My Her Story
Roots
I grew up navigating between steel mill and farming communities in Pennsylvania's rust belt, on ancestral lands of the Shawnee peoples. In this macho, traditional setting, schools closed on the first day of deer-hunting season and women had few career options outside of the home.
In this relatively mono-cultural milieu, religious, ethnic, and class differences loomed large. Marriage between Protestants and Catholics was taboo.'Being American', (preferably of Northern European descent), was the ideal. Second languages were shamed- my grandparents stopped speaking German after WWI. Italians, Polish, and Irish Americans were widely viewed as an underclass.
These attitudes informed my lifetime interest in reducing social and gender inequity. A serial solo-preneur, my previous careers have been in advertising and family support, (train-the-trainer, and working with families directly.)
In this relatively mono-cultural milieu, religious, ethnic, and class differences loomed large. Marriage between Protestants and Catholics was taboo.'Being American', (preferably of Northern European descent), was the ideal. Second languages were shamed- my grandparents stopped speaking German after WWI. Italians, Polish, and Irish Americans were widely viewed as an underclass.
These attitudes informed my lifetime interest in reducing social and gender inequity. A serial solo-preneur, my previous careers have been in advertising and family support, (train-the-trainer, and working with families directly.)
It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.
Irish proverb
Name
Knowing my past is a privilege. My maternal great-grandparents immigrated from France to western Pennsylvania in the 1800's. Like many New Americans at the time, the Demozenettes changed their family name, possibly to blend with Italian and Slavic neighbors (Mosina and Mozena), in the coal-mining town where they settled. I resurrected the "American-ized" version, since no male heir had been born to carry it on.
Mozena and Zena are feminine words that are pronounced differently, depending on your mother tongue and experience. Zena also means "girl" in Persian, Arabic, and Czech. This fits with my work that brings together women from different cultures.
Zena is also an homage to Xena, a campy 90's TV show starring Lucy Lawless. Her 'Warrior for Good Princess', character inspired me. Xena was one of the first truly strong lead female fighters created by Hollywood whose fight scenes were technically accurate, and (relatively) on par with her male counterparts.
Mozena and Zena are feminine words that are pronounced differently, depending on your mother tongue and experience. Zena also means "girl" in Persian, Arabic, and Czech. This fits with my work that brings together women from different cultures.
Zena is also an homage to Xena, a campy 90's TV show starring Lucy Lawless. Her 'Warrior for Good Princess', character inspired me. Xena was one of the first truly strong lead female fighters created by Hollywood whose fight scenes were technically accurate, and (relatively) on par with her male counterparts.
Above: Lee with City of Kenmore leaders, Cory Hansen and Nancy Ousley
My Priorities
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I follow the Adaptive Leadership's code of 'thrival'- balancing work with a healthy lifestyle. After family or friends, movement is a big part of my life. I've studied many forms of dance and martial arts, and taught the Nia Dance for twenty years.
I'm a certified instructor, (RYT 200) of Iyengar style yoga, and teach one class a week. Yoga is a soft martial art, and Iyengar emphasizes alignment and precision. These are principles I strive to live by at home and work. Headstands (right) help me stay upbeat through NW winters. |
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Gratitude
Giving back is an important value to me. Here are some of the community groups I've donated time or expertise to:
- Puget Sound Grant Writers Association, (training committee)
- Family Support Washington, (board co-chair)
- North Seattle Family Support Center, Seattle, (Lake City Salmon Days)
- ReWA, (Refugee Women's Alliance), Seattle, (site visits and reports)
- South Cedar Park Neighborhood Coalition, Lake City, Seattle (Co-Chair)
- Lake City, Seattle, (Cedar Park citizens' park design project)
- Program for Early Parent Support /PEPS, Seattle, (group leader for 3 years)
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This Celtic knot icon honors my heritage. The shield design represents the four directions, and represents my process of pulling together separate ideas into something new, whole, and strong. Ancient and universal to humankind, knots are practical and concrete. They're used to tie shoes, hair, and boats. Knots are also abstract. They're symbolic of God, the Divine, or Mother Earth. As such, they're also instruments of prayer and meditation.
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