BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – On Oct. 16, 2024, My Bellingham Now launched We Are Whatcom, a weekly column highlighting community members who make a difference in Whatcom County.

With a population of over 230,000, Whatcom County is full of driven individuals with a story unique to them. Our hope is to cover residents of all backgrounds from coffee roasters and local entrepreneurs to culinary artists and non-profit organizers.

The first We Are Whatcom featured Tim Shenkin, co-owner and head roaster at Makeworth Coffee Roasters. In an interview with Thalia Coulter, Shenkin shared that after moving to the county just three years ago, he has found a strong sense of community. He described Whatcom residents as small-town in their sense of care and compassion but open-minded.

“Bellingham and the county is this untamed, beautiful, ever-changing, ever-growing place where so many new things are possible. We’re in the wild,” Shenkin said.

Makeworth Coffee Roasters is a popular spot in downtown Bellingham and Shenkin hopes to make an impact in Whatcom County by promoting conversations about supply chains and urging consumers to think about where their products come from.

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) was a more recent We Are Whatcom story written by Ellie Coberly, covering the non-profit organization made up of five individuals who aim to further the “vibrancy and growth” of the downtown Bellingham area. The DBP looks to make the heart of Bellingham feel inclusive and connected, whether that means making the downtown area look nice or coordinating events that promote diversity and inclusivity.

“What’s really unique about our organization and the work we do is that connectivity and relationship building. We work close with the city, we work close with the business community, but we genuinely just steward important relationships, and a lot of our work and programs reflect that,” said Lindsey Payne Johnstone, Executive Director of the DBP.

Everything the partnership does is centered around creating a strong community. They hope to see businesses and individuals succeed and create an environment downtown that is unlike anywhere else.

At the end of October, Sam Kristofferson wrote an article about local business owner and entrepreneur of Pumped Goods Sydni Seidel. Seidel moved to Bellingham with plans to attend Bellingham Technical College but ended up taking over Pumped Goods following its founder, Leah Foster.

“The local aspect of Whatcom County is what always brought me back here,” Seidel shared.

Through Pumped Goods, Seidel looks to leave the community with more knowledge than what they had previously. Seidel runs the business fully, with Foster checking in occasionally and still operating their reoccurring “Fix-it-Fair” in the building where the shop is.

Local people and their stories are what make Whatcom County truly unique. The My Bellingham Now newsroom has our eyes set on another full year of stories just like these. Spending time with community builders and leaders has given us a new perspective of what Whatcom County is and can be.

Over the last three months, we’ve interviewed residents all over the county weekly, but we’re only scratching the surface—we want to hear your story.

 

We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.