The 2025 Change Maker of the Year Awards
A letter from editor Nhatt Nichols
I’ve always struggled with newspapers’ “best of” special editions. It isn’t just that they never seem to pick my favorite bartender or barista; it’s more the niggling feeling that we should be celebrating people for more than just their job. Of course, I’m delighted for anyone who is recognized for their work, but I wanted to ask the public: who in our county enriches the experience of living here with their actual work, not just their job title?
When the Beacon asked for nominations, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t sure the term Change Maker would resonate with anyone else, or that anyone would take the time out of their busy lives to nominate someone. In the end, we had nearly 30 nominations spanning all corners of the county and types of change making. Reading through everyone’s nominations is honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done as part of a job; we truly have some incredible people here in Jefferson county.
The rest of the Beacon staff and I read through each of the nominees and collectively chose our favorites to win the inaugural prize, with each of us having the opportunity to interview one of 2025’s Change Makers.
Then something unexpected happened. Crystie Kisler from the Jefferson Community Foundation rang me out of the blue and said this was the kind of initiative they loved supporting, and they wanted to offer each of our Change Makers $400 to donate to any nonprofit they chose, to help them continue making a positive difference in 2026.
Because reading through the nominations was one of the best parts of my 2025, we’re listing everyone who wasn’t named a Change Maker for 2025 below, including the reason they were nominated. I hope you find this as heartwarming as I have!
2025 Change Maker of the Year Winners
2025 Change Maker of the Year Nominations
Danny Milholland
He has done a fabulous job of creating new, fun events in PT, as well as taking existing events and promoting them to reach more people, and therefore making them more successful. Building community is his focus, and it makes for a fun experience! Plus, he’s a great guy! I donate to them, as well as volunteer.
Appalachia (Apple) Martine
Apple has led the health department with great compassion and grace through tough times and tough issues. She works incredibly hard, including filling in for open positions while doing her primary work. She always makes time for community members and listens to everyone from any walk of life. She makes a quiet but exceptional difference here in Jefferson County.
Michael McCutcheon
This man feeds as many of our homeless and loves them his way. With food, hope, recovery, and most importantly, love!
Nicole ferguson
Nicole was one of the big movers and shakers of the community meal. She started the gleaning project and was an active supporter when it came to helping unhoused folks relocate after the city ordered them to leave. She is constantly looking for quiet ways to make her community stronger and more resilient. She is a vibrant, beautiful, radical queer who cares so much.
Beau Ohlgren
Beau consistently shows up for the trans community. He leads support groups, fostered and adopted a trans child, and builds connections in our community. He is an angel.
Ben Bauermeister
Ben is the cofounder of StrongerTowns, a fiscal sponsorship umbrella organization that fosters nonprofit innovation in Jefferson County. Currently, the company has 6 active programs and 9 programs total that it has assisted. These include: The Production Alliance, Community Build, Skillmation Community Mentoring, YEA Music, Return to Earth Composting, and The Salish Snow Sports organization. Ben is an active member of LION, and currently serves on the board for Quimper Mercantile as they work towards the relocation of their beloved store. Ben actively mentors a variety of small start-ups in the Port Townsend area and has been actively involved with Team Jefferson EDC and Jefferson Community Foundation. In the past, Ben has been instrumental in the founding of the Jefferson County Connectivity Summit, the Job and Trades Fair, and Collective Impact gatherings. Both a sculptor and a musician, Ben plays with the local musical group Wilderson at a variety of local venues and live radio performances on KPTZ.
Kelli Parcher
Kelli quietly started OWL360/The Nest by taking over the Pfeiffer House from OlyCAP and housing young people (ages 17-25). OWL360 has grown to five houses and a bustling non-profit coffee house. They currently house 25 young people, 2 children and 1 on the way. She is someone who puts her head down and does the work with no thought of recognition. She would likely hate the recognition, but Kelli is an unsung hero in our community who needs a singin’.
Ben Wilson
Ben founded Color of Sound (www.colorofsound.co) in 2024, produced the documentary film Dark and Tender locally on Whidbey, and it debuted at the Port Townsend Film Festival—Ben brought three black directors to the panel discussion called Black Filmmakers of the PNW. In March of 2025, Ben organized and curated a Black festival in collaboration with the PT Film Festival and the Rose Theatre, for which 13 Black filmmakers and their families traveled to Port Townsend to have their films screened at three sold-out nights at the Rose Theatre. Ben just completed his second film supporting the Chronically UnderTouched Project, which will debut in December. Additionally, Color of Sound received a two-year grant to create a Touch Activist Program, which is a training program created by the Chronically UnderTouched Project. Ben also serves on two other nonprofit boards, including Centrum and the Port Townsend Film Festival. In 2024, Ben also served on the boards of the Jefferson Land Trust and the Jefferson County Farmers Market. Additionally, Ben writes songs and plays in a musical group called Wilderson, and they play regularly at multiple local venues in Jefferson County.
Amelia
Amelia is an incredible community member, public health worker, herbalist, and badass in JeffCo.
Cendre Hunt
programming through Well Organized, including bringing food to folks who need it across the county
Mazure pace
They have always been doing harm reduction and community outreach and have a love for community volunteering with animal rescue programs, food banks, community theater, and more recently outreach for the public health department in their harm reduction program. They have been more recently active in bringing supplies, doing laundry, providing a big heart and open mind to the most vulnerable people in our community, and one thing they're great at is connecting people. I can't say enough about my friend Mazure.
Cosmo Rapaport
Cosmo for bringing much-needed art performances centering rural queer experience
Bobby 4 Bobby
They are always putting on shows for our communities! Often free shows! Elaborate! Surreal! Gorgeous! From Pride at the Park, to queer night at the Casino, to Rocky Horror at the Rose- these folks are giving itttt!!!
Tara McCauley
She is behind the incredible changes at the Museum of Art and History downtown! Actually fighting for diversity of voices and accessibility at the Museum. The museum is finally ADA accessible for the first time since the 1800s, and the upcoming New Museum is going to be an incredible asset for Jefferson County. Too many amazing things she is doing to list!
Karen Anderson
Karen can do anything. As KPTZ's Program Director, she is to a large extent responsible for the overall 'sound' of the station. She trains new DJs, and she heads up the Automation Team. She is also an award-winning knitter and teaches knitting. Lately, she has gotten involved with community theater; she did the tech for their last production and acts in the current production of Uncle Vanya. Karen demonstrates how volunteers can get involved with local organizations and really make a difference.
Bob Wheeler
Protected the Camas Prairie Golf Park in Port Townsend from being developed.
