Our Story

Alise’s Journey - Maybe I have always asked the question “why?" certainly convinced there was an answer to my question somewhere. It has inspired me to find solutions to problems of importance to me. I seem to especially enjoy working on solutions to problems that don't seem to have an easy answer particularly when it is in relationship to the well-being of others in my field of expertise and within the relationships that I encounter. This formula has taken me to places I would have never gone on my own. It has caused me to grow, to learn, and to love in ways I would not have wanted to put energy toward left to my own mindset. I have found this to be a wiring of love. It brings life! It can direct us, connect us and inspire us. It is the algorithm for sustaining hope. So, it is not that I ever looked to teach, but it was as if teaching was looking for me. 

Kathy’s Journey- Perhaps I have always loved to learn; I’m not sure, but I do know that my desire to learn has deepened rather than dissipated. Being a teacher wasn’t my first choice because I don’t think it is a choice.  It is rather a natural byproduct of life.  We are, so we teach.  People watch, listen and learn; sometimes it is exactly what they need, sometimes it isn’t. Often the outcome is determined by the learner.  The learner may be in a classroom full of students or just a bystander in any random location; that is the really cool thing about teaching and learning; it happens daily.  Sometimes we hear or see something and it pricks our ears, imprints our minds or calls to our hearts.  In each case we grow simply because we have taken notice.  That is where my real academic career began, a teacher who helped me see the importance of taking notice, of being “ready” to learn.  The word “intentional” takes on new meaning when you realize you have a choice, that you’ve always had a choice, you just haven’t always been intentional in making it.  Next to love, choice may be the strongest force in our world.  Too often we get lulled into believing that there are “normal, boring days”.  What?! Everyday is an opportunity; everyday is a choice; everyday is a new beginning or a challenging ending; what we do with each day determines where we begin the day after; even those days we label as boring can give us cause to pursue the “less trodden” path to new adventure.  If life is what we make it, then I will work to make mine a thing to celebrate.