Mari holds a Bachelors degree in Child Development from California State University Sacramento and has conducted research on advanced child development systems at the University of California Berkeley and Edinburgh University. Mari is honored to support Open Arms in furthering their mission to provide vital supports to families during pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
Formerly with Catalyst Kitchens and FareStart, Dan launched Kitchens With Missions (now Catalyst Kitchens) and restructured youth and adult job training programs for FareStart. He utilized his background as a foodservice professional, with training and business expertise to great success. Dan’s unique skills and experience have been leveraged to benefit 50+ organizations across US and Canada, resulting in the launch of 30+ job training programs and 40+ social enterprises. Introduced to Open Arms through family and close friends, Dan was inspired by the powerful mission and passionate staff.
The proud father of two sons, Jacob (20) and Timothy (13), Dan never passes up the opportunity to hold a baby. Originally from Santa Barbara CA, he received his BA in Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University with a double emphasis in Management and Finance. He is a 12 (Go Hawks), fan of the arts, a music enthusiast, and a passionate cook who enjoys entertaining friends and family with his culinary skills and creative libations.
For the past few years, Nika has taken on her most challenging and rewarding role yet– mom to two toddlers. The births of her children raised Nika’s awareness of the crucial difference being supported and heard can make during the heroic and life-changing–yet vulnerable and intimate–transition to motherhood, and sparked a passion to help other mothers find and honor their voice in their care. Nika is thrilled to draw on all of these experiences as a board member for Open Arms.
Nika holds a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Vocal Music from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys singing, skiing, burritos, and family adventures near and far.
Prior to joining the foundation in 2007, Alexandra worked at a communications firm in New York and the International Herald Tribune in Paris. She has also spent time at the U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo and with Save the Children in Mali. Alexandra holds a Master of Health Science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MA in international development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a BA in politics from Princeton University. She is fluent in French. Alexandra enjoys running (for exercise) and to keep up with her two daughters.
Lynn has spent her professional career as a public school educator. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Washington and was employed for many years as a high school Special Education Teacher in the Renton School District. After formal retirement, Lynn trained to become a certified birth doula and has practiced for ten years. She particularly enjoys her service to Open Arms clients. Seeing, firsthand, the positive effect that having a doula brings to a laboring woman and her family inspired Lynn to join the Board where she could offer the doula perspective. In her second Board term, Lynn has witnessed the exponential financial growth of the organization prompted by a deep sense of national respect for the work Open Arms does. A result of Lynn’s positive experiences with the Board has prompted her to seek other community Board positions where she can continue to build community support and increase a network of local donors and supporters. Lynn believes in the positivity of Open Arms’ mission and work.