The Team – Cottonwood Convergence

Jamie Celeste Peer

Steward of Rock Creek ReTreet Center

Jamie Celeste Peer is the steward of Rock Creek ReTreet Center, a natural sanctuary devoted to honoring the innate diversity of thought, belief, and lived experience. Jamie discovered—more fully realized—the profound healing power of nature after her family moved to the land where they now reside in December 2020. Quickly discerning that there was more to the land than meets the eye, she began sharing it with close family and friends, who wholeheartedly affirmed that they, too, could feel something special.

Recognizing that this was a space she was meant to share more widely, Jamie created Rock Creek ReTreet Center and began offering the land for small‑group gatherings and retreats. Guided by principles of love, respect, open‑heartedness, and open‑mindedness, she holds space for people to reconnect with their most authentic selves. She believes each person’s path to truth is unique, like many routes ascending the same mountain, and that nature provides a neutral, sacred container where those paths can meet without judgment.

The Cottonwood Convergence is her love‑letter to the land and to the community she feels called to serve—an outdoor, metaphysical, holistic fall festival for the courageously curious. Designed for seekers, nature lovers, healers, learners, and open‑hearted explorers, the festival invites guests into a uniquely intentional atmosphere of discovery, connection, and celebration. While the event spans the entire property, the land’s great cottonwood remains its most compelling central feature, a living landmark that embodies the spirit of connection and convergence.

Mindy St. Clair

Community, Creativity, and Intention.

For six years, I’ve helped shape Oddballs & Outkasts into a space where creativity and community meet — a place rooted in connection, expression, and belonging. As co-owner, bookkeeper, and event coordinator, I keep the foundation solid and the details flowing, holding both the structure and the vision with care.

As a Holy Fire Reiki Master, I blend organization with intuition, believing that when something is built with intention, it carries a different kind of energy. I’m deeply grounded in the belief that structure is sacred — that the behind-the-scenes work is just as important as the magic people see and feel.

Outside of the shop, I feel most aligned when I’m connected to nature. You’ll often find me grounding outdoors, and I’ll soon be volunteering at Prairie Pines Nature Preserve, continuing to nurture that relationship with the land. This connection is a big part of why I feel so passionate about this event — being able to gather in nature, surrounded by its energy, makes the experience even more meaningful.

Karee Dunn

Co-Founder of The 402 Collective

Karee Dunn is the co-founder of The 402 Collective: Mind Body Soul, a therapist, educator, and advocate for whole-person healing. The 402 Collective was born from a recognition that many people, particularly those who have felt overlooked, misunderstood, or pushed to the margins, deserve more comprehensive, integrative support than they often find within traditional systems of care. Built on the belief that mind, body, and spirit are deeply connected, The 402 Collective was created to offer collaborative, accessible, and person-centered care for the Lincoln community.

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, with roots stretching throughout the south, Karee carries with her a deep love of storytelling, community, and the belief that people heal best when they feel seen, understood, and connected. After a career as a professor teaching and researching human development, learning, and motivation, she found her way to Lincoln, where she now serves individuals and families through therapy, education, and community-building.

At the heart of Karee’s worldview is a simple truth: “All y’all really does mean all.” She believes healing spaces should welcome people from all walks of life, backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. This commitment to curiosity, inclusion, and authentic connection is what draws her to Cottonwood Convergence. To her, gatherings like these remind us that community is not built through sameness, but through our willingness to come together, learn from one another, and create belonging in shared spaces.

Katie Frickel

Community Builder, Business Owner, and Coach.

Katie Frickel is a community builder, business owner, and coach who believes that meaningful connection is at the heart of both personal and collective transformation. She is the co-founder of The 402 Collective: Mind Body Soul in Lincoln, Nebraska, a community-centered wellness space that brings together practitioners from a variety of healing disciplines under one roof.

Through her coaching work, Katie supports entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals navigating relationships—both personal and professional. Her offerings include business coaching, leadership development, and relationship coaching, with a special focus on intentional dating and authentic connection. Her approach blends practical strategy with deep curiosity, helping people build businesses, relationships, and lives that feel aligned with their values.

Katie is passionate about creating spaces where people can gather, learn from one another, and explore new ideas with openness and respect. As a member of the Cottonwood Convergence planning team, she is excited to help cultivate an experience that encourages connection, community, and a deeper relationship with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

Natasha was instrumental in the early visioning of The Cottonwood Convergence. Though she is no longer serving on the planning committee, her encouragement and belief helped bring the gathering to life. We remain deeply grateful for her contribution.

Megan Gray was a cherished part of the early shaping of The Cottonwood Convergence. Though she has stepped down from the planning committee, her heart, care, and grounded presence helped bring the gathering to life. We remain deeply grateful for everything she contributed.