Create: You’re Already Doing It

Monica S. Downen is a creative entrepreneur, leadership coach, and Community Programs Manager at Town & Country Market in Poulsbo. She spent nearly two decades building and leading a beloved community café that became known as much for how it felt as for what it served, creating not just food, but a place where her team and customer family alike felt seen, nourished, and at ease. It was there she learned that culture is something you cook up daily, not just something you talk about. Before that, she spent 15 years as a Police Dispatcher with the King County Sheriff’s Office, where she learned the quiet art of staying calm in the midst of chaos. Today, through her work with Wild Abandon, she helps individuals and organizations read the tide of change, reconnect to their inner knowing, and move forward with clarity and care. Her work blends practical guidance with somatic awareness, grounded leadership, and a deep respect for the small, often overlooked moments where real change begins.