I believe what adrienne maree brown articulated in Pleasure Activism: that we must learn to make “justice and liberation the most pleasurable experiences we can have on this planet.”

I believe this happens through slow, consistent actions rooted in joy, play, and values-based actions every single day. It looks, sounds, and feels differently for all of us. I have learned this over the last decade when my own burnout almost took me out; and now feel rested, playful and committed to working on projects making the world better in some way.

I spent the first part of my adulthood committed to social change within the systems of After School programs in public education in San Francisco and Oakland. I watched young people thrive as they found their talents in arts and sports and science, I facilitated educators connecting to their students in creative ways, and I felt these systems fail us again and again. Between internal struggles that closed schools and left families & staff abandoned, gun & domestic violence, unsustainable workloads leaving staff unwell, and seemingly endless labor strikes taxing everyone on all sides. I was all-in with my commitment to it all (at the detriment to my health & relationships) until I lost my job in the middle of a school year and found myself lost, humiliated & terrified.

I used H&P to get me through that moment which led me back to myself - someone who loves to be outside, make art, and has an insatiable desire to innovate and experiment in service of a better world. I created H&P to make sure I never found myself victim to a system I was trying to dismantle again and to help others find their way back to themselves too. I continue to grow it because I am unbelievably inspired by the infinite ways our community has made it their own.

The H&P framework keeps our values front and center and serves as a counter-system to the one that has made so many of attached to the phrase “I don’t have enough time.”

Using this framework for myself has led me to create a thriving photography business, a women’s organization, and bring Hustle & Play to the world for others to use.

I’ve combined the insight from using Hustle & Play in my own life with my experience in facilitation and coaching to help to build our community of peer learning groups, retreats, and workshops. I’ve worked with organizations to help them guide their teams to tap into their genius while staying present.

I’ve done this while I traveled the world, got lots of rest, made art, built beautiful relationships, and nurtured my inner child who loves to play sports. I am committed to my sustainable wellness as I continue to grow my professional footprint.

I really believe we can make lasting, collective impact by tending to our wellness with intention, and I’m here to co-create that together.