Board of Directors
Emily Walker, Vice President
My name is Emily Walker and I am a Humboldt native and have two children. I have a daughter who was born with Williams Syndrome in 2021 and a son who was born in 2025. When our daughter was born with medical complexities our world was turned upside down trying to navigate this new world. I was looking for a community of people who I could connect with and share bread with. Slowly, I started to find mom friends who had similar situations and we created a unique friendship because of our children. This unique friendship that has been created has been one that is uplifting and refreshing. Being a part of the medical and disability world is isolating and lonely but having people that have empathy and understanding make this challenging life a little bit easier.
I am honored to be a part of an environment, Play Street, which will honor community members of all abilities and differences. Play Street is a vital place in our community for individuals to connect, come together, and celebrate differences. Play Street will be a hub of connection and community.
“Altered motherhood gives you the best sisterhood” – Jessica Patay.
I look forward to seeing you all at Play Street!
Sarah Van Wesep, Treasurer
My name is Sarah Van Wesep, and I am the mother of two daughters. My first daughter was born in 2019 with a Turner syndrome diagnosis. When she was two, she was also diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
When I realized I was going to be the mother of a child with special needs, I had no idea of the true scope of the challenges we would face. It was very difficult to navigate all the services we needed to serve her medical, behavioral and sensory needs. The founding members of Play Street created a community that provided me not only with emotional support, but also important material support in navigating these services.
As my daughter has entered elementary school and extracurricular activities, we’ve had a lot of difficulty with inclusion in our community. At Play Street, we hope to provide an example of what inclusion really means, and how it can benefit EVERYONE in our community. We can’t wait to play with you!
Shannon Townsend-Bettis, President/Executive Director
My name is Shannon Townsend-Bettis and I am the mom of two girls, Siena and Daphne. When my first daughter Siena was born, she appeared healthy and like any typically developing child. It wasn’t until about month 4 or 5 that we were in the doctor’s office nearly every week or sometimes even more than once a week and her Dr started calling her a puzzle, that I realized something was different. The first year of Siena’s life was the darkest year of my life. Struggling with all the things all new mom’s struggle with alongside Siena’s developmental delays, was a radicalizing experience for me. Slowly, I experienced the five stages of grief and finally found myself at the stage of acceptance when we received Siena’s genetic diagnosis just after her first birthday.
This new identity has shaped the way I see the world. Because my daughter does not communicate her needs verbally, I am her voice. Since she does not walk, I am her mobilizer. Siena continues to inspire me with all that she endures and all the joy she brings into our lives. I am also in awe of and inspired by all the parents of children with disabilities that I continue to meet on this journey, and I am more aware of the need for more inclusive spaces and services in our area. Play Street is a dream that we started manifesting early on in our children’s lives to foster an inclusive community for us and all families with children with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in Humboldt County. We are committed to making this dream a reality and we plan on being here for the long-term.
“Storms make oaks take roots” – Proverb