My Story

I came to this work the long way. Growing up, I wanted to be a teacher, a runway model (I'm far too short), an astronaut, and a gymnast - you name it. What I didn't know as a young person was that underneath it all, I just wanted to help people. I've always been drawn to the way in which world events shape the lives of everyday people. Being able to see these impacts from a young age helped to reinforce my belief in fighting for the people. 

I was born and raised in southern New Mexico, but have also had the immense privilege of living in the urban center of Albuquerque. I love the summer rain in NM, the smell of green chile roasting in the fall, and those incredible sunsets! I understand deeply how our lived environments shape us - for better and for worse.

I believe deeply in the idea that individual healing to fuels our collective resilience. In order to help those around us, we have to nurture ourselves first. In order to eradicate hate, we must lead with love. That's not idealism. It's something that drive the work I do. It's also the heart of why this practice is called The Joy We Give.