An image of me on stage moderating a conversation with Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift and Each of Us a Desert, for a Words Alive event.
With Words Alive, I became a non-profit professional. Reading has changed my life in so many positive ways, and with Words Alive I was able to use my passion for reading to inspire and educate others on how reading is a skillset for survival. Everyday at Words Alive I learned something new and was eager to dip my toes in all aspects of the organization: I supported the administrative and human resources aspects of the organization, wrote grants, managed our entire program curriculum, and ran all of the organization’s communications.
An image of me holding a sign that says “Justice for Ale” taken at a protest that trainee’s at The Harry Potter Alliance’s Granger Leadership Academy organized.
With Fandom Forward, I found a community of passionate activists born out of the Harry Potter fandom. After 7+ years volunteering for the organization, I was hired onto the team as Campaigns Director. I’ve learned how to manage campaigns that approach activism from a place of enthusiasm and joy, and to never underestimate the ability of our youth to change the world. My personal compassionate leadership style blossomed while volunteering for Fandom Forward and I am constantly learning how to be a better activist.
An image of the novel Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which I wrote Hope in a Box curriculum for, held up in front of a poster depicting the planets.
With Hope in a Box, I combined my love for writing curriculum with my passion for LGBTQ+ advocacy. The curriculum I wrote for the organization allowed 300+ teachers in rural areas of the United States to introduce middle and high school LGBTQ+ texts into their classrooms and gave them a resource they could use to talk about those books.
An image of the San Diego Sister District Project group at one of the Women’s Marches. We’re all holding protest signs and standing behind a Sister District banner.
With Sister District Project, I learned how to mobilize volunteers in my community and use our power to create change in communities outside of our own. Together we wrote postcards, made phone calls, and canvassed for state legislature candidates in districts around the country, with the goal of flipping those districts blue.