Ask a Grandma
The Wisdom of Women, Shared.
Visit us on First Fridays, during Vashon’s Art Walk, and connect with an elder woman in our community for conversation, perspective, and heart. Whether you are seeking perspective, comfort, encouragement, or simply a listening ear, our grandmothers are here to create connection across generations and remind us that women’s wisdom is one of our greatest community resources.
Because wisdom grows when women share it.
A bit of history: The seed for Ask a Grandmother was planted in 2012, when a coworker came to Mike Matthews in need of support. Instead of offering up his own advice, he suggested that she call his 95-year-old grandmother, Eileen, for comfort. They spoke over the weekend, and on Monday morning, his coworker came bouncing into the office, explaining that her conversation with Eileen had lifted her spirits—it was just what she needed. Matthews thought, “My grandma has so much love, and her presence is too big for our family; she needs something more.” And, the idea for the Grandma Stand was born.
In 2012, in an effort to connect his grandmother in Seattle to his fellow New Yorkers, Matthews purchased an 80-pound lemonade stand off Etsy, hauled it around town and placed his laptop and a chair by it before video-chatting with his grandma.