(Spoiler alert: He’s a hugger and a drummer!)
This is the first article in a series spotlighting members of the BP Team. We want to show you the passion and talent of our dedicated leaders. Today, we’re focusing on BP Executive Director Stephen Richardson.
Who are you and where did you come from?
I was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and spent my childhood and first chapter of adulthood in that vibrant and diverse town. I caught the music bug early and went on to become a working musician, supplementing my income by teaching music and working at a record label.
Teaching was close to my heart and soul, and the experience of supporting students, young and old, led me to co-found a non-profit organization in my late 20s. The organization, ConsciousFlowz, focused on youth development, using hip-hop as a platform for social change. We worked closely with community-based organizations in and around Cape Town, South Africa, where I met my (American) wife, who had moved there in her mid-twenties to pursue a career in public health.
Tell us about your previous work experiences.
The tapestry of my professional experience is colorful, and there have been many unique and fulfilling experiences that led me to become the Executive Director of BP. Most recently, I worked in humanitarian and international development, with specializations in education, youth development, and mental health and psychosocial support. I was involved in this work for over twelve years, both as a consultant supporting various responses, including Ukraine, Gaza, the Philippines, and the California Wildfires of 2025.
Most of my experience was in the Middle East, where I lived and worked with my family in Amman, Jordan, and Beirut, Lebanon, supporting humanitarian programming related to the Syrian crisis. In Lebanon, I led the country's entire education portfolio, managing an annual budget of 8 million USD, a staff of 50, and over 100 volunteers across a range of programs supporting children and youth ages 3-30.
My time in international humanitarian response was possible in part because of my graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I studied International Education with a focus on research, policy, and administration. During that time, I researched the effectiveness of mental health and psychosocial support interventions implemented in education programs for children in conflict-affected contexts. My consulting career in this space was also invigorating. I co-founded a consulting group, Wonder Lab, where I had the privilege to work with large international non-profits to conduct applied research for program design and evaluation.
How did you become interested in Bainbridge Prepares?
I became interested in working with BP as I was looking for a “work home, at home.” As my family settled into Bainbridge Island—we moved here at the height of the COVID pandemic in September 2020 from Lebanon—I felt farther and farther away from the realities of my international work. I also desired to find an opportunity to apply my diverse and collaborative skill set in making my local community a better place. When the BP opportunity became available, it felt like it was a great match. The opportunity also allows me to learn new things, which is important for me.
What are your hopes and dreams for BP?
I want BP to be at the top of people's minds when they think about the non-profits on this Island. There are a few that everyone knows about, and I want all community members to find a space for them in BP. We have to think critically about how people connect BP not only with COVID clinics or earthquake preparedness (which are important) but also with day-to-day skills, such as First Aid and Stop the Bleed, and with relationships with their neighbors supported through our Map Your Neighborhood program and events.
Do you have a personal motto?
I have three mottos that I like:
Work hard, play hard: I used this often when I was working in really challenging circumstances with humanitarian responses where the work was difficult and the needs were insurmountable. I worked hard with my colleagues, but I also had a critical awareness that your work is all you do; you can sustain it. So we also played and had fun and appreciated life—we only have one life. My daughter and wife were healthy reminders of the need for balance as well.
Get in where you fit in: I truly believe that a healthy community is a welcoming community. BP and other nonprofits offer so many opportunities to contribute your unique skills, experiences, and energy to work that matters to you. Luckily, with so many teams, community members can find many different opportunities to get involved with BP if they have the time to invest.
You will receive what you give: The more you contribute (within reason), the more you're going to get out of that experience (with healthy boundaries of course.)
Beyond these, laughter is really important to me. I love to laugh and know that laughter connects humans, beyond words. Hugs are nice too, but I'm from the South, and we always hug. So if you see me and want a hug, I will always give anyone my best hug!
What are your hobbies?
I play drums for a dad band called The Vanishing Floors. As is true with any 'dadisms' (did I just make up a new term?), it doesn't have to be perfect—just good enough.
I spend as much time outdoors as I can, from a 110-mile backpacking trek on the Pacific Crest Trail to mountaineering to the top of the Two Brothers in the Olympics; my soul is fed, and my spirit is most alive when I'm surrounded by nature. Good company is nice too.
My family is really important to me. When you've seen life on the brink, you realize the importance of holding those close to you.
What are your favorite BP moments?
My favorite moments are hearing the stories from volunteers, about how much the work means to them and how much they care about this community. These are the stories that help me get through the sometimes challenging workload.