Q: What kinds of community and professional work are you currently involved with?
“I feel like at this point of my professional life, everything revolves around a physical or metaphysical community. In 2011, I founded Assemble, a 501(c)3 community space for arts + technology in Garfield. We unite artists, technologists and makers with our neighbors of all demographics. Assemble provides a platform for experiential learning, opening creative processes and building confidence through making. As a start-up nonprofit, so today it’s still 100% volunteer-run. I am also the Weekend Programs Coordinator for the Girls, Math + Science Partnership, a program of the Carnegie Science Center. My role is to help get girls excited and comfortable with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers and topics through meeting mentors, experience and fun!”
Q: How has your participation with Coro changed how you approach you work?
“Women in Leadership (WIL) really changed my life. At that point, I wasn’t confident in my goals and did not have the strategies to achieve them. When I started WIL, Assemble was a Google document. By the time I finished, it was a physical space. WIL was a jump start to help me work toward my passion. Leaders in Learning (LIL) has augmented that experience. As Assemble is based on experiential learning for all ages and science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) topics, it is our goal to build ties with local schools and youth groups to use us as assets. The education I received from LIL is invaluable, as are the bonds that were made with my classmates. Both programs have led not only to future and current collaborations, but to close friendships.”