I am especially moved by opportunities to witness students discover their voices and affirm their self-worth. I consult with educational institutions, frequently speak at schools, facilitate student programs and train adult staff to better serve their students. As an educator, I aim to sustain the integrity, courage, and commitment of children, families, and service providers.

My vocation is dedicated to the art and skill of learning and teaching. Meaningful learning experiences that honor the dignity and identities of participants are my first priority. As an educator, I value humanizing and historicizing practices in the pursuit of liberation and healing. This has led me to focus on cross-racial solidarity, intersectional social justice, Indigenous epistemology, carceral studies, healing-centered masculinity, and emancipatory education. My practice is rooted in experiential education, culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed systems, juvenile justice reform, family engagement, near-peer mentorship, Latine/x bilingual leadership, and ethnic studies. I am blessed to serve as a lead visionary for the Equity Institute, Rethink Manhood, and La Cima y ¡La Chispa! Bilingual Leadership.

As co-founder with Kim Jansen and a leader of the Equity Institute, I serve with a national collective of equity consultants supporting schools, governments, and nonprofit organizations to grow racial literacy, emotional intelligence, and humanizing practices. Over the past six years, I developed the Equity Audit Window (EAW) as a practical tool for organizations to map their equity journey. By assessing measurable indicators, the EAW illuminates an institution’s prevailing reality and supplies systemic direction for pathways forward. The EAW is designed as a team-based evaluation and planning tool. The EAW can be used for introduction dialogue on equity in our institutions or as a multi-year equity implementation process.

The Equity Institute also sponsors the Tu Hogar WA program serving Spanish-speaking families focused on education, health, and housing. We support rental and utility assistance, provide education and outreach for the new Working Families Tax Credit in Washington State, and organize health fairs with vaccine clinics, blood drives, free books for children, and other health access opportunities. We’ve truly loved the journey since our founding in the summer of 2020.