Leadership
Rev. Erika Spaet
Pastor/Organizer
Erika is originally from New Jersey and moved to Portland after college to cut her teeth as a community organizer and live in intentional spiritual community through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW. While in Portland, Erika learned how to tell her story and preach the good word alongside the beautiful souls at the Leaven Community. Erika graduated from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, and most recently served The Bridge, a coffee house ministry in St. Charles, Missouri. She is married to Tom, a graphic artist, and whe enjoys cooking, reading, and singing lullabies to her boys.
Ian Carrick
Song Leader
Ian Carrick is a songleader, K-8 music teacher and person in recovery based in his hometown of Bend, Oregon. He loves helping people of all ages sing together. Ian strives to be a humble student of water, groove, Celtic music, African-American blues and banjo traditions, children, elders, grief, and living one day a time.
Ian has been directing Open Hub Singing since 2016, a drop-in community sing with a tender, playful vibe. Ranging from four-part pseudo-choral arrangements to verse & chorus songs for children, Ian’s original songs are all attempts to get Ian out of his head, reconnected with his heart, the Earth and the people around him.
“The voice is the muscle of the soul.” -Alfred Wolfson
Learn more about Ian at openhubsinging.com
Caroljoy Brendlinger
Song Leader
Caroljoy brings to Storydwelling a rich background in leading music, designing ritual, and spiritually accompanying individuals and groups. CJ has held positions as the director of the Spiritual Life Center at Portland State University and in hospitality and songleading at Breitenbush Hot Springs. She received her M.Div. from Earlham School of Religion and is a certified spiritual director. Quaker by background, she has a deep call to interfaith work, vocational discernment processes and pastoral care.
Board of Storytenders
Megan Condit-Chadwick
Amanda Detweiler
Amanda chooses Storydwelling because it is a place of intentional inclusion that feels genuine to her family. Amanda grew up in Goshen, Indiana and has deep roots in the Mennonite Church. As newley-weds, she and her husband Kyle moved from the midwest for Amanda’s new job as a teacher at Jewell Elementary in 2004 where she still teaches! Since then Amanda and Kyle have had 3 children: Vincent (13), Matthew (11), and Hanky (5). “Parenting is hard,” she says, “and every time we gather my perspective of my kids is refreshed. I need a community that reflects back to me the beauty, joy, and awesomeness of my three children.”
Anji Djubenski
Meagan Iverson
Meagan Iverson is the treasurer of Storydwelling’s Board. Meagan is a talented musician – as the regular pianist for both Nativity Lutheran Church (ELCA) and Liza’s Lounge at The Greenhouse Cabaret, both in Bend, and at Storydwelling’s annual Retreat talent show. Megan also holds leadership roles as the Executive Director of Sunriver Music Festival – a year-round nonprofit presenting world-class concerts in Bend and Sunriver, Oregon; and she serves on the boards of Oregon ArtsWatch (a trusted resource for the arts ecosystem of the state) and the Sunriver-La Pine Rotary Foundation.
Greg Lamont
Greg grew up in Southern California and was drawn to Central Oregon by his love of nature, bicycles, camping, and outdoor adventures. As of 2024, his family has 2 kids under 5. He is a Clinical Mental Health counselor specializing in treatment of complex trauma, anger, and dissociation.
Why Storydwelling: “Storydwelling is a space where love has room to blossom and hope can be found in unexpected places.”
Kelly Ripley
Kelly is honored to be on the Storydwelling Board. Her priorities in life are to have healthy relationships with meaningful spiritual, physical, mental and emotional connections. She values connection with people and spirituality, which is why she is committed to Storydwelling.
Kelly grew up in Illinois and was raised in a Nazarene church with a christian religious faith. Today she has a personal spiritual relationship with God and Jesus Christ based on faith, rather than a religion.
She has lived and worked in Bend for 20 years and loves the natural beauty and outdoor activities. She earned a degree in Forestry and retired from a 35 year career in outdoor recreation for the federal government. Her most important and prestigious role in life is being mom to her beautiful son Gage! She is blessed on this journey, so she wants to give back!
Motto to live by: “Live Large and Love Larger!”