Community + Culture + Recreation +
Real Estate
FRESH AIR, FRESH IDEAS
In it Together: #WeAreIdaHome 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
How to Eat Bugs
Idaho’s Formidable Women BOISE, EAGLE, MERIDIAN, NAMPA, CALDWELL & BEYOND
Dear Reader- Let’s talk honestly. In October, 2018, I wrote my first publisher’s letter for the inaugural IdaHome Magazine. My purpose was to create Idaho’s premiere monthly lifestyle and real estate magazine. My belief was Idahoans deserved a sophisticated publication that reflected the pervasive beauty, intelligence and adventurous spirit of our great state. My mission was to inform and inspire you, the reader, with excellent writing, photography, and stories that matter. Today, eighteen issues later, IdaHome magazine averages 50,000 online monthly impressions, with subscribers in India, Mozambique and the UK. Admirable goals, and we here at IdaHome, thank you for your support and readership. We could not have done it without you and the local business that believed we could achieve those goals. Today, however, a new reality requires our priorities, much like your own, must shift. First, let’s remember to support and thank our heroic first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, leaders and public servants who continue to risk their lives to serve us during this hardship. Much like those who serve in the military, most heroes sacrifice anonymously. It’s our intention at IdaHome to pass that spirit of concern and service forward as we face this challenge together. Second: IdaHome will continue to offer free, pertinent and inspiring content transparently presented with advertising from
reputable local business, all of whom are equally challenged by uncertainty and economics. Therefore, our quality will remain constant, but due to the problematic nature of 20,000 print magazines sitting at public distribution racks, delivery will change. You have options: • Go to www.idahomemagazine.com • SIGN UP fot IdaHome Magazine monthly delivery by email • SUBSCRIBE to IdaHome Magazine for monthly home delivery for the cost of postage. Third: There is no mistaking the formidable challenge of this moment, but we are here for you. We invite you to reach out. Let us know what you need, what you have to offer others, what stories inspire, support and best serve you, our reader. As President Lincoln said in a time of great adversity: “The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.” Here at IdaHome, we’ve decided “to think and act anew.” Our goal is to inspire you to do the same. Be well. Be diligent. Be kind. Stay home and ENJOY IdaHome!
Wishing You and Yours The Best, Karen Day Publisher
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 10 18 20 28 30 34
COMMUNITY Boss Ladies On Sisterhood and What's Next Idaho's Formidable Women Tables: Experience Mountain-Tiki Cocktails at Water Bear Chow Down: Southern-Style Dining at Brown Shuga Soul Food The Impossible Will Take a Little While: Ending Rape REAL ESTATE NEWS
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How to Buy Real Estate on a Single Income
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
12
How to Eat Bugs ARTS & CULTURE
16
So We Did: Celebrating Women’s Suffrage at 100
26
Wonder Woman is Mexican
35
Make the Jump to the Cup: Saalt
36
Women and Girls Around the World
38
Bloody Murder: Exposing Criminals in the Nineteenth-Century
40
Makers: Women Who Ink MONTHLY EXTRAS
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Contributors
Women are incredible.
I think I knew it, like, really knew it, when I gave birth to my first son. Of course, women don’t have to give birth to be incredible, it just happened that, for me, the act proved so empowering that I suddenly had a new appreciation for the things my body and brain were capable of. This revelation can happen by attaining educational or personal milestones, serving one’s community, simply by existing as a woman in the world. Like many of you, I went to the polls and left with a snazzy new voter sticker, which acknowledged the 100 year anniversary of women’s suffrage. It turns out that 100 years really isn’t that far gone--March 31st marks how far into the year white women must work to earn what nonhispanic white men earned in the previous year. For black women, this date is pushed to August 13, Native American women October 1, and Latina women October 29. When women are mothers, these dates are pushed even further out. With this issue, we seek to celebrate the myriad of contributions women make in their homes, workplaces, and communities. We offer diverse voices, fresh perspectives, and some of the best stories you’ll read all year. Read about women who tattoo, perform surgery, teach self defense, direct theater, and everything in between. Check out the article on Orchestra Provisions, a company started by a woman who is encouraging people to eat bugs. Read about how you can buy a house on only one income, learn more about women’s suffrage, Victorian criminology, and Boise’s beloved Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb--and so, so much more. I’m writing to you this month from my kitchen table, my toddler and preschooler running from room to room in the midst of a, for now, self imposed quarantine. My publisher is home with her teenage son, doing the same. This has been a wild couple of weeks, but we’re still here, telling your stories and working to bring you the magazine anyway, and we’re grateful for the technology that makes that possible. The next few issues might look a lot like this too, children screaming in the background of phone calls, meetings held via Skype. While I will always prefer face to face interviews, the safety of our communities is paramount, so we’ll do what we need to, and we’d love your help spreading the word about IdaHome, which, as always, will be available digitally. Stay home and read it, send it around, send me an email if you’re feeling lonely or inspired. If there’s one thing the women I talked to want to tell their younger selves, it is, universally, to have more confidence and less fear. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a scary time for all of us--but there are H E AT H E R H A M I LT O N - P O S T good things happening too. Enjoy this issue, go forth with bravery, and, for goodness sake, keep washing those hands. Editor in Chief
If you can dream it, we can find it. All in for you.
At Windermere Boise Valley, we have decades of leadership and real estate experience to find you the home you have always dreamed of.
CALL NOW FOR A COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOME.
208-258-2222 Representing the entire valley from Ontario to Mountain Home Tina Perry Broker/Owner
Chris Watkins Owner
Amy Radue Director of Operations
www.idahowindermere.com
1412 W. Idaho Street, Suite 120 Boise, ID 83702
APRIL 2020
publisher K A R E N DAY karen@idahorem.com managing editor H E AT H E R H A M I LT ONPOST heather@idahorem.com art and design K R I S T I N A C A SE kristina@idahorem.com K A L E Y BE LVA L design@idahorem.com social media manager K E L L I E M A L ON E director of operations and sales manager M AR IELLE W ESTPH A L admin@idahorem.com contributing photographers K A R E N DAY V I RG I N I A T R E AT Marketing, Sales and Distribution karen@idahorem.com
IdaHome Magazine is publishing by Idaho Real Estate Marketplace P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208-481-0693 © 2020 IdaHome Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to IdaHome Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.
ON THE COVER
In Avimor, there are homes suited for every stage of your life, and, as your life changes, there will always be the perfect size home for you. With houses priced under $300,000 and ranging as far as your imagination will allow, this premier lifestyle community offers everything you like about city life, while maintaining that small town feel. Nestled in the Boise Foothills and just eight minutes from downtown Eagle, Avimor is more hamlets and villages connected by trails than it is traditional housing development.
CONTRIBUTORS Karissa Manske is an Idaho native Boise transplant who graduated with an English degree but found her calling in tech. When she’s not researching, writing, or editing content about the latest technological advances, chances are she’s shopping for thrift store steals or exploring Idaho’s hiking trails. Tim Atwell graduated from Boise State University in 2016 with a BA in English and a certificate in Technical Communication. He currently works on the marketing team of a local healthcare technology company. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking and spending time outdoors.
Lisa Sanchez has lived in Boise for thirty years. Now, she serves on the Boise City Council, working to improve her community through initiatives like affordable housing, strong and safe neighborhoods, and balanced growth.
Virginia Treat is a self-taught photographer, creator, and artist. She has a passion for uniqueness in photography and life. Her work spans a wide variety of genres, including nature, portraits and headshots, couples, children, concepts, family, weddings, and more.
BOISEPARADEOFHOMES.COM
Promoting the responsible development of our community since 1956. That was the year that the first ever Parade of Homes was held in Ada County. The idea of several area builders to start a local Parade of Homes to help promote building and the value it brings to the economy came to be. This idea also generated the start of the Building Contractors Association of Southwestern Idaho, who received the trademark rights from the National Association of Home Builders to hold an annual Parade of Homes show.
AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR ALL WHO ASPIRE TO IT
Through service and advocacy, we’ve reduced the cost of new construction roughly $19,000 per home in 2018-2019. BCASWI.ORG
AMY STEWART-COOPER // STREET SHIELD SELFDEFENSE
The Buck Stops Here!
BOSS LADIES IDAHOME SUPPORTS IDAHO’S WOMEN-LED BUSINESSES AND HERE ARE SOME LOCAL MOVERS AND SHAKERS. By Heather Hamilton-Post
At five feet, two inches tall, Amy StewartCooper isn’t your average self-defense teacher, but she is a force to be reckoned with. With Eric Holsinger, StewartCooper teaches self-defense to women and girls as “Street Shield Self-Defense,” an organization she says is largely devoted to making self-defense positive. “Self-defense is life enhancement. The things we do to keep ourselves safe also make our lives better on a daily basis,” she explains. Stewart-Cooper says that, while physical skills are important, situational awareness is key, and it makes your life interesting in all scenarios. In the three-hour class, students spend an hour on soft/pre-contact skills and two hours on physical skills, ending with an opportunity to practice skills on Holsinger,
LESLIE PRESTON // COILED WINES
Leslie Preston believes that literature and wine leave a lot of space for personal translation and reaction. “We do not all respond the same way to a given poem or a given wine,” she explains. “As a company, Coiled Wines works hard to encourage people to make their own discoveries about our wines. I can provide a template, but we all have different sensory backgrounds that shape our palates and preferences.”
Preston’s background is in literature, which she says helped develop perseverance and comfort in the process, even when there are unknowns. “The process opened me to ideas and concepts I would not have encountered at first glance. It was a
BUFFIE MAIN // ALLEY REPERTORY
Buffie Main, a founder of Alley Repertory Theater, insists on intermission. “For me, part of going to the theater is creating a place for conversation and community. Intermission is a small thing, but I’m dedicated to it,” she says. Main, who founded the theater 12 years ago when she realized that there was a lack of women in leadership in the arts, is the theater’s Artistic Director, though she wears many hats. “It was supposed to be about getting women’s voices to the table, but rather quickly, it expanded to anything that was about diversity or inclusion—the stories that Boise needed to hear,” she explains. Main says that she’s also acutely aware of what’s happening on a national level, and how women and other marginalized groups fit into those conversations.
She recounts a show six years ago that marked a revelation for her. She describes the show—which placed four generations of feminists on stage—as sexy, a great love story—an affair. “And all 10
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who adorns padding.
With a background in martial arts and firsthand experience (she was herself attacked at a young age), Stewart-Cooper began teaching on the condition that a man help with the attack simulation portion of the class to prove to women that they could do it. “Women can do it. Trust your instincts and have confidence. Training is fun.” Check out Street Shield Self-Defense on Facebook for class schedules and locations.
Photo by Amy-Stewart Cooper and Eric Holsinger.
meandering process, and I would say the same thing about being a small business owner,” she says.
Coiled Wines, celebrating their tenth year, is a labor of love for Preston, who does everything from tank sanitation to wine speaking engagements and dinners to hauling grapes-- and everything in between. But she’s never bored, which she says is one of the best parts of the job.
Of course, the support of the community is another. “Boiseans/Idahoans take great pride in supporting the local community and it makes a tremendous difference for small businesses. We know our customers. I know who will be drinking my wines and it is an extra boost to make them the best I can,” Preston says.
of the sudden, it was like Geraldo Rivera. People start yelling and rooting for or against a guy. I was like whoa. Not only do people want to see this, they want to be part of it. They want to talk about it,” Main says.
By day, Main works in leadership and organizational development for Micron, where she says she espouses the same Photo courtesy of Buffie Main. goals as in the theater—to create meaningful experiences for people. Her own background is in acting and in addition to her BFA in theater, she holds minors in women’s studies and political science. “I never imagined I’d be doing this, and I don’t know what it looks like five years from now. But it’s so exciting,” Main says.
NATALIE DURHAM // PIECE UNIQUE
Natalie Durham has been making women feel beautiful since she was 19, when she used to lie about her age to get people to take her more seriously. “They probably think I’m 90 now,” she laughs. “Helping them is Photo by always something I’ve loved. I Virginia Treat wasn’t into the whole fashion world, I just like everybody to look good. I like to help people feel good,” she says. Now joined by daughters Natasha, Alex, and Taylor, Durham owns Piece Unique in downtown Boise, and says she chooses merchandise for the store based on whether or not she can imagine a specific customer wearing it.
Though they’re all different, the women of Piece Unique work together to offer new clothes, clothing consignment, and even closet cleanout services to women and men. “We’re very open and very honest, so we work well together,” Alex says. “I think they’ll all keep at it,” Durham says, her daughters nodding in agreement.
is all under one roof—100% integrated. “So we’re thinking about things differently—are we paying workers enough? Do we need new machines, what’s happening with design? And I think this is the future,” she says. “Localized production and manufacturing.”
SUSAN CAMILLE BECKMAN ROGHANI & ROSHAN ROGHANIISHAQ // CAMILLE BECKMAN
“I think that’s the root of everything, understanding plants,” says Susan Camille Beckman Roghani, Camille Beckman founder. The daughter of a high school agriculture teacher, Roghani’s passion for the natural world inspired the business, now run by her daughter, Roshan Roghani-Ishaq after she says the company “became more modern and kind of outgrew me.” “She’s the one who created the foundation. And I’m building it up,” Roghani-Ishaq says.
Known for the hand-tied rosebuds atop jars of products, Camille Beckman is a Treasure Valley icon, dedicated to quality products, family traditions, and creating an empowering workplace. RoghaniIshaq explains that, unlike most consumer products, Camille Beckman
“You wouldn’t believe the number of people who come in here just looking for Natalie,” Taylor says. “And the things she does for the community—you do everything for everyone all the time.” “Yes!” emphasizes Alex. “She really does. Fundraisers, donations, she’s always a part of it. Any chance she gets to help, she will.” Durham tears up at this, and so do her daughters in response.
And it doesn’t get much more local than Camille Beckman, a business wholly committed to family. It is, afterall, why the hand-tied rosebuds came to be—to give stay-at-home mothers an opportunity to earn an income. “We’ve raised a lot of babies here too,” Roghani says. RoghaniIshaq’s own children pop in and out, riding tricycles through the grand halls of the Château des Fleurs, the adjacent business where Roghani spends much of her time now. “When you’re a kid growing up in a business, you don’t realize that it is work. It’s just play,” RoghaniIshaq says. “We know that we’re only as good as our people are. As the business has grown, we’ve had to learn to ask for help. We’re all family here,” she explains. To maintain the kind of work environment they strive for, Roghani-Ishaq says that they don’t take outside financing. “Women can have different ideas of what’s important in business, and that implodes whey you start taking outside money—you’re accountable to investors. So, we focus on growing as resources become available,” she says. “Instead, we’re focused on female values like fair wages and good working conditions that everyone can get on board with.”
SAFIYA ABDI // GLOBAL GARDENS
Through an entrepreneur program, Boise refugees like Safiya Abdi grow and sell a variety of produce. Though many do not have formal education (Abdi says that Global Gardens was hers), they’re able to run profitable businesses in Boise. The Idaho Office for Refugees oversees the program, which offers refugees the chance to practice both English and business skills.
Abdi was born in Somalia, but spent most of her youth in Kenyan refugee camps. Now, she runs one of the most profitable CSAs in the program, in addition to selling produce at Boise’s Capitol City Public Market. It is a family affair-her mother first had a CSA, and when she got her own, she began working with immediate and extended family. Abdi and other refugees receive all of the profits from their CSA subscriptions, and they grow and manage distribution around town. Abdi’s garden is one of many--the Idaho Office for Refugees offers garden spaces for around 1300 people each year, with farmer training and land access for approximately 40 individuals!
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
how to eat bugs
Introducing Consumers to the “Gateway Bug” Through Artisanal Spices By Karissa Manske
Photos courtesy of Orchestra Provisions.
Orchestra Provisions are spices that are cricket-based.
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W
hat would you say if I told you there was a way to easily and naturally add protein to your salads, shakes, dips, and hot dishes? And that adding said protein would also provide vital nutrients to your meal, including iron, B-12, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids? Intriguing, isn’t it? Now, what if I told you a way to do that is with Idaho-owned-and-operated Orchestra Provisions’ cricket-based spices? Wait, don’t go! Hear me out. Utilizing crickets in our food not only offers a plethora of nutrients—it’s also incredibly sustainable. Kate Stoddard, founder and owner of
www.idahomemagazine.com
Orchestra Provisions, knows all about the learned aversion Americans have to insects as a source of nutrition and she’s on a mission to change that mindset. She even went through a learning curve during her time at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, earning her master’s in the science of nutrition. “I came across studies about insect protein and thought ‘Whoa. This is really, really nutritious stuff and in theory, could be sustainable and efficient to grow,’” Stoddard said. “I began to think of global food security and affordable protein for everyone.” Undoing a life of learning that bugs
Technically Speaking are best left outside of the body wasn’t done in
know the time it will begin to
try out herself—silkworms, grasshoppers, and of
Stoddard said.
a day. It started with buying different insects to
course, crickets (which she deemed the “gateway bug”). “I put [the different insects] in my
kitchen … and they sat there for months. I just didn’t want to ruin a meal!” Stoddard realized that if she couldn’t convince herself to do it,
she’d never convince anyone else. It was during this time that her idea for spices was born.
Before coming up with the idea for enhancing
spices with crickets, Stoddard experimented
with the idea of cricket powder-filled capsules to help people with iron-deficiency anemia. However, her thought process again shifted more to food products.
“I decided that because I’m so interested
in the culinary space and food traditions and what food means to people that it was way
more magical to me as a food product than as a
supplement,” Stoddard said. “The spices were an evolution from me thinking more medicinal.”
Because the acceptance of crickets as a food
source is in its infancy, Stoddard has found it
challenging to source enough cricket powder to keep up with demand. Hagerman, Idaho has a
cricket farm that was destroyed last fall during a particularly brutal wind storm. While that farm works on regrowing their stores, Stoddard is
working with two farms: Cowboy Cricket Farms in Bozeman, Montana and Entomo Farms in
Canada. Stoddard dreams of scaling Orchestra Provisions, but she must depend on cricket farmers scaling as well.
“One of the biggest challenges for these farms
really gain traction is a huge risk,” There are changes happening
with the public’s response to
crickets as a nutritional source.
Stoddard took a chance to share
her spices at a Boise Startup Week event where she participated
in and won the Trail Mix pitch competition which secured her
products in two Boise Albertsons locations.
“With Albertsons’ endorsement
comes validity, because they’re
such a recognizable grocery store,” Stoddard said.
Then came media coverage with
both national and local publications.
And in just the past couple of months, Boise Fry Company began offering
Orchestra Provisions seasonings for
customers to try on their french fries. When asked what’s next for her
business, Stoddard shared her ideas for everything from formulating
a cricket-based protein powder to
creating kid-friendly fruit leather. She’s already started giving the fruit leather
-Kate Stoddard, founder an downer of Orchestra Provisions
to her son (who deeply approves of the experiment).
“Moms and their kids are super pumped about
this! I really hope that fruit leathers are the next thing I do,” Stoddard said. “Fruit roll-ups are a
to scale is the risk they take. In the mainstream,
staple food in our culture.”
investing money on something when you don’t
also has new spice blends in the works.
[crickets as food] is not fully accepted yet, so
“I decided that because I’m so interested in the culinary space and food traditions and what food means to people that it was way more magical to me as a food product than as a supplement.”
On top of these plans to branch out, Stoddard www.idahomemagazine.com
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So We Did:
Celebrating Women’s Suffrage at 100 By Brandi Burns
Abigail Scott Duniway spent many years as an activist in the Pacific Northwest supporting suffrage. Duniway traveled throughout Idaho to lecture in support for women’s suffrage between the 1870s and 1890s. She argued for women’s suffrage to be included in Idaho’s constitution in 1890 before constitutional delegates. Courtesy Library of Congress
In 2020, the Boise City Department of Arts & History leads the City’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which recognized the right to vote for many women— but not all. A year-long series of programs and events celebrates the Boise individuals who mobilized and empowered women to advocate for suffrage, and expands the conversation to include underrepresented groups. This anniversary brings Boiseans together to talk about the importance of civic participation in our community and address the work still to be done.
The story of suffrage in Idaho begins in 1870. Representative Joseph William Morgan proposed a bill to ensure voting rights for women. Morgan argued that women “ranked as a person, a citizen, and as such, being affected by the laws of the country, it was in accordance with democratic teachings that she be allowed a voice in the making of those laws. That government derived its validity and just power from 16
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Boise City Hall, built in 1893, held a few meetings of the Boise Equal Suffrage Association as they prepared for and campaigned for the amendment to Idaho’s state constitution. Courtesy Library of Congress
the consent of the governed—that is, all who were governed.”
Sadly, Morgan’s bill failed in an 11-11 tie vote. The issue of women’s suffrage surfaced again in 1885 and 1887 in Idaho, but both efforts were defeated. As the capital city, Boise became the center of the suffrage work in the state, and many Boise women actively engaged in the movement at the local and national level. They, like women across the state, initiated community grassroots efforts to gain support for an amendment to the Idaho State Constitution in 1896.
The documentation of this work survives thanks to Eunice Pond Athey, secretary of the Equal Suffrage Association of Idaho and active member of the Boise Equal Suffrage Association. As secretary, she was responsible for corresponding with all the suffrage clubs statewide and organizing much of the work. She reported on the women’s successes and struggles in the minute books of the two associations, continuing in her role until the amendment was settled. Finally, in 1896, the legislature voted by a 2-1 margin to amend the state’s constitution, securing women’s right to vote. Despite the success, all Idaho women were not allowed to vote under the new amendment: Indigenous women, Chinese women, and others not born in the United States or naturalized were excluded, following a similar pattern nationwide. This year marks an opportunity to rediscover these women and add their voices to our local and regional history narratives.
Pictured: Lewiston Suffrage Parade, 1880s Pictured: Lewiston Suffrage Parade, 1880s Idaho State Archives 78-203-95 Idaho State Archives 78-203-95
2020IS ISTHE THE 2020 100 ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY 100 OFWOMEN’S WOMEN’S OF SUFFRAGE SUFFRAGE Idaho can proud that courageous past made the Idaho can bebe proud that itsits courageous past made it it the 4th state our country give women with the right 4th state in in our country toto give women with the right toto vote. On November 1896, Senate Joint Resolution vote. On November 3,3, 1896, viavia Senate Joint Resolution a vote nearly two one favor (12,126 2,2, byby a vote ofof nearly two toto one in in favor (12,126 toto 6,282), Idaho changed history long before the 19th 6,282), Idaho changed history long before the 19th amendment the US constitution was passed amendment toto the US constitution was passed onon August 1920. August 18,18, 1920. Idaho, and the western states Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and the western states ofof Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Washington, the country the Colorado, and Washington, ledled the country in in the effort women’s suffrage. effort ofof women’s suffrage. Building Idaho’s past, look the year 2020 Building onon Idaho’s past, wewe willwill look toto the year 2020 that marks the 100th anniversary the women’s right that marks the 100th anniversary ofof the women’s right toto vote, and the beginning the Idaho Women 100 vote, and the beginning ofof the Idaho Women 100 celebration. This celebration honor the women’s celebration. This celebration willwill honor the women’s suffrage movement and bring together organizations suffrage movement and bring together organizations toto shape the unlimited future women’s leadership the shape the unlimited future ofof women’s leadership in in the great state Idaho. great state ofof Idaho. For more information and get involved, visit: For more information and toto get involved, visit:
IDAHOWOMEN100.COM IDAHOWOMEN100.COM
Pictured: (Top) Women’s suffrage votes county, 1896 Pictured: (Top) Women’s suffrage votes by by county, 1896 (Bottom) Document acknowledging passage suffrage, (Bottom) Document acknowledging thethe passage of of suffrage, 1896, Idaho State Archives 1896, Idaho State Archives
What We Leave Behind During this period of monumental uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, I find myself calling on the women who have been the foundation of the woman I am.
By the Honorable Cherie Buckner-Webb Idaho State Senator, Certified Professional Coach, Consultant, Motivational Speaker
I whisper their names as I pray, speak their names in times of anxiety, cry out to them for guidance and inspiration, laugh like crazy when they just “show up” in the wit and wisdom of my granddaughter, or when I hear their voices coming out of my own mouth.
I am so grateful for the legacy of so many women, personally known and unknown to me, who made a way for me. That cadre of women who helped to shape and mold the woman I am today, warts and all. Icons of world renown as well as the mothers, aunts, sisters, nosey neighbors, teachers, family, friends – each of whom brought me a mighty long way. I will forever cherish those sisters, family by birth and by choice. Oh they were a force. The raised their voices, they spoke softly, they stepped forward boldly, the moved stealthily, they made a difference. With undeniable resolve, they served to sustain the human race. Their mighty words of wisdom sustain me. With power, passion and purpose, they made a way out of no way. They fed, clothed, toiled, birthed, cried, grieved, nursed, and sustained generations. Their passion, commitment, and leadership served as the inspiration to move me out of the comfort of the couch, out of the ease of complacence, out of the luxury of denial; to incite in me a visceral reaction to make things happen. They left for me a legacy of traditions, prohibitions and admonitions, lessons they learned along the way. They made me aware not only of the hardships, but also of the privileges afforded to me and the responsibility to bring about systemic change, 18
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to make a difference. I celebrate the They fed, accomplishments of these clothed, toiled, extraordinary women. I birthed, cried, honor those who have grieved, nursed, heard and answered the and sustained call to make a personal generations. commitment to stand up for what is important, for the values they hold dear, for the people they cherish, for the communities in which they live and serve. I stand as a testament to applaud their journey, accomplishments, their indomitable spirits. I thank you for the legacy of faith, service, and power. I honor these precious gifts. I thank you for “my charge to keep,” as the old folks say, that work that is uniquely and specifically mine to do. Those sisters made it plain: the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the dominant culture, diverse populations, formally educated and not, pretty and plain, city folk and country folk, neighbors around the corner and neighbors around the world, those who speak with words and those who speak with their hearts and actions– there is plenty good work to do. And with that charge comes a great responsibility to those who came before me in gratitude for their sacrifice, their daring, their humor, their courage. And I have a responsibility to those who come after me–for what I will leave behind, a legacy greater than money, responsibility for how I leave this place. The challenges facing women continue to be substantial but they are not insurmountable. And we are up to the task. I take seriously my charge to: • Honor the past • Celebrate the present • Endow the future
Idaho’s
FORMIDABLE
WOMEN
BCA PRESIDENT HEATHER HERING BRINGS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
By Heather Hamilton-Post | Heather Hering Photo by Virginia Treat
Heather Hering is here to prove you wrong. As a custom homebuilder and president of the Building Contractors Association of Southwestern Idaho, she isn’t what you might expect, but she’s exactly what you need. “I work with my clients from creating a floorplan—taking drawings from napkins and everything else—all the way through to buying furniture at the end,” she says. This kind of one-stop-shop mentality is fairly unique, but Hering says she loves every part. Of course, this isn’t at all what she thought she’d be doing. With a master’s degree in accounting, she was positioned to be a CPA. “But I didn’t want to be in the office doing the same things every day. And then I got a taste of real estate,” she explains. As a first-time home homebuyer, Hering’s tastes exceeded her budget, and so her realtor suggested doing some of the work herself. Her father had shown her some of the finer points of renovation, so she got started.
Now, Hering owns Innovative Custom Homes, LLC, as well as a drafting and design company and a concrete block distribution company. Hering says her homes, made of concrete blocks that go together like LEGO bricks, are faster to frame, more energy efficient, resistant to mold, produce less garbage, and are hurricane and tornado proof—“bulletproof too!” she jokes. And they’re the same price as traditionally built homes.
To prove all of this, Hering and a female business partner framed a house in Kuna, working faster than the six-man crew next door. They surprised everyone but themselves. “I always say that I know enough to be dangerous,” Hering says. “And if I don’t know something, I’m the first to say I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. I say ‘this is what I want to do. Now how do we make it happen?’” When BCA invited Hering to join the board, she saw it as an opportunity to offer a unique perspective and get to know other people working in the industry. Before long, she was chairing committees before she’d even served on them. Soon, she had worked her way through leadership positions and was ready to begin her role as president. “I’m a builder, but
Hering embraces her femininity on the job site with stylish work boots.
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first and foremost, I live in this community. I don’t want to build something that I wouldn’t want to live in. BCA promotes responsible development that works for Idaho, which is sometimes different from what works in other places,” she says.
Hering had her oldest daughter when she was just 16, and faced a lot of cynics—people who said she’d never go to college or even graduate high school. She made it work by bringing her daughter to school and work, finishing with better grades than she’d had before. “I spent a lot of time proving people wrong,” she says. Now, Hering believes that her unique perspective as a woman and mother is valuable to the process. “I think about what I might want or need, and I’m able to look at every nook and cranny on the plan and play with things to make sure everything works,” she says. “And that moment when it all comes together”—she says smiling—“isn’t that the best?”
SHANNON HANSEN: WOMEN AND GIRLS LIKE ME By Shannon Hansen
My name is Shannon Hansen and I have worked in the STEM field as an electrical engineer for almost 20 years. Growing up in Eastern Idaho, my father worked as a machinist in the auto industry. Through
my father I developed a love of automobiles, specifically car audio, amplifiers, speakers and electronics. While playing with car audio systems, I encountered terminology like MOFET, RMS, signal-to-noise ratio, and total harmonic distortion. I wanted to learn all I could about these topics.
I also excelled at math and science and it seemed like a logical choice to major in electrical engineering when I enrolled at the University of Idaho. During my time working on my undergraduate course work, I certainly learned about all of those car audio terms. I also developed an appreciation for large scale utility applications of power engineering. My senior capstone project married my love of automobiles and my skills of high power transmission in a project to develop a hybrid electric SUV for the Future Truck competition sponsored by Ford Motor Company, the US Department of Energy, and Argonne National Lab. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelors in 2004. I currently work at Micron Technology as a Senior Member of Technical Staff. I manage a small team of software developers focused on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to the development of our NAND memory products. I’ve been fortunate to witness a monumental shift towards inclusion of women‘s voices in our industry and I get to work with some of the brightest men and women on a daily basis. As a transgender woman, I’m proud to represent my community and be a positive example for other women and girls like me.
LUBNA AL ABOUD TALKS MISCONCEPTIONS, SIMILARITIES By Karen Day
Lubna Al Aboud wants to talk to you about Muslims. She also wishes she could speak to the people of Syria, her homeland, about Americans. “There are so many misconceptions about each other,” says the eighteen -yearold, sounding more like a polished diplomat than a Boise State freshman. “And there are so many similarities. But we can only bridge our differences by talking to each other.”
The Al Aboud family was resettled as displaced war refugees in Boise three and a half years ago. The only daughter among five brothers, Lubna might be judged as shy when she formally bows her head in greeting, swathed in traditional hijab. When she looks up, however, her jadegreen gaze is so direct it both disarms and enchants. As well, the raw honesty of her words is startling. For any teenager to speak with such bold conviction for an entire population is rare and courageous. Then again, Lubna has spent more years in a warzone than many Navy SEALs. “The media only shows twenty percent of what’s really going on in Syria,” says Lubna. “Our family and friends have no home, no food, no water, no school. Nothing. But Syria is a rich country and the people are very poor. The President wants to keep them struggling for survival so they will not, no--” she shakes her head, “-so they cannot question the inequities.” “I left Syria because I want to live,” said Lubna in a recent interview on Boise State Radio. Her voice is soft, but she
speaks truth to power without doubt. “I love my country, but you can’t make any dreams there. That’s why I’m grateful to be in America. I’m studying to be a doctor. It would be my greatest honor to be able to help people heal.”
To heal is a verb rooted in the ancient Norse word, “heila” which means: to make whole. To make the world whole seems more admirable than possible, even for global leaders. But despite challenges, a teenage, Syrian refugee in Boise, Idaho, strives for this goal every day, speaking out as an advocate of cross-cultural understanding and future doctor. Anywhere on earth, in any language, Lubna Al Aboud defines the meaning of a formidable woman.
BEYOND BASKETBALL WITH A’SHANTI COLEMAN By Heather Hamilton-Post
You might know A’shanti Coleman as a basketball star-the six feet two inch tall Boise State forward was a top 100 recruit coming out of high school and a major part of BSU’s NCAA tournament qualification, scoring 16 points with six rebounds in the Mountain West Championship Game against Fresno State on March 4. But, she says, aside from that, she’s just an ordinary person. “Most people describe me as very silly because I like to joke around, dance around with my friends, or play card games. Other times, I’m really quiet. I enjoy solitude,” she says.
In her last semester of the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program, Coleman also sits on the board of Opera Idaho and plans to continue her professional basketball career and explore different careers in her field of study. She’s from a basketball family, and has been playing since she was around 3. “It’s a great stress reliever,” she says. “Basketball has provided me with so many opportunities to grow and develop.” Coleman’s current season ended without her really knowing it because of tournament cancelation. “It was definitely sad to think about, but this season and the previous seasons were amazing! To have won four back to back conference championships and to go down in program history for a variety of personal and team accolades brought me happiness! Instead of focusing on what could have been, I focused on all the amazing things I have accomplished from 2016 to now,” she says. www.idahomemagazine.com
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Avimor, Chapter 4 A place with that small town feel.
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Whether you’re an empty nester, a growing family, or a young professional, you’ll find a home and a lifestyle that suits you in Avimor. Avimor is designed for every lifestyle and every stage of life, which is what gives it that “small town feel”. Drive just eight short minutes north of State Street on Highway 55, and you’ll find Avimor, the most innovative and ambitious Master Planned Community in the Boise metropolitan area. Nestled into the foothills, surrounded by close to 70% open space and miles of foothills trails, Avimor residents live very close to nature. Residents experience nature right outside their front door with Avimor’s 100+ miles of trails for them to enjoy the wildlife and a healthy lifestyle. Avimor’s long-term development plan promises that it will continue to feel like the small towns you love. The 23,000-acre project is made up of multiple Villages and Hamlets surrounding charming village centers, home to restaurants, retail, office and educational spaces. Homes are also within walking distance to neighborhood parks and recreation centers. Folks from every walk of life are attracted to Avimor. The 12,000 s.f. Community Center is also a major draw for Avimor Residents. With fitness center and indoor heated saltwater swimming pool, the Community Center sees a lot of use. The multiple event rooms host frequent community events such as monthly “Evenings at Avimor” Meet & Greet’s, monthly “Avimor 101” learning series topics, like fly fishing or one of the many, many clubs. Avimor amenities are also rounded out with nine parks (including four large playgrounds), baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis court and fishing pond. A large amphitheater in the 6-acre park is the center of many summer gettogethers, picnics and celebrations. Another new park with an outdoor pool will be open this summer. If you’re looking for fresh air, note that it is abundant at Avimor. In fact, Avimor is often above the inversion layer that socks in the Treasure Valley each year. But it is close to the metropolitan Treasure Valley too. Just four miles above the city limits of Eagle, you’ll feel like you live in the country, but you’re only a few short minutes from shopping and entertainment. Or stay here--we’re expanding with new commercial establishments, including Spring Valley Brewing Company, a restaurant and microbrewery that opens soon. On the Fly, an over-sized Convenience Store and Mobil Gas Station is already open providing all kinds of convenience items and great food including their special broasted chicken for our residents. Our home selection and creative house plans set us apart from other homebuilders. Home choices range from smaller 1,400 square foot homes up to 4,000 square foot homes on large estate lots. Home prices, including the lot, start under $300,000. We’ve got traditional homes as well as multigenerational floor plans, which feature homes within homes that allow for families to live together while maintaining their own space. Flexibility is key--choose from things like private guest quarters and extra garage bays and set the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that works best for you. See you at Avimor, a place where folks get to know their neighbors … and their dogs too! Visit our website at www.avimor.com to view our floor plans and click on the interactive tool to choose the structural options you desire.
Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084
TAI SIMPSON TALKS SURVIVAL THROUGH SELF LOVE By Heather Hamilton-Post
Tai Simpson wants you to know that indigenous communities are the best storytellers, artists, leaders, hunters, and fishers that you’ll ever meet. “We tend to focus on the negative, adverse issues that affect our communities. But we’re incredible at so many things—knowledge that’s carried on for so many generations. I want people to see that and to remember, not the violence or loss or anguish, but the survival,” she says. Simpson, a member of the Nez Perce tribe of Idaho, is a community advocate and organizer with a background in political philosophy Tai Simpson hugs mother Gina Finley at a senate and public law from committee meeting. Finley’s daughter is among her time at the many missing and murdered indigenious Boise State women Simpson fights for. University, where she served as vice president and president of the Intertribal Native Council. As an anti-racism and antioppression educator, her days never look the same, and there is little distinction between her personal and professional life. Some days, for example, she spends some time in the office at the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, goes to the gym where she boxes to break up the emotional heaviness of her work, and returns to grant work or programming. She explains that boxing was initially a response to violence, and part of her healing journey. “There’s a level of autonomy that you can get back when you’re an athlete in a combat sport. It’s about breathing and movement and centering yourself. I’ve found love for my body sovereignty, learned to be my own person again. I can’t be strong in this work without being strong myself,” she explains. Today, Simpson is speaking before a senate committee meeting for a bill that would recognize missing and murdered indigenous persons as a crisis in Idaho, designating May 5th as a day of awareness. Before the committee members and a full room, she announces that she, like 80% of Native American women across the country, is a survivor of violence. “It is difficult,” she says, “to abbreviate hundreds of years of history in three minutes, but I will do my best.” She calls for improved collaboration and communication across agencies that deal with policing and victim assistance, and, after a brief speech, turns her time over to victims she’s helped coordinate. Their testimonies, which are shortened versions of the breadth of their experience, are incredibly moving. After, she says that 80% of tribes are matriarchies. “So there’s a reverence
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for womanhood and women as life-givers and keepers of the community. This issue of violence against women essentially destablilizes our communities,” she says. As for her own activism and advocacy, Simpson says that it is merely a tool for survival. She wants to make sure that her culture, language, and people are carried into the future. “This work stems from the need to make sure we survive, but also to honor and respect the sacrifices my ancestors made when they were trudged through the middle of winter. It is my responsibility to carry the work forward.”
Simpson wishes she could tell her younger self that there is survival in self love. “To love myself better than I did. I would remind her how strong and resilient we are as indigenous people. We know how to survive on this land. We’ve done it for 15,000 years.”
STUDENT ACTIVISM HELPS COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE By Esme’ Ringelstetter, Timberline High School student
We’re living through an era of radical but positive social change, but we’re also living through a time of drastic environmental change. Currently, we are facing a sixth mass extinction, and the first human-caused one. The transformation our Earth is undergoing stems from anthropogenic climate change, and it seems to be weighing on everyone. As a young person enrolling into college and making plans for the future, it occasionally seems hopeless when we hear that global warming will soon cause irreparable damage to the Earth if we don’t take immediate action. It’s easy to feel pessimistic, but I try to remember the countless protests and walkouts led by other students my age to help combat the climate crisis. While many of these demonstrations are led by young students, it seems people from all walks of life and every generation come to show their support. From grandparents to young elementary children—every single person is involved in combating climate change. It’s beautiful to see what the community can do when we come together. We’re lucky to live in Idaho, especially Boise—not only do we have high civic engagement, but we’re also a tight-knit community of individuals wanting to better their home. This doesn’t mean we’re perfect though. As we continue, individuals need to understand just how important they are in order to achieve a collective change. Many are hoping for corporations and governments to find solutions within, but change starts on a grassroots level and eventually works its way up.
To create a positive impact, we each need to be accountable for our own actions and be proactive within our communities. Individually, we must be aware of our own environmental footprint, but we must also collaborate together. It’s important to work with one another and be willing to work with those we wouldn’t normally, including policy-makers. Creating change may start with the individual, but it’s when we come together that we can finally achieve a greener future.
been taught the value of having a seat at the table. And I want to value the voices that aren’t even here yet,” she says. “The change is happening one at a time. Let’s let women and people of color enter into environments that are already diverse.”
DR. AMY COOPER ON THE INTERSECTION OF MOTHERHOOD AND MEDICINE By Heather Hamilton-Post
HOW CAMILLE EDDY IS DEFYING EXPECTATIONS By Heather Hamilton-Post | Photo by Jonni Armani
Camille Eddy is, as she describes it, forcing people to confront the fears ingrained in our culture, encouraging us to be better people, and creating a more equitable world. A big ask for someone also working on their undergraduate degree at the University of Idaho, mentoring other engineering students, and serving as a keynote speaker around the world. But Eddy is no stranger to multitasking. While at Boise State University, she started a student club called “Space Broncos” that made VR simulations of space, has interned at places like HP, NVIDIA and Google X, and is working to advocate for women in STEM fields.
“We’ve seen that parachuting women into STEM doesn’t work. We need to attack the diversity problem from the other side—work to build diverse environments that women want to come into. Women mentors are a big part of that,” she explains. For Eddy, there has been no shortage of powerful female mentors, beginning with her mother, who homeschooled her and required Eddy and her sister to build their inquisitive minds by interviewing people they interacted with. Then came astronaut Barbara Morgan, who met high-schoolage Eddy and helped her with the hard and soft skills of science—from microgravity to public speaking—until Morgan’s retirement.
Looking for another mentor, Eddy introduced herself to Dr. Jeannice Farrier-Samani, who she says was the only black woman in the room. “The way she remembers it, I walked up out of nowhere. But I was watching her the entire time,” she laughs. They had lunch the next day and mapped out a plan for the year. “My mentors have always pushed me to do more,” Eddy says. So when men explain how screwdrivers work, group members take criticism of an idea personally, or coworkers assume Eddy will be happiest teaching, she’s driven to find her own path to happiness that includes defying expectations about what a female engineer is or is not. “For so long, we haven’t
As a fourth-generation physician, Dr. Amy Cooper is well aware of the demands career can place on family. She works as a gynecologic oncologist, which means she treats cancer of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix, vagina, vulva, and placenta. Her job is not easy—she relies on humor and exercise to get her through the heavy days, but says that part of the process is sitting with it too. “You have to kind of dwell in it a little bit. Be in it, experience things with the patient. It’s hard and sad and difficult, but we all have to die, and helping someone do that in a way that tells their story or heals relationships, that demonstrates dignity and spirituality, proving that this process can be negotiated with grace—that’s a real benefit,” Cooper says.
“Another way I deal with it is to take my knowledge and apply it to a different population,” she adds, referring to her role as a teacher of Girlology and Guyology, a national program teaching puberty and reproductive education. Cooper says that she gets to take her expertise and empower and educate young people. She estimates that she’s taught around 1,200 kids since 2013. Cooper’s own daughter, 11, often helps with the classes, and is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Her son, 15, is not—and she’s okay with that. Cooper says that levels of feeling bad for career choices—be they full time, part time, or stay-at-home parenting—are the dilemmas of being a mother. She works one day less than her male partners who have spouses who stay at home. Still, she finds time to teach, noting the shortage of male teachers in the organization, despite the need for them.
Now, she’s working with a Krav Maga instructor to develop a combination class that teaches self-defense, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception. How does she find time to do it all? “It’s a slow process. I see something I want to do and if it would take me two years devoted to it full time, I know my timeline will be six years. And that’s okay,” explains Cooper. www.idahomemagazine.com
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Wonder Woman is Mexican By Lisa Sanchez
A
s a little girl growing up in Arizona, I decided that Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, was who I wanted to grow up to be. My mother even bought me the Wonder Woman Underoos that were popular in the 1970’s because I was so into La Mujer Maravilla. Aside from her “lariat of truth” and her bullet proof wrist cuffs, it was that hairdo that I thought was the real source of Wonder Woman’s power. I knew two other powerful chingonas that had that look: my Tia Eleanor, and the news anchor for Channel 12 News in Phoenix, Linda Alvarez. My tia (aunt) could do everything! She cooked delicious Mexican food, she kept a clean house, she worked at a munitions factory, and she was hilarious. Linda Alvarez was on television every night telling all of us what happened in the world that day. The women who rocked that hairstyle meant business, and I wanted to be that kind of woman. 26
Sadly, I did not have
the kind of hair that could be styled like Wonder Woman’s power-do. I had the kind of hair that a girl gets when her mother is Black and her father is White. I had brown curly hair that my nana would braid, sometimes like Princess Leia’s cinnamon buns. On special occasions, she would use a rattail comb to form my hair into Shirley Temple ringlets. I was then dressed in cutesy dresses, tights, and patent leather Mary Janes to get the full Mexican Shirley Temple feeling. It was not a powerful look. When I decided to run for office in 2017, I realized that I had my own Wonder Woman that I could aspire to, and I would not even have to change my hair. Like me, my mother’s hair did not fit in with the looks of the day, but instead of fighting it, she put her hair up in a chongo and got to work. My mother taught with no education, she led with no official authority, and she had me sit at the head of the table of opportunity with no invitation. My mother never let her coarse hair, her poverty, her skin color, or fatness, or anything else stop her from being the community’s super hero. Just like my mother, I am Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman is Mexican.
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"When I decided to run for office in 2017, I REALIZED THAT I HAD MY OWN WONDER WOMAN that I could aspire to, and I would not even have to change my hair."
a’s t: Lis r, e moth a J nie osa Espin a’s . Lis Ortiz , Luis r h fat e arcia G l u Ra hez. Sanc
Righ
La Mujer Maravilla es Mexicana Translated by Andrea Orozco
Cuando yo fui niña y vivía en Arizona, decidí ser La Mujer Maravilla como Lynda Carter. Me gustaba tanto La Mujer Maravilla, que incluso mi madre me compró su vestuario que era popular en la década de los setentas. Aparte de su “lazo verdadero” y sus muñequeras a prueba de balas, yo creía que su cabello era la verdadera fuente de su poder. Conocía a otras poderosas chingonas que tenían el mismo cabello: mi Tía Eleanor y Linda Alvarez. Linda era la presentadora de noticias del canal de televisión 12 en Phoenix. ¡Mi tía podía hacer todo! Ella cocinaba deliciosa comida mexicana, mantenía su casa
limpia, trabajaba en una fábrica de municiones y era muy graciosa. Todas las noches y cada día, Linda Alvarez salía en la televisión reportando lo que estaba sucediendo en el mundo. Las mujeres que usaban ese peinado significaban para mi éxito y profesionalismo, y yo quería ser ese tipo de mujer. Lamentablemente, no tenía el tipo de cabello que se podía peinar como el cabello de La Mujer Maravilla. Tenía el tipo de cabello que una niña tiene cuando su madre es negra y su padre es blanco. Tenía el cabello castaño y rizado que mi Nana trenzaba, a veces como los chongos de la princesa Leia. En ocasiones especiales, mi Nana usaba un peine de cola de rata para peinar mi cabello como los rizos de Shirley Temple. Para poder conseguir la imagen completa de Shirley Temple, mi Nana me
vestía con vestidos bonitos, mallas y charol de Mary Janes. Pero no era una imagen poderosa. En el 2017, cuando decidí postularme para un cargo, me di cuenta de que yo era mi propia Mujer Maravilla, y no tenía que cambiarme el cabello. Al igual que yo, el cabello de mi madre no encajaba con el aspecto del día, pero en lugar de cambiarlo, lo recogió en un chongo y se puso a trabajar. Mi madre fue educadora sin escolaridad, lider sin autoridad oficial y ella me dio la seguridad de participar en oportunidades a las que no era invitada. Mi madre nunca dejó que su cabello, su pobreza, su color de piel o gordura, o cualquier otra cosa, le impidiera ser el superhéroe en la comunidad. Al igual que mi madre, you son La Mujer Maravilla, y La Mujer Maravilla es Mexicana.
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TA B L E S
E XPER IENCE MOUNTA I N -TI K I COCK TA IL S AT WATE R BE AR BY
T I M
AT W EL L
When Laura Keeler and Kylie North opened Water Bear at the corner of 9th & Jefferson in 2019, they had a unique vision for a “mountain-tiki” cocktail lounge. “The idea is that you can step out of wherever you are—your normal life—and be somewhere totally different,” said Keeler. “It's like tiki in the woods.” The combination of mountain and tiki themes manifests itself in the floral wallpaper and taxidermied animals on the walls. It is also apparent in the drinks. “Piney Colada was one of our epic first drinks, and it was like a piña colada for camping up in the woods in Idaho. Like going to McCall and fitting right in on the lake. We try to keep it localized and relevant,” said Keeler. Keeler and North met while bartending in Jackson Hole, and soon decided to combine their talents and move to Boise to open their own bar. “We call it the dance. There's a choreography in the chaos,” said Heather Newman, Marketing Manager at Water Bear. “And when you find somebody that dances really well with you, it's like, Oh, what's this? We can crush it.” In addition to an array of craft cocktails, Water Bear also offers a food menu including their specialty oysters. For those who may be concerned, don’t worry—the oysters are sung to while they are being prepared. This is a perfect example of the level of care and creativity that defines the entire Water Bear experience.
Photos courtesy of Water Bear.
happily ever after
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CHOW DOWN Southern-Style Dining with Brown Shuga Soul Food By Tim Atwell | Photos courtesy of Brown Shuga Soul Food
Even as a small child, Yvonne Anderson-Thomas had an entrepreneurial spirit.
Collard Greens
Ingredients 1/2 pound smoked meat (ham hocks, smoked turkey wings, or smoked neck bones) 1 tablespoon House seasoning, recipe follows 1 tablespoon seasoned salt 1 tablespoon hot red pepper sauce 1 large bunch collard greens 1 tablespoon butter Directions In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add smoked meat, house seasoning, seasoned salt and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 hour. Wash the collard greens thoroughly. Remove the stems that run down the center by holding the leaf in your left hand and stripping the leaf down with your right hand. The tender young leaves in the heart of the collards don’t need to be stripped. Stack 6 to 8 leaves on top of one another, roll up, and slice into 1/2 to 1-ince thick slices. Place greens in pot with meat and add butter. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with favorite dish as a side. House Seasoning: 1 cup salt 1/4 cup black pepper 1/4 cup garlic powder Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. 30
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“When I was a little kid, my mom used to say my relatives would come over and ask all the kids to dance at a family gathering,” said Anderson-Thomas. “I would go and get my piggy bank and tell them they would have to put a quarter in before I would dance.” Those natural business instincts stuck with Anderson-Thomas throughout the years, guiding her in 2011 when she launched her Southern-style food truck and catering service, Brown Shuga Soul Food. “I wanted to do something different that Boise didn’t have,” said Anderson-Thomas. “I was trying to think of something really unique and that’s what I grew up on. You know, the food that my grandma used to make.” Over the past decade, Brown Shuga Soul Food has become a staple in the Boise food truck scene. The inspiration for dishes such as pork shoulder, barbeque chicken, and collard greens came from AndersonThomas’ fond memories of Sunday family dinners when she was growing up. “We had Sunday family dinners every week after church. All the family would come and break bread together. So I want to bring back kind of that Southern tradition,” said Anderson-Thomas. “After church we would all gather at my grandma’s and make dinner. Everybody would contribute in the kitchen and help.” Brown Shuga Soul Food’s two food trucks will be back in business when the weather warms up in mid-April.
How to Buy Real Estate on a Single Income By Lori Hosac
Buying a home when you’re single can fill your mind with questions. When I bought a home as a newly single person I wondered if I would qualify. How much money will I need to come up with? Can I afford the payment on my own? Should I get a 30-year, 20-year or 15-year fixed loan? The best advice is to consider them all to see what best fits your financial goals. A 30-year fixed may give you the lowest payment but if you can afford a payment amortized over 15 years you will pay half the interest of a 30year fixed over the life of the loan which may allow you to retire sooner. Lenders are typically looking for your debt-to-income ratios to be 45% or less, a credit score of 580 or higher, and you need to have enough in your bank accounts to cover down payment and closing costs. This could include a gift from family or taking a loan from your 401K account that doesn’t have to be counted in your debt-toincome ratios. Down payment can be as little as 0% for VA loans or Rural Development eligible areas, or 3% of the purchase price for other areas depending on loan type. There are down payment assistance and closing cost assistance programs available in Idaho with a credit score as low as 620. For self-employed borrowers who have a lot of write-offs, there are bank statement loans that count your deposits as qualifying income versus using the net income you report after expenses on tax returns. Closing costs can run about 2.5% of the purchase price of the home you’re buying. Rates are at historic lows so with rising home prices that gives you greater purchasing power than ever to qualify for a home that truly meets your needs. Once you get your first home under your belt, consider how rental properties can be used to fund your retirement. After selling my first home in the North End of Boise for a nice profit, I stretched my money further by buying a new primary residence with minimal down payment and used my profits towards down payment on a duplex and a triplex as investment properties. My strategy was to work to get rents to pay off the mortgages, then creating the cash flow I needed to retire. It’s all within reach, you just need to explore your options. "Lori Hosac is authorized to do business in the state of Idaho, Branch NMLS #779503. Guild Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender, Company NMLS #3274. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. All information, loan programs & interest rates are subject to change without notice. All loans subject to underwriter approval. Terms and conditions may apply. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction." Lori Hosac, NMLS #76068, Guild Mortgage, 1211 W. Myrtle St., Ste. 300, Boise ID 83702, 208-473-2170 www.idahomemagazine.com
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THE IMPOSSIBLE WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE:
Ending Rape By Karen Day
Last year, on a hot May evening in Lewiston, a 22-yearold man named Mathew Culletto offered a 14-year-old girl a ride home after a baskeball game. On the way, he suggested they stop at his house to play video games, where he served her cold coke and Captain Morgan rum. Under the guise of finding another video game, Culetto led the girl into his bedroom. Then, he raped her, while “calling her derogatory names,” because, according to court documents, she was “not into the sexual act.” On January 4, 2020, Culletto pleaded guilty to rape and was sentenced by Judge Jay Gaskill, to 90 days in the Nez Perce county jail, with the possibility of work release and fifteen years probation. The maximum sentence for rape of a minor child is life in prison. In this case, it’s the victim who faces a life sentence of emotional scars. The Violence Against Women’s Act ( VAWA ) was originally passed by Congress in 1994, to protect women who have suffered violent abuses. In April,2019, the House of Representatives reauthorized the bill to include protection for transgender victims and banning any individual convicted of domestic or sexual abuse to purchase firearms. Since then, sexual assault numbers have fallen by half, which appears like progress until compared to national statistics. • Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. • An average of 433,000 sexual assaults of ages 12 an older occur each year. • Approximately, 63,000 children are raped. 34
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•
In 2019, out of every 1,000 rapes nationally, 770 go unreported. Of the230 victims who go to the police, 187 will not see the perpetrator convicted. Of the remaining 43 rapists, five will be convicted. Now, consider sentencing stats closer to home, in Lewiston, where Culletto’s 14-year-old victim attends middle school. Between 2018-2019, there were 16 sexual offense cases in Nez Perce County. Nine got probation. Four got jail time. Three drew a prison sentence. What can we do when facts still show violence against women is the most common human rights abuse on the entire planet? “To understand something,” said Socrates, “you must name it.” Let’s name the travesty and injustices of this Idaho story, and all the sexual and domestic violence perpetrated against millions of women across the world: gender apartheid. It may appear impossible, but we all know apartheid can end. The impossible just takes a little while. aka: Mandela. Gandhi. Anne Frank. Rosa Parks. Greta Thunberg. You. FOR MORE INFORMATION on what you can do to help stop sexual violence or get help after an assault: The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline 800.656.HOPE (4673) If you or someone you know is in danger of domestic or sexual abuse, call: National Domestic Violence Hotline 877-799-7233
Make the Jump to THE CUP:
SAALT
By Karen Day
M
y period. That time of the month. On the rag. Visit from Aunt Flo: No matter how a woman or teen references monthly menstruation, this natural biological function is cloaked in generational and cultural taboo. Two years ago, Cherie Hoeger, entrepreneur, wife and mother of five daughters, started SAALT, the Boise-based re-useable period care company, to help erase the stigma and taboo about this basic fact of life with a small, pink, silicone cup. The Period Cup. “I looked at my daughters,” says
Hoeger, “and knew I didn’t want girls growing up in a world where something as natural as a period can limit their education of freedom.”
After two years of market research and prototype development, Hoeger, her husband, Jon, and his sister Amber, launched SAALT in 2018. The CUP was first inspired by listening to her family in economically- ravaged Venezuela lament the lack of menstrual hygiene items. A reusable solution for period care could not only help women in lowresource countries, realized Hoeger, a sustainable product could better serve the planet as a substitute for approximately 30 years of monthly disposable pads and tampons. Then, she did the menstrual math.
If a female has her first period at age 12 and experiences menopause around age 45, that equals 396 months of disposable products. At today’s prices, the cost is approximately $4,700 -plus the environmental impact of tons and tons of single-use plastics in landfills. But it was shame that proved a far more destructive taboo than economics or pollution. Research revealed traditions in Nepal still required girls to isolate themselves in windowless huts during menstruation with no supplies, forbidden to go to school. To Hoeger, creating a
comfortable, reusable period cup seemed the “forever” answer to so many problems women have faced since the beginning of time.
A SAALT cup costs about thirty dollars and will last 10 years, though stress-tested for 40 years.
“Unlike competitors, we manufacture our cups in the US with only two materials,” explains Hoeger. “Medical grade silicone and FDAapproved dyes that don’t leech color into your body. More importantly,” she says, “SAALT is B Corp that donates 2% of all sales to our menstrual educational programs for girls in Nepal, Kenya, Uganda and of course,” she smiles, “South America.”
In 2019, SAALT did 5.5 million in sales with 2020 figures projected at 12 million. 2% adds up to a lot of money that the company is using as force of good for girls in 22 countries, hiring menstrual health educators to distribute cups and teach girls about period care without shame.
“My husband and I always thought we wanted to work in the nonprofit sector. But based on results,” says Hoeger, “we’re far more effective at changing the world as entrepreneurs.”
Besides giving birth, what better reasons could there be to bleed? Time to make the jump to The CUP!
“In the red tent, the truth is known…and women give thanks — for repose and restoration, for the knowledge that life comes from between our legs, and that life costs blood.” -Anita Diamant, The Red Tent www.idahomemagazine.com
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Women and Girls Around the World
Find a loan that fits your life Whether you’re downsizing, changing neighborhoods, or need more space, we’ve got options.
Let’s plan your next move. Loan programs
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Closer to school or work Expanding family Empty nest A neighborhood more suited to families with children or seniors
Joseph Pattee
Branch Manager NMLS ID# 7464 1 211 W Myrtle St Ste 300 Boise, ID 83702 O: 208.473.2182 M: 208.899.1688 jpattee@guildmortgage.net Apply Online www.teampattee.com
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Lori Hosac
Kimberly Stastny
Sales Manager NMLS ID# 76068 1211 W Myrtle St Ste 300 Boise, ID 83702 O: 208.473.2170 x105 M: 208.794.7768 lhosac@guildmortgage.net
Senior Loan Officer NMLS ID# 38004 1211 W Myrtle St Ste 300 Boise, ID 83702 O: 208.333.8150 M: 208.891.1488 kstastny@guildmortgage.net
Apply Online guildmortgage.com/lorihosac
Apply Online guildmortgage.com/kimstastny
Joseph Pattee is authorized to do business in the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Branch NMLS ID 779503; Kimberly Stastny is authorized to do business in the state of Idaho. Branch NMLS ID 779503; OR ML-176; Lori Hosac is authorized to do business in the state of Idaho. Branch NMLS ID 779503; Guild Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender; Company NMLS ID 3274 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). All information, loan programs & interest rates are subject to change without notice. All loans subject to underwriter approval. Terms and conditions apply. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
Our cultural norms can make misread clues. Scott
Bloody Murder: Exposing Criminals in the NineteenthCentury By Marlene Tromp
A desire to better understand cases like this one made me a sleuth of nineteenth-century murder. Studying history allows us to see more clearly those
MARLENE’S BOOKS
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Peterson, convicted of the 2002 murder of his pregnant wife Laci Peterson and her unborn child, maintained the trust of his in-laws, the police, and the press for months, though he had carried on several affairs. People rallied behind him, while he participated in the manhunt for Laci and made emotional television appearances. We believed in him—until an innocent woman he had been dating put the pieces together and went to the police. He is now on death row at San Quentin.
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cultural norms and assumptions that might get in the way of our understanding of the evidence or our prosecution of a crime—like “men protect their pregnant wives.” The more we understand cultural assumptions, the less likely we are to be blinded to wrong-doing. Let me take you back to the year 1863, where a fire in Dr. Edward Pritchard’s home caused a tragic death. Flames almost entirely consumed his servant Elizabeth’s head and upper torso, down to her knees. Her death might have gone unnoticed, were it not for Dr. Pritchard’s status: a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, a surgeon in Her Majesty’s Navy, and the Director of the Glasgow Athenaeum. The public grieved for the family. The fire
forced them to move, but their troubles seemed to follow them. In his new home—purchased with the financial help of his mother-in-law—his wife fell ill. Her devoted mother, Mrs. Taylor, came to the family’s rescue again, caring for her ailing daughter and the Pritchard’s five children. Sadly, the bug was catching. Not long after, Mrs. Taylor became sick too. As her mother lay dying, Mrs. Pritchard’s health declined precipitously. Her limbs contorted, her pain spiked, she frequently vomited, and was increasingly raving and confused. Dr. Pritchard lay beside her in the bed and wept, calling out her name over and over as she died. The Taylor family embraced their beloved and grieving sonin-law, even after his household
raised concerns. The police conducted a post-mortem examination, which outraged the public. The local newspaper asserted: “he is entirely innocent of the grave charges which have been laid at his door. [He] will be speedily vindicated.” In spite of the public’s convictions, chemical analysis revealed that the organs of both Pritchard’s mother-in-law and wife were riddled with poisons he kept in large quantities in his office. Even then, the public jumped to Dr. Pritchard’s defense, dismissing what became increasingly clear in court: Dr. Pritchard had serious financial problems and had been carrying on an affair with a new servant, as well as his previous servant who had burned in her bed.
Why would they hang on? Doctors have enormous power over people’s lives and wellbeing. People want doctors to be trustworthy or it makes them feel too vulnerable. To believe that a mild-mannered physician could—for months—carry on the slow, torturous murder of his wife, while carrying on a dalliance with a servant, undermined social beliefs about “good doctors.” Those lives were the trade-off for social blindness. It took an unrelenting recourse to the facts and three deaths to change the story. History can be an excellent teacher. The more we understand our social norms, the better we can see beyond them when people exploit them to commit serious crimes.
ABOUT MARLENE
Dr. Marlene Tromp is the president of Boise State University and
author of many books, including Altered States: Sex, Nation, Drugs, and Self-Transformation in Victorian Spiritualism (SUNY, 2006)
and The Private Rod: Sexual Violence, Marriage, and the Law in
Victorian England (UP Virginia, 2000). She has also served as an
editor/contributor for Fear and Loathing: Victorian Xenophobia and Victorian Freaks: The Social Context of Freakery in the Nineteenth Century, Mary Elizabeth Braddon: Beyond Sensation.
www.idahomemagazine.com
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makers
Women Who INK
Erykane Ink’s Perfect Tattoo Family By Heather Hamilton-Post
“Eryka’s helped me fall in love with my body again, just by making it something beautiful,” says Erykane client-turned-friend, Jeannie Thompson. “Something I’m excited to get naked and look at!” Eryka, tattoo gun in hand, laughs quietly, working on a jeweled heart that covers what was once a log—a long story for another day—on Jeanie’s back. Cover-ups are her specialty, in part because there is high demand and few artists who’ll do them. But for Eryka Jensen, it’s more than that. “Every one of my tattoos has a really special memory to me. I want people to be 100% happy with what they’re getting,” she says. It’s a big part of why Erykane exists, she explains. “A lot of women have bad stories about getting tattooed by other artists,” says Dane—Eryka’s husband, who explains that he is the “ane” half of the shop’s name. With her husband, Eryka has created the workplace she always wanted. They are joined by Eryka’s brother Kingsley and coworker Kyle. Together, Eryka says they are the “perfect shop family”—and she taught them all, after teaching herself, of course. Unlike most artists who undertake an apprenticeship, Eryka drove her own learning because she didn’t want to undergo the less-than-great treatment most apprentices face. She jokes that practicing on herself during said learning is perhaps why she’s so good at cover ups, though she has remarkably little ink for a tattoo artist. “I have to think about what I want for a long time,” she says. Her favorite? Hard to say, but Dane jumps in to point out the Himalyan Persian kitty on his arm, and remarks “you really talk about this one a lot.” Eryka smiles. “It’s true. I do.” 40
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Before tattooing, Eryka worked at a Halloween store, where she dressed in a costume and waved signs on street corners. In high school, she doodled to maintain focus, and when she finally got into an art class, Eryka’s teacher told her she obviously belonged in AP art. “But I grew up Mormon, so I never really thought about tattoos, and when I did, I was afraid of what my parents would say,” she says. And, though she still doesn’t curse, she recently completed a half sleeve on her father. Eryka’s style is colorful, and she, along with a few others in the valley, has pioneered the neo traditional style, which, Dane explains, is a take on realism mixed with traditional—hard outlines, but with other line weights and blends of color too. “It puts a more artistic spin on things,” he says. “A lot of people looked at her artwork in a different way. She was getting great results even though she wasn’t classically trained. We really tried to be different.” The shop, which in its former location was Barbie pink, is friendly. Eryka’s daughter and step daughter spend time there, putting temporary tattoos on kids and working on their own art. She is generous to her coworkers and to her community—Erykane’s Instagram is covered in posts about community fundraising efforts for groups like the Idaho Humane Society and the Women and Children’s Alliance. She is proud of the people she works with, and points out their strengths and talents regularly. And the feeling is mutual—her reverence for art, bodies, and family shines in her students and work.
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Escape to the mountains and soak in our fresh hot spring waters. Make your getaway complete by staying in our new hotel, Inn the Pines Inquire about our rates and package deals at 208-392-9505 or innnthepines.com
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