Xenia Takes the Stage Again and Again!
It was a feature-filled fall for the Repair Bank and our dynamic Founder and Executive Director Xenia! Attention continues to beget more attention, which is a great thing for our young but rapidly growing effort. Last spring and summer, we were featured in a local TV spot with the Seattle Channel, a radio/podcast interview on Movin' 92.5 and Warm 106.9, and Xenia won a pitch competition during Seattle Climate Week. These last few months included another radio interview, a big pitch (and a win!), a speaking event with fellow nonprofits, and a new title to add to Xenia’s list: TEDx Speaker!
Read on for more:
TEDx Edmonds College
We celebrated a remarkable milestone in October as Xenia took the stage at the inaugural TEDxEdmondsCollege. The theme of this groundbreaking event was Rethinking Resilience—challenging traditional notions of resilience by shifting the focus from individual triumphs to the transformative power of collective action. The event featured an extraordinary lineup of passionate, forward-thinking speakers driving change by fostering resilience within their communities and beyond.
Among the incredible presenters were nonprofit leaders, community advocates, and visionary changemakers, each sharing their unique stories of impact and innovation. The atmosphere was electric, filled with motivation and fresh ideas that uplifted attendees and online viewers alike.
Xenia’s talk was especially moving. She reflected on lessons of resilience learned from her hard-working grandparents, who, despite limited resources, used their talents and creativity to provide for her and her sister. These values of perseverance and ingenuity inspired her journey, ultimately leading to the founding of Furniture Repair Bank where we empower volunteers to learn practical skills while supporting their community.
Watching Xenia share her story and shine a light on the importance of resilience through collective effort was a proud moment for the entire Repair Bank team. Watch her presentation below and be inspired!
NextCycle Pitch Showcase
Leading up to the fall, Xenia participated in the NextCycle Washington Circular Accelerator. This innovative six-month program supports businesses and projects in our state that focus on reuse, repair, recycling, composting, and the use of recycled materials in new products. These ventures fall into two categories:
Upstream projects that prevent waste and/or improve and expand the reuse and repair of products (that’s us!)
Downstream projects that improve, innovate, or expand material and organic recycling, recovery, and end uses
Xenia participated along with twelve other teams working to advance Washington's circular economy through forward-thinking and creative projects. It was such an honor to be included in this dynamic cohort. The program culminated in the Pitch Showcase where each team delivered a summary of their project in a concise 5-minute business pitch to compete for cash awards and bragging rights. Audience members included professionals from business, recycling, reuse, government, non-profit, and investment.
At the end of the event, Xenia’s pitch (viewable here) was voted the winner of the Community Group Best Pitch Award and a $10,000 prize! We are so appreciative to NextCycle for this opportunity and prize. It will make such a positive impact on our small but rapidly growing nonprofit and the people that we are proud to support.
Xenia shared her feelings on the experience with the team,“Being in the accelerator helped us a lot and exactly in the way we needed. We had access to an amazing consultant Elizabeth Start who paved the way for us to incorporation and worked on a blueprint for the safety and maintenance of our warehouse and workshop. Through the program, we made a few meaningful connections that will spark new developments and improvements at the Repair Bank.”
Best of luck to the teams selected for the NextCycle 2025 cohort. We can’t wait to see what other innovations are in store for our great state!
Verdant Community Health Networking Event
To kick off November, Xenia and the Repair Bank were front and center yet again! The Verdant Health Commission, which works to improve the health of South Snohomish County residents, hosted a Community Health Networking Event on November 1st at the Lynnwood Event Center.
This annual event provides local nonprofits the opportunity to network with each other and with funders who can support their work in the community. A panel discussion with representatives from seven foundations and corporate funders provided helpful information and tips for non-profits searching for much-needed grant opportunities.
Xenia was invited to participate as the keynote speaker for this year’s event, sharing the story of the Repair Bank and how we work to reduce waste and build skills while supporting members of our community in need. In addition to the great platform this provided, we were also able to connect with other similarly focused nonprofits for future partnership potential.
Thank you to the Verdant Health team for this opportunity and for everything you do for your community!
Conversations with Gregr on 107.7 The End
Last but not least, we capped off the year with another radio interview!
Gregr, (a.k.a. Greg Shishman), morning show host at KNDD 107.7 FM The End, heard about the Repair Bank from a friend who had recently volunteered with us. After checking out our website, he contacted Xenia to request an interview for his Sunday morning public affairs show, Conversations. His show looks at the issues that affect all of us in our communities and across the nation. This segment focused on how we are filling our landfills with newer products made with faster, cheaper materials, while skills and resources decline: issues directly addressed by the Repair Bank.
Gregr and Xenia discussed how she was inspired to start this program, the massive problem of furniture waste, the loss of restoration skills through the generations, and ways people can get involved.
The original episode was broadcast on local airwaves on December 3rd and is available for listening anytime through the Audacy app.
Give it a listen here: Conversations with Furniture Repair Bank
Thanks again to Gregr and 107.7 The End for this opportunity!
And that’s a wrap on features for the Repair Bank in 2024. We can’t wait to see what kind of attention 2025 brings!
See you at Furniture Repair Bank!
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