mISSION
EACH HEAD WEST IS produced, juried, and curated in-house by our small yet mighty team. We’re a thoughtful group of CREATIVE doers who are inspired to build, cultivate, and foster a creative community… WHAT WE CALL ‘THE HW FAMILY’
Keep an eye out for us at EACH MARKETPLACE — we’d love to meet you + ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ALSO, Feel free to reach out to us in the meantime! ☺︎
MEET THE TEAM
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JIMMY BROWER
FOUNDER/OWNER
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ANNETTE ARENDT + STEVE FISH
OPERATIONS + COMMUNICATIONS LEADER
FERRY BUILDING + FOURTH STREET + HAYES VALLEY - VENUE LEADERS
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JESS WYBENGA + JUSTIN WILSON
STATE STREET - VENUE LEADERS
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TRIXIE RASPUTIN
ENTERTAINMENT LEADER
OUR PHOTO + VIDEO TEAM
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NICK NOBREGA
An Event, Corporate and Cinematic videographer based in Sonoma County. Time, experiences, and the moments we share together make up the true value of life. But as a California Bay Area raised resident, I saw how our busy lives can overlap and get in the way from some of these precious moments. From that foundation blossomed my passion for photography and videography, to capture the moment in time as a constant reminder to recall some of our most beautiful memories.
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KAIT MILLER
A portrait and lifestyle photographer currently based in Oakland with a belief in thoughtful design and simplicity. That the greatest art is hidden in everyday moments. The spaces we create and inhabit shape who we become. Collaboration leads to magic. Laughter is mandatory. Aim to leave the environment a little more beautiful than it was found by showing every person, place, and creation in its best light.
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SORAYA MATOS
Humanitarian, lifestyle, culture photographer. More than a traveler of the globe, I am an explorer of ideas, using photography to document the full spectrum of the human experience while making us wonder about our society in an ever-expanding, interconnected world. Based just north of San Francisco living on a 150-year-old farm on the coast of Tomales Bay - I also work as a local in NY + Portugal, and can often be found elsewhere.
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GRACE SAGER
A freelance photographer/creative residing in SF, spending the majority of extra time collecting vinyl records, watching zombie movies, and wandering around other countries with her husband. Born and raised in Los Angeles, but deeply rooted and based in San Francisco. From that generation, they grew up making mixtapes and taking pictures with disposable cameras.
ACCESSIBILITY
AFFORDABILITY
DIVERSITY
& EQUITY
In addition to our fight to keep booth fees as low as possible, each year HEAD WEST dedicates upwards of 100 booth spaces to our Community Booth recipients who come from an incredibly diverse pool of applicants.
Each applicant is unique in a way that forms this rainbow of creatives that reflects the cities, neighborhoods, and communities in which we live.
It’s our Mission to champion inclusion while uplifting and carving out equitable space for our BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, and Differently-Abled creatives in each marketplace.
As an LGBTQIA+ owned and operated organization, this Mission is inherent in every aspect of our operations, production, promotion, and process.
EARTH IN MIND
HEAD WEST became a CLEAN + GREEN Marketplace in 2020 by decreasing its carbon footprint through purchasing decisions and Participant/Patron involvement.
HEAD WEST has also become a 1% for the Planet member since 2021 and has implemented the following:
PVC/Vinyl/Plastic signage and banners are prohibited, with an emphasis on using handmade or eco-friendly fabric materials.
Encouragement of reusable water bottles, reducing single-use plastics during daily operations such as product packaging, and commitment to eliminating landfill waste overall.
Food + Beverage Partners are committed to serving in eco-friendly, compostable bio-ware, in addition to eliminating single-use plastics in their daily operations, as well as landfill waste.
Venue Partners are encouraged to follow the same guidelines as all Participants + Patrons.
Encouragement for reusable bags while plastic shopping bags are given out is strictly prohibited.
Annual contributions made to local, community, and intersectional social justice non-profits that are committed to environmental education, outreach, protection + support via our 1% for the Planet membership.
PARTNERS
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Downtown San Mateo Association
Downtown San Mateo is conveniently located in the heart of the Peninsula, yet worlds away from the hustle of the rest of the Bay. Explore the many sides of their five square blocks brimming with over 100 dining destinations, shopping experiences and local art, in ideal weather day or night.
The diversity of our Downtown entertainment and shopping options is unique for a city of their size. And so is the quality – which you can taste every night at theirMichelin-starred eateries. Read about a few of their Downtown business owners’ commitment to quality and passion for making the heart of their city stronger.
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Downtown Walnut Creek Association
Walnut Creek Downtown is a Business Improvement District (BID) that promotes the downtown business community through advocacy, beautification, events and marketing. The BID is part of the California Downtown Association and the International Downtown Association where we learn and collaborate with other districts throughout the region, country and world. The WCD staff works with its Board of Directors, City of Walnut Creek and community partners to share with the city’s residents, visitors and hopefully future businesses, all that the downtown has to offer.
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HAYES VALLEY MERCHANT COUNCIL
The mission of the HVMC is founded upon organizing a strong, aligned network of local businesses, working together in integrity, dedicated to customer service and committed to building value for the neighborhood. Our goal is to provide an outreach to the community through organized events, promotions, and beautification in an effort to build a welcoming and vibrant community in which to live and do business, and most importantly, to work together as one, to give businesses a voice on issues that may impact them and the community.
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HAYES VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA) is to promote a sense of friendly association and community involvement throughout Hayes Valley; preserve and reinforce our neighborhood’s cultural and economic diversity, historic character, beauty and architecture; and ensure our community’s constructive participation in San Francisco’s governmental process.
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LOS ALTOS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
The Los Altos Village Association was founded in the early 1960’s by merchants and property owners who were concerned the opening of several regional shopping centers would lure customers away from the downtown triangle. Then, as it is today, LAVA’s main purpose was to promote downtown businesses via advertising, promotions and special events.
LAVA also acts as a link between the City of Los Altos and downtown businesses. Members can count on LAVA staff to help solve concerns or issues with code interpretation, parking and other issues.
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EAT REAL FESTIVAL
Pre-pandemic, Eat Real Festival was an annual food festival in Oakland, CA that brought together over 80 vendors and 50,000 people for a celebration of good food. We hope to be back one day!
Currently, we are working with HEAD WEST Marketplace to bring a curated food selection to several of their community marketplaces each month.
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EAST BAY EXPRESS
East Bay Express — the local alternative to mainstream media in the East Bay. They seek to promote truth, expose wrongdoing, and give voice to the voiceless. The EBX is dedicated to local arts and culture and aims for the highest standards in journalism and business practices. As an independent local business, the EBX wants to help improve the East Bay economy and environment. Pick up your free copy every Wednesday at more than 600 locations to see what is happening in our local community.
