Charleston Newsletter, Volume 3, Issue 6
Meet Board Member: Matthew Baptiste-Cerra
The Charleston Business District is fortunate to have passionate leaders who are committed to helping our community grow and thrive. One of those dedicated individuals is Matthew Baptiste-Cerra, whose passion for education, fairness, creativity, and community improvement brings valuable vision and energy to the Charleston Business District Board.
An Arizona native, Matthew describes his colorful and eclectic personality as shaped by a childhood spent moving between many different places and experiences. Those early experiences helped cultivate both resilience and empathy—qualities that continue to influence his personal and professional life today. Matthew became the first person in his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, specializing in Social Psychology and Small Group Dynamics.
Early in his career, Matthew worked for two years in a therapeutic addiction program within an Arizona prison system. During that time, he helped inmates new to the program develop accountability, encouraging inmates to take responsibility for themselves and support one another through honesty and accountability. Having experienced challenges in his own upbringing similar to the individuals he served, Matthew became a meaningful role model—demonstrating that difficult beginnings do not have to define a person’s future.
He later attended graduate school at the University of Phoenix, earning a master’s degree in Adult Education and Training with an emphasis in ESL, and a second degree focused on Curriculum and Instruction, and Process Improvement. Matthew fondly recalls balancing family life with academics, often feeding his newborn daughter while writing papers and completing coursework.
Following graduate school, Matthew briefly worked at a business college in California, but the distance from his family proved difficult. He returned to Arizona and working in corporate training for a payment processing company. Ultimately, however, his passion for teaching drew him back to education. What began as substitute teaching soon led to a full-time role teaching math and science.
Several years before moving to Washington, Matthew and his wife visited a college friend and recognized something special in the Bremerton community Ready for a new chapter away from Arizona, they felt Bremerton had potential and promise for what it could develop into. . In particular, he values the welcoming atmosphere and community-centered nature of the Charleston Business District. At the same time, he recognized that the district had faced challenges and periods of neglect. Deeply committed to fairness and equity, Matthew felt compelled to be part of positive change and community revitalization.
His belief in justice has shaped much of his life. Matthew recalls working with high school seniors who experienced discrimination because of the color of their skin. What troubled him most was not only the incident itself, but the students’ acceptance of such treatment as something normal. Experiences like these strengthened his commitment to advocacy, fairness, and helping create spaces where people are treated with dignity and respect. Matthew often describes the Charleston Business District as a place with “good bones”—a community filled with possibility. He is excited to help shape that future as a board member and has championed ideas to improve the district through streetscape enhancements, including additional trees, planters, and green spaces. He has actively advocated for these improvements with the City of Bremerton, and sees it as a chance to advocate for the same improvements he teaches his students to pursue in their communities.
As an educator, Matthew values showing young people that positive change is possible. He appreciates the district’s many “small victories” while also dreaming big for Charleston’s future—sometimes with ideas he jokingly describes as “a little crazy.”
Beyond his professional and community work, Matthew is deeply creative and artistic. He is the author of The Saga of Theron (East) fantasy book series, with additional stories already planned for the future writing. He is also a passionate fan of comic culture and has served as a presenter at the last several Emerald City Comic Cons, and Phoenix Fan Fusion.
Matthew’s creativity extends into many hands-on pursuits. He enjoys painting, building model kits, woodworking, gardening, and creative projects of all kinds. A lifelong train enthusiast, he designed and built his own railroad table—a passion inspired by his grandfather, who also taught him woodworking. One of his proudest projects included refinishing a 1920 upright grand piano, now played by his daughter. He also enjoys growing plants and collecting seeds from a wide variety of trees and shrubs.
Matthew’s personal and professional mission is simple yet powerful: helping build better people and stronger communities. In 2025, he ran for City Council as part of that commitment to civic engagement. His passion for public service was inspired in part by his grandmother, a respected Arizona city council member whose legacy was so meaningful that a memorial scholarship was established in her honor to help women reach their full potential.
An avid learner from an early age, Matthew recognized that knowledge was power. He spent countless hours in the library as a child, reading voraciously and checking out books daily. In both first and second grade, he earned recognition for reading more books than anyone else in his class—by a significant margin. Matthew brings passion, intellect, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose to the Charleston Business District. We are grateful for his leadership on the Board and look forward to the many ways he will continue helping shape Charleston’s future and strategic vision.
Reama Schuldt Named Washington State Recycler of the Year
Reama Schuldt of Bremerton, Washington, has been honored as the Individual Recycler of the Year 2026 by the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) for her leadership, creativity, and community impact in advancing waste reduction and circular economy practices.
Why She Was Recognized
The WSRA’s Recycler of the Year Award celebrates outstanding, long-term contributions to recycling and waste prevention across
the state. Schuldt’s recognition highlights her work in:
Operating a reused art supply store that promotes reuse and reduces landfill waste.
Launching “Trash Talk”, a local television show focused on waste reduction and sustainable living.
Organizing community litter pick-ups to keep local areas clean and raise environmental awareness
Her approach blends environmental advocacy with community engagement, making her a role model for others in the recycling and sustainability space.
Community Impact
Schuldt’s efforts have not only reduced waste but also inspired others to adopt circular economy principles. She has been active in local initiatives, such as the Charleston Business District’s beautification projects, which include installing benches from recycled materials and moving donated planters to public spaces.
About the Award
The Individual Recycler of the Year category is for someone whose actions have significantly advanced recycling and waste prevention beyond their normal responsibilities. New inductees are selected by a committee of recycling professionals and community members and are featured at the WSRA’s Annual Conference and Trade Show each May.
Schuldt expressed her gratitude, calling the honor “honored and humbled” and expressing excitement for future collaborations in waste reduction.