors and learn a bit about their backgrounds, interests, and the experiences they bring with them.
Dan Cohen
Dan is retired after more than 40 years as a general contractor and carpenter.
He loves playing volleyball and working on art, and he looks forward to sharing those interests with neighbors.
Kathy Thompson
Kathy is a retired registered nurse whose work focused primarily on public health.
She is also preparing for her move to Rooted and is glad to be helping with the Outreach Circle, connecting with future neighbors.
Alongside her nursing career, she has bred and trained Rhodesian Ridgebacks for 43 years and also has experience breeding and training horses.
She hopes to bring that background in animal husbandry to Rooted as well.
Dave Boehnlein
Dave is a permaculture designer, educator, and author with a background in natural resource management, outdoor education, and leadership.
At Rooted Northwest, he is looking forward to teaching and raising awareness around the benefits of regenerative land use and community living.
Yuko Miki
Yuko is an artist and small business owner with a greeting card business.
Before becoming a full-time artist, she worked for 14 years at a nonprofit organization supporting survivors of domestic violence.
She also loves pottery and other crafty activities and is dreaming of a community studio space.
Karen Cowgill
Karen is an epidemiologist and former university professor with a background in global health.
She volunteers as an ESL teacher and sometimes interprets for French- or Spanish-speaking immigrants seeking legal aid.
She also loves baking bread and other treats to share with others.
Celia Jensen
Celia is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist who currently works with clients via telehealth. Over the years, she has worked in many different capacities within the field of dietetics.
She is looking forward to engaging in the farm-to-table experience with her new neighbors.
More Than a Place to Live
As Rooted Northwest continues to develop, so does a clearer picture of the people who will bring it to life.
Future neighbors are arriving with different kinds of knowledge, work experience, interests, and life stories. Some come from highly practical fields, some from creative ones, some from caregiving professions, and some from work rooted in teaching, advocacy, or the land.
That mix is part of what gives Rooted Northwest its character. It offers a glimpse of a community made up of people with depth, curiosity, and many different paths behind them.
Get to know more of the people behind the community.
