Interviewee:
Amanda Bondi (she/her)
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
After living in Salem for nearly 10 years, I found myself constantly resisting the urge to approach strangers and say, GO HERE and HERE. This spot is so spooky and quiet! This one is classic 1970s Salem. This place feels like an episode of Stranger Things. As a full-time elementary school teacher, I didn’t have the time (or desire) to become a tour guide. But I still felt a strong pull to share my version of Salem with others, a quieter, more mysterious version, and to make it interactive in some way.
My boyfriend and I started talking about a passport-style idea where you could visit different locations around Salem and have your passport stamped as both a souvenir and a way to structure your explorations. I had worked with Ashlee Beadle in a previous job and already knew what a talented and imaginative illustrator she was. We met to get on the same page, and then she just got it and ran with hand-illustrating the logo, characters, and passport location artwork. With my background in book publishing, I was able to write the book and guide the project through the production process all the way to manufacturing with our printer in Peoria, Illinois.
I am so grateful to the incredibly supportive businesses participating in and collaborating on this project: Jolie Tea Company, Punto Urban Art Museum, PEM, House of the Seven Gables, Hive & Forge, Bit Bar Arcade, Winter Island Park, Harbor Sweets Chocolate Factory, the Salem Athenaeum, and Salem Flea Marketplace.
The goal was to create a tour book that lets you wander, but with a mission. And I think we accomplished that. We hope you have fun on your quests! Ask questions. Do your own research. Take notes. Use binoculars. Wear a costume. Become a Scholar, Protector, Navigator, and Time Traveler….and tell us how it goes!
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
I am a creative person who loves sharing my favorite places on the North Shore with anyone who is willing to be dragged along! I love going for walks around town, on little missions to learn or find something. Here’s what I wrote in the book’s intro: I’VE BEEN GOING ON QUESTS since I was a kid, navigating ships from the rungs of the monkey bars and building forts that became portals to other dimensions. Now it’s your turn! Find hidden clues in Salem’s gardens, libraries, and shops, and save the city. You can’t do it wrong, as long as you’re using your imagination. While these quests are based on real Salem history, this isn’t a history book. Use the powers of the Scholar to dig into the amazing history. And if your adventures give you new ideas for the Salem Passport Quest, email Iko and me at SalemPassportQuest@gmail.com. We’ll write back.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
The movie “Marty Supreme”! This film punched me in the gut in the best way.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
In the early stages of trying to get businesses to participate, I did almost 100% of the “networking” on my bike…riding around Salem with these info packets that were in labeled folders for each place.
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective delivers comprehensive business services – marketing promotion, technical assistance, business consulting, and advocacy at all levels – for Essex County entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. We support the whole person, not just the business, through a collaborative community where members learn from each other, not just from us, because we know thriving businesses are built by thriving humans supporting each other. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
