About me
I am a Tucson-born, desert-raised, third-generation early educator who has dedicated 36 years to children, families, and community. A long-time advocate for those with unique ways of thinking & learning, I hold a deep respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences, and culture. My career has spanned classroom teaching, afterschool programming, administration, training, accreditation facilitation, and consultancy. I am dedicated to serving my community, empowering families and educators, and promoting holistic growth and enrichment.
After over 36 years in the field, I left my role as a Program Coordinator with the Kyrene School District to begin my own grassroots journey of empowering children, youth, and families. First step - open a micro business to sell my goods and wares! Madrecita Makes allows me to be creative and sell my traditionally made Xicana inspired candies, delicious allergen friendly baked goods and novelty sweets, my child famous clay dough, loose part kits, and so much more!
I am also the founder and owner of Raices Colectiva LLC, innovative early education and leadership consultancy dedicated to building collaborative, empowering environments for children, families, and communities. Specializing in child-led learning, social-emotional learning, and culturally responsive programming, I provide professional development, design outdoor and indoor learning environments, and support the implementation of community focused programs. My mission is to foster lifelong skills, encourage self-discovery, and empower intergenerational connections, nurturing resilience and unity for thriving communities.
On my time off I enjoy quality time with my growing family, enjoying the outdoors and urban trekking with my pup Luna, live music, creating artworks, landscaping, and volunteering for local initiatives. On occasion Tucson locals and visitors can find me at local market events either selling sweets and sundries as Madrecita Makes or providing hands-on learning experiences as Raices Colectiva.
