I am Low German Mennonite born in Durango, Mexico. I moved to Canada as a young child and experienced first hand the struggles of being an immigrant. I lived and grew up on southwestern Ontario where I attendend public and secondary school. I studied fine art at the University of Guelph and earned my B.Ed., and M. Ed. at the University of Western Ontario. I worked as an educator for 30 years with the last ten as an administrator. As a teacher and administrator I focused and creating safe learning environments for all. Not long into my career I began the work of reengaging Mennonite students in public education and providing learning opportunities for professionals focused on understanding the Low German community.