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By Kippy Marks\u2014<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel carries a kind of leadership that doesn\u2019t announce itself\u2014it accumulates. It gathers through years of steady presence, thoughtful action, and a commitment to community that feels less like a role and more like a rhythm. In a lineage of twenty individuals recognized in this column who have each embodied the practice of love in their own distinct way, Heather arrives as a new chapter: a reminder that devotion can be both grounded and luminous, both practical and deeply human.<\/p>\n
Her work has always been about strengthening the connective tissue of community. Heather is the person who notices what needs tending before anyone else sees the fray. She is the one who steps into the gap\u2014not for applause, not for credit, but because she understands that care is a form of infrastructure. Her leadership is built from the everyday acts that make collective life possible: the follow through, the clarity, the kindness that doesn\u2019t waver even when the work is heavy.<\/p>\n
What sets Heather apart is her ability to hold both structure and soul at once. She brings intention to every space she touches, shaping environments where people feel anchored, welcomed, and capable of offering their best selves. She doesn\u2019t lead from the front or the spotlight; she leads from the center, creating stability that allows others to rise. In a community that thrives on authenticity, Heather\u2019s authenticity is a steady flame\u2014never demanding attention, yet impossible to overlook.<\/p>\n
As the 21st individual to be featured in this column, Heather reflects the evolution of the PMLE ethos itself. The first twenty taught us about courage, generosity, resilience, joy, and the transformative power of showing up. Heather adds a new dimension: the artistry of consistency. It is the beauty of care that is intentional rather than performative; the quiet brilliance of someone who understands that love is not only an emotion but also a practice, a discipline, and a way of shaping the world.<\/p>\n
Heather\u2019s legacy is already woven into the lives she\u2019s touched and the spaces she\u2019s strengthened. She reminds us that community is not built in grand gestures but in the ongoing commitment to nurture what matters. And in recognizing her, PMLE honors the truth that love\u2014when practiced with devotion\u2014becomes a force that can sustain us all.<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practicing of PMLE values in your work?<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: Since June 2019, when I began my residency as the resident host and MC of Berber SF A Circus, supper club dinner cabaret show.<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: Who or what motivated you to become the community activist you are today?<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: I was motivated by my own desire to share my love for performance art, music, and the power of artistic expression. This is what has led me to create my own individual show titled Just Add Heather. It is where I highlight, spotlight, and connect other performers and artists together.<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: How old were you when you began this work?<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: I was 45 years old when I began my career as an MC, host, and creator.<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on the daily?<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: We are all sharing very similar desires to connect and express ourselves and feel love daily, I suppose if I were to give any advice, it would just be to take yourself out of any struggle at least once a day and to remember that we\u2019re all connected in some way and that every little effort is a positive drop in the universal love bucket, and it really does count! Don\u2019t waste time trying to seek perfection. Don\u2019t rake yourself over the coals trying to fit yourself into anybody else\u2019s ideals! This is your canvas. This is your movie. You are the leading role, so get out there and do it! It\u2019s about starting and continuing. In the words of the great Kippy Marks, \u201cSteady at the helm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: If you were granted two universal wishes, what would you wish for?<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: My first is health and well-being for my family and loved ones and for all beings. My second wish is to have the ability to move through blocks and barriers to reach my highest best and highest good in order to share my gifts and love with as many people as possible in this life.<\/p>\n
Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices that our readers may find useful, and update us on what you are doing now.<\/p>\n
Heather Von Domhoff-Thiel: Currently, I\u2019m working on getting over my particularities and barriers and I do that by a lot of spiritual practices, such as spending time in nature listening to the sounds around me without interference. At least once a day, I focus on caring for my body and my health by being dedicated to cooking and eating well. I try to take good care of myself, knowing that the body holds the spirit and\u00a0soul, so we should take care of it. We creators are a force of love against the opposition that wishes to oppress joy!<\/p>\n
I am continuing to produce my culinary cabaret show and book musicians, dancers, and all kinds of artists, and to continue to use my gifts to help employ others in my creative endeavors.<\/p>\n
We are going to be baking up a masterpiece on November 7, 2026, at a winery location in Rutherford. I created this concept, JCB Cabernet Cabaret, by combining several of my talents and joys: music and food, baking and songs, comedy and improvisation! For more information and tickets, go to: https:\/\/bit.ly\/4z3MUWQ<\/a><\/p>\n Dubbed San Francisco\u2019s \u201cKing of Strings\u201d Kippy Marks is a spirited entertainer whose shows are permeated with an infectious joy. His distinctive sound arises from his heart, through his 1822 violin consort, Izabella. Marks\u2019 rare talent, broad smile, and radiant warmth will brighten any event and create a lasting impact. He is also Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.<\/p>\n Practice Makes Love Easy
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