A Heart-to-Heart with the Mona Foundation
My trip from Dublin to Seattle was a long journey, punctuated by a three-hour layover in Philadelphia where I spent the time writing. At some point, I sent a text to Laura Baerwolf, who was supposed to pick me up at the airport, to let her know I’d made it to Philadelphia and would see her that evening. It turns out I had sent her the wrong date; she was expecting me the following day and had arranged for me to be hosted by a friend. She kindly checked with her friend, and they were gracious enough to accommodate my early arrival.
One of my lifelong dreams has been to drive along the Pacific coast, from Seattle, taking in sites like the famous Oregon Coast, the Redwood forests, the Avenue of Giants, past San Francisco, all the way down to San Diego.
The Mona Foundation is one of our funding partners, and their headquarter is in Bellevue, Washington, just outside of Seattle. When I informed Laura, their Managing Director, that I would be in the area, she invited me to speak at a Mona event. Mona hosts these gatherings to share their mission with potential as well as current supporters, and I felt honored to be invited to share my work. As a grantee, it was a powerful opportunity to share firsthand the impact of their investment and the work we do at New Era Creative Space.
The Mona Foundation does incredible work globally. In 2025 alone, they reached 1.47 million students across 18 countries through 24 grassroots partners. Their mission is simple yet profound: to root out poverty through education. They do this by finding ethically minded, justice-driven organizations to support, and as a result, their impact is multiplied. In 2021, Mona decided to take on my organization, New Era Creative Space (NECS), as one of only three organizations they support in the United States, specifically funding our girls' empowerment program.
What struck me most about the weekend was the immediate hospitality. My hosts met me for the first time and embraced me as if I were family. The next few days, I found myself walking in the morning with my host and her friend in Kirkland, a beautiful town by the lake, straddled with vibrant floral landscaping, and unique sculptures. We walked and commiserated over our shared love for food, the kind of cooking that appeals to all the senses. The weather was perfect and mirrored the warmth of my new friends.
The day of the event, the room was filled with friends of the host, Mona supporters and curious newcomers. Laura told a story about a young woman with a disability whom Mona supported. This woman eventually started a school for young people with disabilities in her own community and became deeply respected. It was a beautiful illustration of how a simple act of helping one individual can transform an entire community.
This is Mona’s legacy. They are intentional about picking partners who are building capacity so that they eventually become self-sustaining. Their commitment isn’t the traditional one-year grant; it is a long-term accompaniment through growth.
When I visited their office, I had the opportunity to meet the staff led by Laura and supported by a powerhouse team of three young individuals: Hope, Sophia, and Emma. They are a small but formidable group, backed by a strong Board and a worldwide network of supporters. Mona’s founder, Mahnaz Javid, joined us for lunch where the theme of hope dominated our conversation. We even joked about how Mona is lucky enough to have its very own Hope on the team.
The office was filled with beautiful photos of the organizations Mona supports, showing the faces of children from every corner of the world. Seeing a large, framed photo of two of our own NECS youth warmed my heart, but what moved me even more was a framed napkin. On that napkin were the words Mona, nonprofit, equality, service, and global; the scribbled etchings of a dream cooked up in a restaurant by Mahnaz and her friends twenty-seven years ago. It was a vision born from people dedicated to rooting out global poverty through a shared belief that universal education, gender equality, and community building are essential for lasting change. It struck me how a vision of hope, backed by volition and action, can turn into a driving force for change. Mona Foundation’s name honors Mona, a young woman who loved working with children and was committed to education, service, and social justice. She was martyred in Iran simply for being a member of the Baha’i faith, but her spirit lives on in this mission.
Once again, I’ve been reminded of the power of individuals who aren’t waiting for permission to act. They are reading the reality of their communities and taking action. That is inspiring.
The event itself was captivating, conversations were stimulating and the food was visually stunning, aromatic, and delicious. You could tell that the food was prepared with love. I count myself fortunate to have new friends added to my growing worldwide family.
The rest of my trip involved exploring Seattle, the famous Pike Place Market, and the picturesque boardwalk. We made our way to Fremont, the self-proclaimed 'Center of the Universe,’ a colorful lakeside community where the streets are lined with eclectic shops and unexpected outdoor sculptures, including the massive, stone-carved troll peering out from under the Aurora Bridge. We met up with a dear friend, whom I hadn't seen in years and had a delightful walk in the Arboretum, catching up and sharing my adventures. A delicious Vietnamese meal and a walk around Capitol Hill completed the visit.
On our last day in Seattle, we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, enjoying a breezy ride with stunning skyline views before arriving at an island filled with charming boutiques and inviting restaurants. We brought our rental car, which allowed us to drive through the lush, wooded interior, but we spent most of our time exploring on foot. We even found another giant troll, Pia the Peacekeeper, tucked away in the woods.
My husband, Eric, had flown in the day after my presentation, two days before we were set for our road trip and met a few of my new friends who instantly made him feel welcomed. On our last evening in Seattle, we enjoyed dinner with our new friends and watched as the sun set, bringing our visit to an end.
I am reminded once again of the kindness of the human spirit, both in the work Mona is doing and the hospitality shown to me. It echoes the lessons I’ve gathered throughout this journey: when we lead with care and collaboration, the world opens up.
The next leg of my journey is down the Pacific coast. I am excited to explore and visit friends along the way. A dream that will finally be realized. What wonders await.
Thank you for reading. Please comment, share, and subscribe. You can find more of my reflections on Medium and Substack.
To learn more about the Mona Foundation, visit their website at monafoundation.org, and New Era Creative Space, visit necspace.org. Your support is an investment in a better world for all of us.