Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
Kristen Ekstran	Oct 09, 2026	United General Hospital Skagit Dads Kristen Ekstran is a Community Health Analyst for Skagit County Public Health, with a background in public health program development, family support initiatives, and community engagement. Current Role and Contact Kristen Ekstran serves as Community Health Analyst for Skagit County Public Health skagitcountytrends.org. She is also recognized as the Supervisor of the Skagit Dads Connect program at United General District 304 Phone: 360‑416‑1545 Email: kekstran@co.skagit.wa.us skagitcountytrends.org Professional Background Before moving into her current role, Kristen spent 16 years in Public Health in various community and foundational services Her past projects have included: Supporting youth and adults with developmental disabilities Developing data‑driven strategic plans to reduce opioid use impacts Enhancing family supports through the First Thousand Days initiative Creating an integrated county‑wide food security system Current Initiatives Her passion project is building a fatherhood initiative to provide dads with a dedicated parenting group and support network. This involves collaborating with local organizations, agencies, and individuals to identify community strengths and needs for supporting fathers Community Involvement Kristen is active in local organizations, including: Skagit Valley Food Coop Board of Trustees Tri‑Parish Food Bank volunteer work Supporting BEHS cross‑country, tennis, and choir events Related Roles and Committees She is also associated with the Skagit County Population Health Trust Advisory Committee, which works to improve community health through collaborative planning and data‑driven strategies
Student of the Month	Oct 16, 2026	Student of the Month
Tom Pasma, Bri Steere, Dawn Beck	Oct 23, 2026	The Bow Food Pantry The Bow Food Pantry (BFP) initiative was established in October 2025 with the goal to provide regular food distribution events in an underserved rural area of Skagit county on Sundays, a day when no other food banks are open. Since then, BFP has hosted monthly events, welcoming over 600 shoppers and serving 2,400 people. In May 2026, BFP partnered with Skagit Community Foundation (SCF) to establish a designated fund to provide a reliable pathway for charitable donations to support the initiative. This partnership with SCF also extends to Community Action of Skagit County’s Food Distribution Center, allowing the BFP Fund to purchase bulk food at reduced rates. BFP also frequently accesses high-quality produce, meat, and other items from local farms. BFP intentionally offers both staple and culturally relevant foods that reflect the needs and preferences of the community members being served. In addition to food, BFP offers household and personal care necessities for families experiencing food insecurity to help support health, dignity, and stability at home.
OPEN	Nov 06, 2026
Student of the Month	Nov 13, 2026	Student of the Month
OPEN	Nov 20, 2026
OPEN	Dec 04, 2026
Student of the Month	Dec 11, 2026	Student of the Month
OPEN	Dec 18, 2026
Student of the Month	Jan 15, 2027	Student of the Month
Student of the Month	Feb 19, 2027	Student of the Month
Student of the Month	Mar 19, 2027	Student of the Month