WHO WE ARE

We are a group of local parents, teachers, doctors, coaches, mentors, and business owners who are dedicated to seeing the youth in Ferndale find deep and meaningful connection to each other and their community.

WHAT WE DO

We exist to serve Ferndale’s adolescent youth (ages 11-18 years) by cultivating safe social spaces where seeds of faith, hope and love are planted, and a collective sense of community and belonging are watered.

OUR PROJECT

Our first project is the youth space. Check out our youth space page for more information on the project and our partners!

Meet the Executive Board

  • Maggie Homer

    PRESIDENT

    A visionary leader who has a heart for creating spaces for youth to experience connection and belonging. She is passionate about meeting needs of the community as they arise, walking in faith, and doing old things in new ways.

    Maggie is a wife, mother of three, coach, and teacher. She lives in Ferndale with her family. She loves writing, staying up too late reading, and spending time with her community.

  • Lauren Locker

    VICE PRESIDENT

    A caretaker at heart, Lauren loves to serve our youth by creating spaces that are welcoming, nurturing, and safe.

    She is a wife, mother of four, coach, and teacher. She lives in Ferndale with her family.

  • Annie Anderson

    SECRETARY

    Annie brings extensive experience working within Whatcom County Public Schools and developing programs that support adolescents. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from Western Washington University in 2013, followed by a Master’s in Teaching in 2016. Most recently, Annie served as the Be the One Community Coordinator at Ferndale High School, where she led volunteer vetting, training, and management to support those efforts.

    Now a full-time parent of three, Annie continues to invest in local youth by serving on the Ferndale Youth Collective Executive Board, where she brings both professional expertise and lived perspective to help create safe, connected, and impactful spaces for young people.

  • Paul Homer

    TREASURER

    A compassionate leader, Paul is dedicated to see our youth healthy and happy. It brings him joy working with kids of all ages. He is a pediatrician at PeaceHealth and a Ferndale High School football coach.

    He is a husband and a father of three who loves science, math, getting outside playing sports, and talking about Jesus.

  • Jacob Anderson

    FUNDRAISING CHAIR

    Jacob is a husband, father of three, and founder of Jubliee Wealth Strategies. He is deeply committed to strengthening families and helping people live with intention and confidence. His involvement with the local youth center reflects his belief that investing in young people has a lasting impact on the community.

    Jacob and his family live in Ferndale and are actively involved in the Whatcom County Community.

  • Cade Ray

  • Katherine Ray

  • Jess Kenoyer

    Jess is a Whatcom County native and the owner of a real estate development and management company. With deep roots in the community, Jess brings a local perspective and entrepreneurial approach to his work.

    He is passionate about supporting youth and strengthening the community through nonprofit involvement. His role on the board reflects a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and positive outcomes for kids and families across Whatcom County.

THE NEED FOR SOCIAL YOUTH SPACES

Our kids are craving connection and community. According to Healthy Whatcom’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which surveyed 10th grade students in Whatcom County annually from 2012-2021. The most recent results show:

  • 40% reported feeling depressed in the last 12 months

  • 72% said they were anxious or on edge in the last 2 weeks

  • 20% contemplated or attempted suicide in the last 12 months.

  • All these values nearly double if the student is a racial minority or LGBTQ+

For more information, check out the full assessment.

The protective factors Healthy Whatcom promotes are:

  • Strong family gonds

  • Supportive friends

  • Positive role models

  • Access to resources like after-school programs

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS WORKS?

We based our approach off the success of the Icelandic Prevention Model, which focuses on these core four areas:

  • Family

  • Peers

  • School

  • Leisure time

By investing in those areas, communities around the world have seen measurable decreases in youth alcohol. drug, and tobaccos use, as well as significant increases in belonging, participation, and mental wellness.

CONTACT US

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!