i was born and raised in Salinas, California and come from a migratory family that originated from both coasts of Central and North America and blood from Spanish colonizers and Italian asylum seekers. my ancestors have been storytellers, teachers, pathmakers and bridgebuilders. i've lived my life in borderlands of the americas and queerness, navigating within the systems of academia as my parents before me as an educator and advocate. i've lived in redmond, oregon since 2015 and worked as an educator, community builder, and facilitator during that time.