Our Crew

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.  

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. Marquita needs our collective support! Please learn more here.

Leilani Maxera  is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a daughter of the Hawaiian diaspora raised in Martinez, California. Leilani was called home to Hawai’i in her early 30s and currently lives in Mānoa Valley on Oʻahu. Leilani is a therapist, death educator, and grief worker with her own private practice, Kaipuokaualoku Therapy + Death Work + Consulting (kaipuokaualoku.com). Leilani worked and volunteered in harm reduction for 14 years, including managing a syringe exchange and an overdose prevention program where she conducted training and education with other social service organizations to teach about overdose prevention and response and to reduce stigma around drug use. 

 Joy Rodriguez is a bedside End of Life Doula.  She racially identifies as hapa and grew under the tall redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains.  She raised her children under the pines and cedars of Eastern Washington and now thrives, like the the haole koa, on Oʻahu.  Joy has acted as a volunteer client advisor for End of Life Washington and currently assists those seeking a peaceful transition under her own company, Burden Lifters, LLC (honoluludeathdoula.com). When not serving as a doula or a parent, she works in construction management and plays in the mountains and on the beaches of a beautiful island. 

 Tracy L. Stewart, MA, MEd is mindfulness-based mental health therapist, wellness educator, end of life care provider, and healing justice activist in Seattle, WA.  

She sees her role in community as working to create supportive, safe space for BIPoC folks in discovering their gifts through mindfulness practice and social justice awareness. Her cup is filled by the outside places, silly friends with microphones, passion for life, and folks sharing their good medicine with each other. Tracy co-founded Gathering Roots Wellness with Nikki Chau, with the intention of creating a place where that burden can be released, people can fill their cups with joyful learning and the beauty of the Earth.

“My focus is learning to be a good elder in order to support those out in the community fighting for all us to BE. In my work, I see a lot of suffering of Black and brown people who are worn from fighting to be their full selves in all spaces."