Meet The Team
Riley Dolan
Onalaska Class of 2015
Riley Dolan was born and raised in Onalaska. He is the son of Carolyn and Michael Dolan, the owners of Burnt Ridge Nursery. Riley graduated from Onalaska High School in 2015 as the Valedictorian and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a double major in Hispanic Studies and Political Science. Currently Riley works as the Organizing Director for the Washington Student Association, which advocates for bills that will support college students across the state.
Kalika Mugenzi
Onalaska Class of 2017
I’d lived in Onalaska for the better part of my younger years until I turned 16 and moved north. Most people call me Kali for short.
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Fast forward a few years, and I now work at a cancer clinic in Seattle as a frontline worker. I also contribute anti-racism/equity projects to the organization. In my past years in Pierce County, I taught underserved youths as well as volunteered to help the homeless community. This experience further instilled my agenda for equity across a multitude of platforms. When winding down from everything, I love to go hiking. Growing up in Onalaska, I garnered a great appreciation for nature and exploration. I also love to stay active with my husky, write poetry, and create art. I actually used to contribute some of my art to a local business in Ony while I was still a student.
In the years to come, I plan to continue contributing my time to anti-racism and equity until we have hit every milestone we’ve set to achieve towards a more equitable future, with strength in my shoulders and unrelenting in my expression.
Caleb Huffman
Onalaska Class of 2014
Caleb is a proud logger. He spent nine years learning with his Ony cohort of 40 students. He double majored in political science and communication at the University of Washington, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, interdisciplinary honors and with departmental honors in both majors. He completed three undergraduate theses, was a Gilman scholar, an inaugural student fellow at Georgetown's U.S.-China Initiative, and a leadership fellow with former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton. He was selected as a Yenching Scholar and moved to Beijing, China for a fully-funded master’s degree in Chinese Law and Society, where he also served as Co-Chair of the 4th annual Yenching Global Symposium, 我们WÇ’men: Retelling the China Stories, which focused on gender studies. Caleb has faith that the arch of history points toward justice and will begin a Master of Divinity in the Fall.
Michael Lee Green
Worked as a substitute teacher within Onalaska School District
Michael is a local educator, husband, and father of two. After growing up in Colorado followed by several years in California, he settled in the state of Washington in 2005 and has been a resident of Centralia since 2014. From 2012-2018, Michael taught General Music & Choir at Oakview and Washington Elementaries and Music Appreciation at Centralia Middle School. He earned Washington State Teaching Certificate in 2009 and his Masters in Teaching degree in 2016 from Saint Martin’s University. Michael's provided GED tutoring and Career development services for the Chehalis Tribe since 2018. In 2019, he began teaching General Music & Choir for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade at Northwest Christian Academy in Lacey.
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Faith is extremely important to Michael. He was a member of New Life Baptist church in Lacey for years, where he served in many capacities: Youth Leader, Prison Ministry, Mass Choir, Men’s Choir, and Praise Team. Michael went on a Mission’s Trip to Honduras with Bethel Church in 2015 and started attending there soon after. At Bethel he has served on the Praise Team, in Children’s Ministry and at the Cold Weather Shelter. Michael also has been a member of various small groups. Michael has been a leader for The Common Room Young Adult Ministry in Centralia. He sings in the Gospel Echoes Quartet group, which is based out of Ft. Lewis, the group performs at events in Seattle and Tacoma regularly. The group was featured at the George Washington 200th Birthday event in Centralia.
As part of his faith and the value he places on education, he has a passion for anti-racism. He has participated in numerous Black Lives Matter protests and has been a featured speaker for a handful of rallies in Lewis County. He’s been featured on videos speaking about anti-racism with leaders of the Centralia Community Church of God (view here) and the Centralia High School (view here). Michael promotes his beliefs openly on social media and is happy to discuss his experiences with others.
Zachary Huffman
Onalaska Class of 2017
Zach is a recent University of Washington graduate. He finished with a double major in Communications and Sociology. While at the University of Washington, Zach realized just how big the world was. Full of difference and diversity, but he did not know how to interact.
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As an extremely active member of the Onalaska community Zach in school serving in numerous leadership positions. Onalaska has given Zach so many opportunities, he wants to give back to the community that helped create who he is today.
Bernie Hayden
Onalaska Class of 2015
Bernadette Hayden graduated from Onalaska High School in 2015 as salutatorian. After high school, she attended Hamline University and majored in legal studies, women’s studies and criminal justice with certifications as a sexual assault counselor, paralegal and in conflict studies. Bernadette has pursued her passion in making the legal system more accessible and equitable through her profession as both a paralegal and as a sexual violence victim advocate. She plans to attend law school in the fall of 2021.
Bernadette helped form the Onalaska Equity Team shortly after the murder of George Floyd. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of non-profit and public organizations that work to reduce racial disparities and wanted to bring this knowledge and experience back to her hometown. Bernadette believes that loving her community involves working to improve it. She believes education and policy changes within Onalaska are critical to ensuring all students are fully prepared for the diverse world once leaving Onalaska and that students of color are always welcomed within our community. Bernadette is grateful for the opportunity to help improve a place she loves and calls home.
Get Involved Today
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