Mandy was born and raised in Kansas City but has called Seattle home for almost 20 years. She has a dynamic background rooted in creativity, social justice, and youth advocacy. She dabbled in piano and even had a brief stint playing the accordion, but ultimately found her passion in writing and visual arts. She has spent most of her career teaching, consulting for educational nonprofits, and advocating for equitable, inclusive programs that support intentionally marginalized communities. Outside of work, Mandy enjoys remodeling houses, raising 3 kids to be awesome socially and emotionally aware humans and traveling anywhere and everywhere. She believes in the transformative power of creativity and the potential for profound social change when community and humanity are prioritized over capitalism and oppressive systems.