My storyteller career started under blanket forts with Mema in a magical world of talking bears.
I ran (and won!) my first 50-mile trail race in 2020.
I have an internal ice cream radar that allows me to locate ice cream shops anywhere.
I met my husband while working in Bundibugyo, Uganda, and saw him in 6 different countries before we were married.
I competitively figure skated till I was 16 years old.
Over the past few years, I’ve created films for Banks Academy to help tell their story. I admire this school because the teachers support students not only academically but in life, often staying after hours to mentor, coach, and ensure their safety and well-being. Banks truly goes beyond being a typical high school.
In 2022, during our first partnership, filmmaker Rachael Porter and I collaborated with Banks’ English teacher and six students who wrote and filmed a poem about their experience, called “Banks School Anthem.” We also created a documentary with their new principal, Dr. Cathy Trimble, sharing her vision for the school. Both films were presented at Banks’ Gala, raising $30,000 over their goal.
In 2023, we returned to make “More Than A School,” a film showcasing the mentorship and relationships at Banks, featuring four students sharing personal stories. This film now connects with donors and prospective students.
Working with these students over the years has also furthered my mission from Urban Avenues Film Camp to introduce young people to filmmaking, and several Banks students have since joined us at camp over the summers.