Amy Van Dyke-Crowder

Meraki Practitioner

Meraki (v.) To do something with soul,
creativity, or love; to put something
of yourself into your work.

Who’s the woman behind the scenes?  A 3rd generation born-and-raised Montanan. Perhaps this fills me with a little too much pride, given its slightly irrational to be proud of winning a birth-place lottery. However, it runs deeper than map coordinates. It’s a heartfelt connection to the landscape, history and pathos romanticized about Montana and its inhabitants. As the descendant of immigrant homesteaders; their courage, optimism and grit in the face of un-varnished realities, inspire me to persevere and carve out my place of belonging here as well. I’m grateful to have been raised a “farm kid” for all the life lessons the experience has brought my way. I maintain a deep appreciation for those involved in agriculture and have spent a good deal of my adult life in service to this community.

Aside from my work, I enjoy hiking, fishing or anything that allows time in wild and untamed places.  It soothes the soul and I firmly believe it’s a vital component of creative inspiration and mental health. Every so often wanderlust spurs me to scratch a curiosity for other people and places. While I wouldn’t claim to be especially well-traveled, it is a goal toward which I aspire. This taste for adventure is tempered by being a proper introvert. Which means great deal of pleasure is also found in becoming lost in a novel or a Netflix binge. 

The presence of family has been central in my life. It continues to be as I am faced with the complexities of maintaining a healthy marriage and bringing up grounded, kind, contributing human beings. This is my most significant source of challenge and joy. Watching my children learn, grow and experience the world is a daily reminder to find happiness in small, ordinary moments. I’ve been fortunate to spend my life surrounded and supported by a large extended family. Filled with our share of eccentricities, it is by no means an ideal family (whatever that means). None-the-less, the people who raised me have filled me with a firm sense of faith, acceptance, love and loyalty. It has profoundly shaped the person I am today.