2025-26 Steering Committee

Our steering committee volunteers their time, skills, and passion to bring Mom’s Morning Retreat to our community. Motherhood, sisterhood and connection are the foundation of our group.

Toni Loiacano – Chair

Hello! Another island Mom invited me to Mom’s Morning retreat in 2023. My daughter was in school more and I wanted to find more mom friends. From that first meeting I felt a connection, it was immediate. I felt seen and heard in a way that wasn’t happening anywhere else in my life. This year our theme is “Nurturing the Nurturer” and as simple as this is, it really can be difficult to create space for nurturing ourselves in the hubbub of the everyday. Mom’s Morning Retreat is that space, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it. I joined the steering committee because I believe in the mission of this group to support the multifaceted, inspiring, badass women of our community at every stage of motherhood. Together we hold space to laugh and sometimes cry, reflect, explore, and breathe. A

I have an only child, who is starting first grade this year. We moved to the Island in 2020 to be closer to my mother-in-law for a year and like so many we were won over by the beauty of this community.

Jen Sunntrup

  • Hello BI momma’s and care providers!  I’m Jen! Mom to two wonderful humans and two fur babies.  Born and raised in the Boston area, I’m a lover of sports, great food, yoga, wellness and the outdoors.  My husband and I relocated our family to beautiful Bainbridge Island from San Diego in December of 2019.  We’ve fallen in love with the community here and couldn’t ask for a better place to raise our children.  Parenting certainly takes a village and I’m so grateful to have found the amazing village and community that Mom’s Morning Retreat provides.  As a member of the MMR steering committee, I look forward to getting to know you and welcoming you to our village!
    Favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou 

Heather Paar – Grace Liaison

  • I moved to Bainbridge from West Seattle in 2018 longing for a wilder place for my daughters to grow up. Pacific Northwest summers full of sunshine, tide pools, and feral children fill my heart with joy. My personal indulgence and sanity saver is flying trapeze, a sport I discovered at age 37 after becoming a mom to 3 girls. You are way more likely to find me hiking, walking my dog on a wooded trail, paddle boarding, jumping off a dock on a hot day, or riding a big rollercoaster, than doing laundry, which is unequivocally the worst chore. Recently I’ve discovered that diving into Manzanita Bay and going for a refreshing swim is the best way to restore my mind to tranquility. I am known to have committed many of the high offenses of mothering, such as cutting sandwiches into triangles instead of rectangles, and forcing children to go outside. I believe the real hero’s journey of mothering is in the staying, and not actually running away with the circus. I joined Mom’s Morning Retreat just after moving to Bainbridge, seeking new friendships and a bit of sanity. I found it in spades and I’ve been hooked ever since. You will find me bouncing around wherever I’m needed on Thursday mornings, eager to have my cup filled again by the moms who gather to share the journey. 

Emily N. – Registration

My life journey has gifted me with motherhood to two amazing teenagers and three quirky cats. My family has moved 7 times in 16 years: I know what it’s like to be new, and then do it all over again. And again. And again. I am passionate about women building up other women in the undervalued emotional labor of active hands-on parenting. Moms Morning Retreat offers an IRL encounter with laughter, tears, slow self-disclosure, negotiation and true communication: an environment for real growth. As in all things, we don’t have to be perfect: we do have to be present.
Just show up!

Thao Weldy – Hospitality

Howdy! My name is Thao (pronounced like the Greek letter tau) and I’m a first generation American, born and raised in Texas. My parents are Vietnamese immigrants who never spoke of mental health until a few years ago when my father experienced a mental crisis. I have lived in Texas, California, Spain, and Norway, and moved to the island 4 years ago to be closer to my in-laws. As a non-profit executive and mother two, Mom’s Morning Retreat is something I do for myself. I love this group and I feel so fortunate to have this community to support me on my own journey of motherhood. 

Jennifer Dorothy – Community Outreach

I’m a mom of three who nurtures herself with friendship, hiking in the mountains, skiing, and swimming in the Sound.

Now that my kids are older (9-18!) I’m exploring more and so surprised by how much stunning wilderness surrounds us. My connection to nature is best shared with other moms, so let me know if you want to get out there with me (even if that means walking in the Grand Forest.)

I moved to BI from Seattle ten years ago and currently live in Kingston. As a single mom seeking inspiration and support, Mom’s Morning Retreat provided me with a circle of friends and community that made everything better.   

Feel free to reach out to me anytime, whether you are feeling overwhelmed in life, could use an organized meal train or would like to plan a specific event or get-together. jenniferdorothyk@gmail.com

Halle Friedman- Communications

My family and I moved back to the island after falling in love with this amazing community during the pandemic. Originally from Atlanta—and after approximately 1173 cross-country moves (give or take)—we’re thrilled to call this magical place home. I’m a mom to two fantastic little humans, two wildly soulful dogs, and I’m married to my high school sweetheart. I was drawn to this group because it’s one of those rare gems: full of heart, humor, helping hands, baby-holders, good listeners, and people who genuinely show up—for life and for each other. This space has helped me grow as a person, a partner, a parent, and a friend. I don’t take life too seriously, I lean into spontaneity, and I firmly believe that “good enough” is more than good enough. You can usually find me- playing with clay, swimming in the sound, talking to the trees in the forest like a crazy person, paddle-boarding with my kids, or making too many Americano’s while pretending I know how to do a crossword puzzle.