I am so excited to announce that we picked our scholarship winner(s)! We raised $1980 to sponsor an athlete for a full year. We had over 20 applicants, and in the end we just fell totally in love with two people, so they are both coming on board! Eli and Karina are two folks that I am thrilled to welcome to the Solcana family. I hope you take the time to get to know them a bit better and welcome them in with open arms.
Eli Coffin (he/him/his) @upliftedunderdog
What excites you most about joining Solcana?
I’m so pumped to be part of a space that takes the toxic masculinity out of staying healthy and brings a community together around being our best selves.
What type(s) of community work are you engaged in?
I am on the Board of Directors at OutFront MN, an active volunteer at Rainbow Health Innovative, a neighborhood nanny, as well as consistent attendee of queer dance parties.
What other things do you like to do for fun?
I love being outside doing anything or everything. Going to the beach with my family in the summer, taking long walks in the woods with my dog nephews in the fall, skiing in the winter with friends, and biking in the spring.
What is something about you that people wouldn’t expect?
I some how managed to graduate college with two degrees and a BA, 6 months before my 21st birthday.
Anything else you want to share with us about you?
I love making new friends and building communities, but also have a lot of anxiety, so reach out! Let’s get to know each other!
Beckett Maravelias, they/them/theirs, Facebook: karina.maravelias, Insta: kareenz_
What excites you most about joining Solcana?
I am excited to build community, have fun, and learn to love both exercise and my body. I am also excited to actually learn how to engage in physical activity in a way that is both healthy and sustainable for the long term.
What type(s) of community work are you engaged in?
I work for RECLAIM, an organization in Saint Paul that provides accessible mental health care to queer and trans youth. Through my work, I help to ensure that the youth who receive our services, 91% of whom are trans, can receive excellent- and barrier free- mental health care. My work at RECLAIM also enables me to raise awareness about queer and trans issues through the lens of mental health awareness. Outside of work, I am actively engaged in the Twin Cities queer community and participate in social change movements through organizing and protest.
What other things do you like to do for fun?
I love to write, read, draw, hang out with my two cats, go on adventures, eat out constantly, hang out with friends, and explore weird towns in rural Minnesota.
What is something about you that people wouldn’t expect?
I worked at a zoo for three years as a junior zoologist. Also I have been to almost every state in the US.