About Rebecca Grant Zarret
I was born and raised in the Detroit area. I spent my summers exploring the woods and lakes of northern Michigan. I earned an undergraduate degree in environmental science, and my first job out of college was working on an organic farm. Into my 20s, I taught science to middle school students in areas as diverse as rural northern California, Ann Arbor, and New York City. In my 30s, I explored various opportunities in the field of education and found I thrived in the challenges of leadership. I returned to graduate school and completed my doctorate, and worked at the leadership level in three large, urban school districts. I also spent a year traveling the world, lived in three new cities, and settled in Denver, Colorado.
I now feel grounded in my family life and my professional life! I love supporting leaders and feel fortunate to have landed here at this point in my career. In my personal time, I enjoy adventuring with my husband and our two sons, taking care of our abundant plant and animal life, spending time in nature, and seeing live music.
My credentials include (more details on my CV):
- 30 years experience in education, working in leadership roles at all levels of the system; credentialed K-12 administrator; experience in early childhood and higher education
- Doctorate in education from Harvard University, focus in adult development and career transitions
- Executive coaching certificatation from Northwestern University
- Experience working with for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations
- Current service on four nonprofit boards: Denver Public Schools Foundation, Colorado Outward Bound School, Ekar Farm and Community Gardens, and Swallow Hill Music
- ANFT-certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide; Yoga Alliance-registered yoga teacher
About Chalise Kanafani
Chalise’s story is one of love, nature, and the quiet magic of human connection. She grew up straight west of Chicago, in the woods and on a river, where the suburbs end and the cornfields begin.
From her earliest days, the river and the woods were more than just a backdrop; they were her playground, her sanctuary, and her teacher. Chalise spent countless hours observing the delicate rhythms of the seasons, and the way sunlight filtered through the trees and reflected off the water. Her parents, both avid naturalists, instilled in her a profound appreciation for the environment. They taught her to listen. This connection to nature fostered a sense of calm within her, a steadiness that would become a hallmark of her character.
Fast-forward through decades of growth, expansion, learning, growing, working, mothering, and deepening, Chalise’s connection to nature and the world of the plants, remained a steadfast and reliable ally.
When tea called to her, through an introduction from a dear old friend that grew up in those same old woods, the connection was one of remembering. Slowly at first, then steady and true. The practice of deep listening, connecting with nature, creating and appreciating beauty, and sharing love and stillness with others, is a natural expression and extension of who Chalise is and has always been.
It is now her sincere and quiet honor, to be able to serve tea to all who come to sit. To be a friend on the path of remembering the importance of slowing down, listening deeply, and holding space for one another. In a world that often rushes by, tea ceremony is a pause and a gentle reminder that, sometimes, the simplest things can be the most profound.
Chalise’s story is one of love, nature, and the quiet magic of human connection. She grew up straight west of Chicago, in the woods and on a river, where the suburbs end and the cornfields begin.From her earliest days, the river and the woods were more than just a backdrop; they were her playground, her sanctuary, and her teacher. Chalise spent countless hours observing the delicate rhythms of the seasons, and the way sunlight filtered through the trees and reflected off the water. Her parents, both avid naturalists, instilled in her a profound appreciation for the environment. They taught her to listen. This connection to nature fostered a sense of calm within her, a steadiness that would become a hallmark of her character.
Fast-forward through decades of growth, expansion, learning, growing, working, mothering, and deepening, Chalise’s connection to nature and the world of the plants, remained a steadfast and reliable ally.
When tea called to her, through an introduction from a dear old friend that grew up in those same old woods, the connection was one of remembering. Slowly at first, then steady and true. The practice of deep listening, connecting with nature, creating and appreciating beauty, and sharing love and stillness with others, is a natural expression and extension of who Chalise is and has always been.
It is now her sincere and quiet honor, to be able to serve tea to all who come to sit. To be a friend on the path of remembering the importance of slowing down, listening deeply, and holding space for one another. In a world that often rushes by, tea ceremony is a pause and a gentle reminder that, sometimes, the simplest things can be the most profound.
Pictured above: Daydreams by Patrick Dougherty at Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana is built in and on a replica of a prairie schoolhouse.