| Project | Format | Core Themes | Where to Access | |---------|--------|-------------|-----------------| | | Audio (weekly, 30‑45 min) | Local histories, climate activism, personal narratives. | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS feed (vicineko.com/podcast) | | Close‑Knits (Book) | Print & e‑book | Family, migration, place‑memory. | Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local indie bookstores (often stocked on consignment). | | Eco‑Story Zine | PDF + limited‑run print | DIY sustainability tips, short fiction, visual art. | Free PDF on Substack; printed copies via Etsy shop. | | River‑Side Raconteurs (Video Series) | YouTube (short documentaries) | River ecosystems, oral histories of fisherfolk. | YouTube channel “Vicineko” | | Vicineko Hub (Physical Space) | Co‑working / event venue | Collaborative creation, workshops, pop‑up markets. | 212 Pine Street, Seattle (open‑door Tuesdays). | | Eco‑Story Fest (Annual Event) | Live festival (talks, panels, art installations) | Intersection of art, activism, and local culture. | Held each September in Portland; tickets via Eventbrite. |
| Term | Meaning | Context | |------|----------|---------| | | A coined brand/pen‑name that blends “vicinity” (closeness, community) with “eko” (a stylized nod to “eco” or “eco‑friendly”). It signals work that is rooted in local culture while promoting sustainability. | Used as the umbrella identity for a multidisciplinary creative practice (writing, visual art, podcasting, community projects). | | Ellen Joe | The real name of the primary creator behind the Vicineko brand. Ellen is a writer, visual storyteller, and community organizer based in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle/Portland corridor). | Occasionally publishes under her own name, but most public‑facing work appears under the Vicineko banner. | | Vicineko – Ellen Joe | The full signature that appears on books, podcasts, social‑media posts, and event flyers, signaling that the content is both a product of Ellen’s personal voice and the broader Vicineko ethos. | Recognizable on platforms like Instagram (@vicineko), Medium, Substack, and YouTube. | vicineko ellen joe
| Year | Milestone | |------|-----------| | | Born in Spokane, WA. Grew up in a family of teachers and hobbyist naturalists. | | 2010–2014 | B.A. in English Literature, University of Washington. Minor in Environmental Studies. | | 2015 | Launched a grassroots literary zine “River‑Side Raconteurs” (first seed of Vicineko). | | 2017 | Moved to Portland, started a community garden project, began podcasting under the name “Vicineko”. | | 2019 | Published first book, “Close‑Knits: Tales from the Neighborhood” (self‑published, printed on reclaimed paper). | | 2021 | Created the Vicineko Hub – a co‑working space / community studio in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. | | 2023–Present | Runs a thriving Substack newsletter, produces a weekly YouTube series, and curates a yearly “Eco‑Story Fest”. | | Project | Format | Core Themes |
| Quick Fact | Details | |------------|---------| | | Ellen Joe (b. 1992) | | Primary Platforms | Instagram, Substack, YouTube, Spotify/Apple Podcasts | | Core Message | “Stories close to home can change the world—if we tell them responsibly.” | | Signature Products | Close‑Knits (book), Eco‑Story Zine (PDF/print), Vicinity Voices (podcast) | | Community Hub | Vicineko Hub, 212 Pine St, Seattle | | Annual Event | Eco‑Story Fest (September, Portland) | | How to Join | Newsletter → Podcast → Event → Submit your own work | | Sustainability Promise | Zero‑waste printing, carbon‑offset hosting, eco‑friendly merch | | | Eco‑Story Zine | PDF + limited‑run