I am a mother, sister, friend, and story seeker. I live deeply from an emotional place and invite all to get comfy and join me there as you explore your past, present, and future. Tears are welcomed. My whole life I have been asked, “What are you?” This is not what people are asking me. They want to place me in a “box,” identifying my race. Through years of exploring the impacts of racism on my life, I am claiming my identity through knowing my Indigenous, Filipina, & White ancestry and committed to being a brave, transformative, anti-racist leader.

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I am someone who enjoys good macaroni and cheese, long talks with friends at a coffee shop, and discovering new places with my family.

 

My career began in the world of social work. Through nonprofit, government, and education, I have worked to address the social ills of America by serving communities experiencing homelessness, poverty, abuse, mental illness, and chemical dependency for over 16 years. As I realized more efforts were needed to prevent these social injustices, I turned to the educational system to work with our emerging young leaders.

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My accomplishments include leading transformative racial equity workshops for adults and youth, developing innovative programming to increase academic participation for students experiencing homelessness, creating a regional network of supports for students in foster care, developing a culturally relevant curriculum, and coaching school leaders in developing anti-racist schools.

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I am a believer that people should not be judged by their titles, degrees, or what is deemed as "qualifying credentials". We all have gifts, talents, and strengths that should be valued above these titles. I also believe how others experience me, is the real qualifying credential. So that my friends, is an invitation. Let's get to know each other!