From left to right: Maya Frame and Sarah Angel at The Collective.
Intentionalist is fortunate to be a member of the Paladin community, and we’re excited to host two Epicodus coding program graduates for an internship that connects their mobile and web development skills to our social impact mission.
Our founder, Laura Clise recently sat down to chat with Sarah Angel and Maya Frame, and we’re excited to share their stories and inspiration with you.
L: Please share a little about your background so that the Intentionalist community can get to know you!
S: Hi, my name is Sarah Angel. I am of mixed race, Colombian/Irish, and am aspiring to create change in the world through tech. I have ten years experience working in healthcare as a receptionist and clinic supervisor and know first hand the disparity women and minority groups face. There are many ways to help and I believe technology is a platform to create an impact on a scale by order of magnitudes to what I have been able to do so far. I am very much inspired by my single working mother who taught me gender roles don’t mean anything. We didn’t have a “handy man” around, but pickle jars were opened and light bulbs changed. And she was always our breadwinner. In my downtine, I love to sing in my choir, The Wellspring Ensemble, drink cold, crisp rosé with friends, and follow cute animals on Instagram.
M: Hi, my name is Maya Carolina Medina Frame. I am a first-generation American with a mixed Mexican/Spanish/Scottish family which shapes and informs my goals. Prior to enrolling in Epicodus, I had a decade as a professional chef serving French-style cuisine in locally-owned & operated restaurants. These days I love to cook comfort food like huevos rancheros and carnitas for myself at home – just like mom used to make. I’m making the switch to tech so that I can follow my dream to both survive in this economy AND make a meaningful, positive impact on society. It helps that programming is a lot of fun! I’m so excited to learn and grow with the Intentionalist community. Other interests include: my ancient Bengal cat named Flame, an unhealthy addiction to the news, collecting recipes that I will likely never make, and planning for my future dogs in an excessive level of detail (I’m looking at high-maintenance rescues and, yes, I have their furniture all picked out).
L: Why does the Intentionalist #SpendLikeItMatters mission resonate with you?
S: I am so excited to join the Intentionalist team most importantly because I love living in Seattle and want to support local, small businesses. They create culture, creativity, and connection in a city that is edging ever closer to homogeneity. I think that Intentionalist’s mission realizes that there are many consumers, like me, who are looking to spend their money to enrich the communities they live in. Also, as a Latina, I appreciate that Intentionalist is recognizing businesses that have diverse owners. I hope to leverage my coding skills in my short 5 week internship to make adding businesses to the Intentionalist listings easier and faster.
M: My longtime goal has been to provide ever more tools and resources to facilitate ethical/critical consumption wherever possible. As worry and uncertainty about the future intensifies, so does the need to strengthen our communities by increasing diversity and supporting local businesses. To me, Intentionalist represents these interests in an innovative and timely package.
L: What is one of your favorite local businesses?
S: One of my favorite local businesses is Chan, a Korean Gastropub near Pike Place Market. First of all, the food is incredible. The fried brussel sprouts and BiBimBap are some of my favorite dishes. Secondly, the small intimate space is well thought out and provides a warm and cozy dining experience. Lastly, the flight of house infused sojus will tantalize your palate and leave you feeling blissful.
M: Citizen was my neighborhood cafe when I lived on Lower Queen Anne. Owned and operated by a single mom of color and her daughter, they make my favorite latte in town, and put out a solid menu from the tiny kitchen of a cool little two story building. After acquiring the adjacent lot and business, Citizen Campfire was born – a unique outdoor bar with games and fire pits that is available for folks to reserve for large gatherings. I felt very fortunate to live so close and get to support this one-of-a-kind enterprise and I still visit every chance I get.
To learn more about Intentionalist please visit our website, suggest your favorite small businesses, and be sure that you’re following us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). Thanks for all you do to #BeIntentional and #SpendLikeItMatters!
Intentionalist is your local guide to small businesses and the diverse people behind them. We believe that where you spend your money matters, and we’re sure glad you do too! Whether you identify as a localist, activist, or just a good neighbor, we make it easy for you to connect with, learn about, and support small businesses in your community through everyday decisions about where you eat, drink, and shop.