Amy hails from Oregon where she cultivated a love of people, nature, and rain. She moved to East Palo Alto, California after graduating from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington to serve underserved youth and families in East Palo Alto as a community development leader at Hope Horizon EPA (formerly Bayshore Christian Ministries) for over 20 years as an executive leader, youth director and mentor to young staff.

Amy founded Arbor with Steve in 2020 as part of Rewire, a team of contemplative activists and recently has been working in the Ravenswood School District in East Palo Alto.

Amy loves being with family, nature, books, gathering people together and playing soccer.

Steve grew up in the Bay Area and after completing college and serving with Intervarsity at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island returned home to serve as a pastor for 20 years at two local churches. Steve filled many roles as a community leader, small groups pastor, youth adult pastor, worship pastor, site pastor and justice pastor. Steve completed a Master’s in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Passionate about community, spirituality, justice and serving those on the margins, Steve founded Arbor with Amy in 2020 and joined Rewire in order to build a network of small, contemplative spiritual communities. He also volunteers tutoring students in East Palo Alto and serving the unhoused in the area

Steve is obessed with soccer, whether it’s playing in rec leagues or watching his kids compete or following the EPL, MLS, NWSL or any other league or competition. Steve also loves baking and sharing sourdough bread with friends and neighbors.

Alison has a background in sociology and did asset-based community development for several years. She initially worked with homeless traveling youth before transitioning to living and working in a Latino immigrant community.

Alison joined Arbor in 2023 and launched Grey Space, cohort based trauma-informed community for people to navigate their changing relationship to faith and process their experiences through an arc that mirrors the healing journey. Alison has a passion for walking with people as they explore their inner worlds and as they seek wholeness in their relationships with self, God, and others. She is also a certified spiritual director and retreat leader.

Alison is passionate about getting outside (hiking, camping, hammocking), expressing creativity (collage, baking, haikus), and exploring new places!