Sarita is a teacher, writer, playwright and poet. She has authored children’s storybooks and textbooks, and scripted plays and musicals for school children. She was also an Examiner (Asia panel) with Trinity College London for their Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) for children and adults. She spent eleven creatively fulfilling years with McLeod Russel, an India-based multinational tea company, as Editor of their bi-annual corporate magazine, The WM Times. She contributes articles to blog spots such as Indian Chai Stories, and has written on environmental and children’s issues for magazines and a television production house which creates content for children. Sarita has conducted a variety of workshops both on her own and as a resource person for educational institutions and publishing houses, to develop skills in communication, creative writing, editing, public speaking and etiquette. She was privileged to spend most of her life very close to Nature in the vast green expanses of the tea estates of Assam (India) where encounters (sometimes delightful, sometimes not!) with all kinds of wild creatures were common occurrences. There, she was involved in projects to educate and empower the adolescent girls and women workers of the estate as well as women living in neighboring villages. Sarita believes in contributing to society and has been involved in various community activities in Ellensburg since she started living in the area. She plans to draw upon her experience and creative skills to contribute to the expressive and therapeutic mission of NEAR.

Todd is a University Lecturer in the Department of Law and Justice at Central Washington University.

Haley is excited to be a NEAR board member because Ellensburg has always been her home. She was raised here and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 2015. Haley now attends Yakima Valley College, pursuing a degree in Nursing. She is a wife, and mother of two children that attend school here in the Ellensburg School District. Growing up here taught her to appreciate the love that our community has for the arts. Haley believes we are truly lucky to live in a place that is so rich in art and history. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. She feels having the opportunity to share pieces of her culture with our community is an honor and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of indigenous art and teachings with others.