Serena Featured in GO: South Seattle Interview

Well, I am downright embarrassed to be in the spotlight but they tell me I’m contractually obligated to share it so here you are:

English Transplant Devoted to Dogs, South Seattle Community

Longtime South Seattle neighbor and realtor Serena Heslop has witnessed first-hand the area’s growth and change over the last 20 years.

Originally from the south of England and the daughter of a single mum who cooked for the British aristocracy, Serena first found her way to Columbia City and now calls Mount Baker home. She’s been involved in all sorts of community building events in her adopted community, including the very first Columbia City BeatWalk back in 1995.

“Over the years, I’ve witnessed first-hand an incredible transformation of the area,” she says, “thanks to a community of caring, engaged and enthusiastic neighbors, a growing business district and fun cultural events like the Rainier Valley Heritage Parade, Columbia City Farmers Market, Beatwalk music festival and much more.”

Serena is also well regarded in her field — voted Best Realtor in South Seattle not once but twice, won Best in Client Satisfaction by Seattle Magazine 10 years running and was awarded the Five Star Professional Realtor designation.

She’s also participated in neighborhood clean-ups, supported many local organizations, volunteered with Project Cool to give homeless kids new backpacks with school supplies, collected food for the Rainier Valley Food Bank and recently volunteered with Wellspring Family Services where her company — Windermere Mount Baker — spent the day giving back to one of South Seattle’s most vital organizations.

When asked what motivates her to do this work, Serena responds simply, “I love this neighborhood.”

She is also a devoted animal lover who supports both the Feral Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic, the Prison Pet Partnership Program, Pigs Peace, Pasado’s Safe Haven and many more organizations. And while she spends most of her time contributing here at home, she also works with transnational organizations like Baja Dogs La Paz in Mexico, helping to rescue street dogs who might otherwise starve to death. Within the past six years she and her partner Jacki have brought 12 abandoned street dogs back to the states and nursed them back to health before finding homes for the recovering pups.

“It’s so easy to do,” she says. “And it’s so hard to see animals starving. We can’t ignore it. Just saw a need and felt like we could make a difference.”

This week, she was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for our People in Your Neighborhood column — a series of interviews with some of South Seattle’s most interesting and engaging people. More.

Find the full interview here.