Wondrous Women—Wonder Wedneday
It's WONDER Wednesday!
This week’s WONDER Wednesday brings you the second installment of our annual series on WONDROUS WOMEN! Here we celebrate Women’s History Month with a nod to local women in the past and present who have helped shape our community.
This week’s WONDROUS WOMAN is Josie Cabana. Though only in eighth grade, Josie’s ambition, talent, and confidence is already taking her exciting places. The 14-year-old has a head for logistics and production. And she pursues every opportunity to hone those skills here in Harbor Springs and beyond. Josie is an old soul and a fun-loving kid at the same time, ordering a cup of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie one recent afternoon at the new Birch Tree Bakery in Harbor Springs.
MARKET MAVEN
You’ve likely seen Josie if you’ve been to the Harbor Springs Farmers Market where she has served as Assistant Market Manager for the last five or six summers (she’s lost track). She can rattle off the tasks involved in setting up the market in her sleep–which probably comes in handy as she has to be there before 7am on market days to coordinate vendor locations, traffic barricades and musician set up. Then she’s circulating during market hours, ensuring smooth sales and customer interactions, or running the main booth selling market merchandise. As Josie says, “It’s more than just a farmers market. It’s a great way for local businesses to get exposure.” It’s also a place where kids can germinate business ideas through the Young Entrepreneurs program. But the job is demanding in more ways than one. Josie is not shy about redirecting the surprising number of disgruntled drivers who try to drive through the market. Good thing she often treats herself to her market favorite: crepes from That French Place.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Josie is a diligent student, whose favorite subjects are math (she’s studying a grade level ahead) and science. Social studies and history also top her list because “we need to understand that if we’re not careful, history will repeat itself over and over.” She always has a book or a journal in her hand, spending downtime writing fan fiction while many other kids are glued to their phones. Next year, Josie hopes to start high school at the all-girls boarding school Salem Academy, representing the third generation in her family to attend the North Carolina institution. And she plans to pursue production media or trauma psychology in college. Josie’s focus on academics has helped her navigate what she identifies as the biggest challenge for kids in this era: mental health. “Kids are getting into situations where they have to be too evolved for their own good.” It’s this wise observation, in part, that keeps her on track for a bright future.
FAMILY AND PLACE
“The best way to learn is to listen,” says Josie, who comes from a long line of academics and entrepreneurs. Josie has taken to recording family conversations on her phone so she can learn more about family history. Good Hart is a place of significance in the family, where her grandparents maintain a year-round home. Josie counts herself lucky to have so many great role models in her family. Her grandmother, Susan Hannah, is a retired professor of political science. Her mother, Mary Catherine Hannah, was the former director of Perry Farm Village and now serves as Alpena County Administrator. It’s been especially inspiring to watch her mom help “grow a community” in Alpena. And we’re thrilled to watch Josie’s journey, wherever it takes her.
