About Us

Once, sitting at an office desk amidst piles of home mortgage loans, Valerie asked herself... what in the world was someone with a Comparative Sociology degree (and an emphasis in Cultural Anthropology no less) doing juggling the mortgage processing for dozens of home loans? What at the time seemed a mid-twenty-something crisis, in retrospect, turned out to provide invaluable administrative and organizational skills. She utilized these later while working in young nonprofits, helping them take the early steps toward organizational maturity.

In 1999, Valerie and her husband Tom became part of the Krista Colleague Charter Class. They embarked on a year long volunteer assignment in Kenya, bringing Valerie back to the root of her passion for engaging socio-cultural identity, responsible development and the inherent power and privilege dynamics. Upon her return to the United States she joined the Board of the Krista Foundation. Valerie continued to work in the business world and then with Mustard Seed Associates, an international Christian ecumenical ministry where she played a central role in designing their programs.

She later became the Krista Foundation's first Program Director where she provided exceptional talent and leadership in shaping the distinctive nature of the Krista Colleague program. The Foundation provides the perfect platform for combining her long time care for healthy development & volunteer service practices (service ethics) with over a decade of youth and young adult mentoring and leadership development. A gifted writer, she has also served as Managing Editor (aka midwife) for The Global Citizen journal.

Additionally, her great joy is to play in the forest with her sons Caden and Colin, have friends over for dinner, grow vegetables, and toss the Frisbee for her Australian Shepherd, Luna.

Stacy is a community leader with a sustained commitment to fostering cultural competence and active faith. Stacy joined the Krista Foundation in February of 2011. Prior to that, she served as Director for Community Engagement and Professor of Intercultural Studies at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett. As an Associate with the Kaleidoscope Institute, Stacy regularly facilitates intercultural competency training with an ecumenical consortium of Northwest churches and trainers.

Stacy brings a solid background of investment in young adults. She has been deeply involved as an advisor and young adult mentor for a five year Asian American Discipleship Conference series on faith and vocation. Stacy has also served on the Lutheran Volunteer Corps Board of Directors (LVC) and connected locally with service volunteers. Since her own youth, Stacy has been rooted in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), and has served as denominational staff and in many volunteer capacities, including the ELCA's national Multicultural Youth Leadership Events.

While in Chicago, she was Dean of the Community and member of the faculty at the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. Stacy has traveled extensively in Latin America, Asia and Africa and holds degrees from UCLA and McCormick Theological Seminary. These experiences equip with a wealth of global, ecumenical, and theological insight. Meanwhile, Stacy brings another talent from urban Chicago: an "unparalleled ability" to parallel park in the tightest of spaces!

In her spare time, Stacy still loves reading books: from how the brain works to the latest on understanding the complexities of culture and politics. Alongside her spouse Diakonda, Stacy is passionate about advocating for inclusion of all members of our communities, particularly immigrants.

When asked what she looked forward to in partnering with Krista Colleagues, Stacy shared, "In these terribly polarized times when the tensions in our life together seem daunting, the wisdom and perseverance of the Colleagues—together with the access and potential available in our connected/global world—will move us all to a better place than we can even begin to imagine. The Colleagues are inspiring and challenging and it is an honor to serve with them."

Destiny first joined the Krista Foundation family back in 2000, when he received the Grant and became a Krista Colleague. He volunteered for 17 months with Agros International in Guatemala and El Salvador, doing community development and recording the histories of families deeply impacted by the civil wars. He returned to Seattle with an intense need to process and integrate the new worldview he brought back. The Krista Foundation community became an anchor of support through his transition, and he became a willing volunteer for most Krista Foundation projects.

In August of 2007, he joined the KF Staff in Communications and Development. The role combines his love of connecting people through story, and his decade of involvement in the inner-workings of non-profits. Most notably, four years as a Case Manager at Lifelong AIDS Alliance, serving Latinos in Seattle who are HIV-positive, and leadership involvement with SEIU 1199NW. Destiny's first-hand experience of service gives him a deep commitment to seeing service, and volunteer care, done well. His love for the process of integrating service into life shows through as he composes enews letters, Facebook posts, and plans events.

In his off-time, Destiny enjoys cycling, dancing, soccer, listening to music, gardening, playing with his puppy, and sharing a meal or beverage with friends or family. He lives in community with 3 former service volunteers, including 2 Krista Colleagues. Click here to check out his colleague profile.

Jonathan is a junior at Seattle Pacific University. As a Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance, Jonathan keeps our office details running smoothly.