Board Members

Crystal Culp

Crystal Culp

Crystal moved to Vashon in the year 2000 and has been a member of the DOIT Board since 2003. She has participated in the artful subversion of the dominant parenting paradigm along with two sons, one step-son and two step-daughters. Domestic accomplishments: all 5 kids performing in an outdoor comedy theater act and one full summer of driver's training for three teens. Claim to fame moment in recent past: being kissed by Ozzy at Ozzfest while on assignment for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Crystal served on the vestry of the Church of the Holy Spirit on Vashon for 5 years, and was Senior Warden in 2007. She feels that all committee work involves a delicate balance between the careful consideration of details and guesswork - and that requires faith in the sensibilities of others. She will work hard to keep DOIT going in the wonderful spirit that Stephen Silha established over the last seven years on Vashon Island!

You can contact Crystal at: crystal@vashondoit.org

Maryam Steffen

Maryam Steffen

I came to Vashon 14 years ago from the East Coast where I had been living for a time. I came with husband and 3 sons the 4th being away at college. Those early years on Vashon were spent getting to know people, raising my sons, supporting my husband in his endevers and he in mine. It was family time with a capital F. In the past few years I have become increasingly involved with programs on Vashon that intend to involve, support and mentor youth. My interests seem to draw me in this direction. I am an older woman with a great deal of energy and interest in my community and specifically in the youth who are making their individual and group way through this community. I enjoy working with youth and learn a great deal from these experiences. I am interested in helping to shape the services and opportunities that can and will be made available to youth on this island.

I am a practicing Buddhist and bring this to my every day life and particularly in my work with youth and the boards that I am on. I have noticed that my life is evolving once again as it has at other pivotal times in my life. I am now a widow and children are off on their journeys and I am starting a new chapter in my life. I full content is yet to be unfolded but my work, interest and involvement in youth oriented programs is clearly part of this chapter.

You can contact Maryam at: maryam@vashondoit.org

Yve Susskind, Ph.D.

Yve Susskind

Yve Susskind, Ph.D., has been researching, writing, consulting and practicing in the areas of youth-adult partnership, youth involvement and student-centered education since 1990. She was the founding director of Vashon Island Youth Council (VYC), an intergenerational community organization near Seattle. Yve is also the co-creator and co-director of StudentLink, an award-winning independent learning program of the Vashon Island School District, where high school students work with teacher/consultants to develop and carry out their own curricula. Susskind holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan's interdisciplinary Planning Program.

You can contact Yve at: yve@vashondoit.org

2003 DOIT Board Meeting