About A Sacred Passing

Lashanna is, at her core, a helper; a doula and massage therapist who merges formal education, ancestral knowledge, life experience, and all 6 senses to guide her care.  She is a member  of many organizations, all rooted in a type of care work and community. She brings to the board a grounded energy blended with a flavor of naivety in her we can do it mindset.  As a Director gathers, guides and supports the efforts of the nonprofit to help it remain purposeful, creative, sustainable and free from the patriarchal western structures currently dictated.  

Davinah Simmons is a life academic, full-spectrum doula, facilitator and educator with a counseling background. Her sacred activism is rooted in bringing people back to remembering the truth about the ways being, which lives deep down in our bones. She currently lives in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. In her spare time, she enjoys ridiculously long dinners with the people she loves, making kitchen magic, reading, day trips for no reason, and leveling up her charcuterie board making skills. Her super skill that she brings to the board is being a Virgo and getting underneath every.tiny.little.detail.

Summer Gail Diegel is a full-spectrum doula, youth ministry director, and community care worker who continues to be awestruck and humbled by the learning opportunities they are gifted through connection and relationships. Summer's  care work draws upon their skills as a disability justice organizer, theologian, pleasure-based sex educator, crisis intervention worker, and artist. Summer offer's vulnerability, word-magic, and commitment to desire-centered care. 

 Julie Forkasdi resonates deeply with the concept of "sacred responsibility," and embodies her practice in geriatric care management. She understands the enormous trust that is bestowed to her with each new person, and does not take this lightly. Julie lives with her family, dogs, and cats in Seattle. When she is not advocating for increased access to end of life care, she enjoys reading, entertaining, practicing yoga, walking the dogs, hanging at the beach, cooking and volunteering.

Lupe Tejada Díaz is an activist, an advocate, and a Death Doula. Her work centers around the idea that end of life care and resources should be accessible to all. She is deeply passionate about uplifting, empowering, and supporting marginalized communities, and spreading awareness about the ever-present racial and socioeconomic disparities in death care. Born in Mexico City, Lupe brings a different cultural perspective to the board. Drawing strength and wisdom from her tribe’s sacred ancestral teachings, she hopes to shift western mindsets and plant seeds of growth, change, compassion and death positivity."

Marquita Smith-Straus is a perinatal social worker, full-spectrum Doula, trained Midwife, and Death Doula. Marquita is passionate about empowering people to show up authentically, while fiercely advocating for those navigating spaces that are not traditionally occupied by people of color. Marquita grew up in Atlanta, GA, but feels that Seattle raised her. When she is not helping families navigate life and loss, she enjoys spending time with her tiny humans, traveling, listen to records on vinyl, and having spontaneous dance parties.