I presently work at Kentucky Refugee Ministries as their Rise Up Educational Access Coordinator. My focus is on educational case management, coordinating the mentor program for refugee teens and young adults, and planning and leading trips and activities focused on education and career opportunities as well as social and emotional well being. Part of my role includes building safe spaces for youth to be themselves and develop a sense of community. Much of my programming includes ways to facilitate this, whether it be through the introduction to the outdoors in our parks and wild spaces, or in youth centered spaces where they can build community and fellowship together. I regularly meet with community partners and colleagues within the college and career access field to advocate for my clients, as well as immigrants, refugees, and asylees more broadly. I also teach and co-coordinate the summer program for refugee teens and young adults, which introduces them to our public school system at a more comfortable and appropriate level before their first full semester.Previously, I worked as a library associate and reference associate at a public library system in Southwest Missouri. I focused my work on library DEI efforts, more specifically, immigrant and refugee inclusion, having researched and written my Maser's degree paper on this subject. I spent two years teaching freshman and ESL composition at Missouri State University through in person, hybrid, and online instruction as I finished my Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language.I am focused on making communities more welcoming, inclusive, meaningful, and whole spaces for everyone.