Our guest speaker for Friday, September 26th was Cassidy Bastian representing the Death Cafe. The speaker is an end-of-life doula, detailing their role in guiding and educating families, similar to a birth doula. They host monthly “Death Cafes” to provide a safe space for discussion about death and inform about legal end-of-life choices.

There is no regular governing body for end-of-life doulas which can be a challenge. And a significant unresolved issue is the absence of a formal governing body for end-of-life doula professionals. There are no established standards, for practice, certification, or professional conduct which hinders standardization and public trust which are many of the challenges. 

Our guest speaker on Friday, September 19th was Laura Gorchester, founder of Strides, presented an overview of their therapeutic horsemanship program. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary, serves as a broad range of individuals, primarily youth with conditions like autism, ADHD, and anxiety, using a team of four and a half specially selected horses. 

A key upcoming event is the “hosen boots” fundraiser on October 18th for which they are seeking support and auction donations. The program's sessions are highly individualized to cater to clients specific needs, fostering emotional regulation, confidence, and happiness. The location of Strides is in Snohomish, south of the valley.