About me

I am stubborn, kind, and curious about the patterns we make in love. I am seeking deeper understandings of belonging, well-being, body mysteries, sensory experiences, grief processes, and relationships. I spend my days laughing, playing soccer, or working on my latest creative project - like painting, recipe testing, and writing my first non-fiction novel.

My late grandfather, Reverend Deacon Salvador Alvarez, played an instrumental role in the Chicano Civil Rights and Farm Labor Movement. My childhood was spent learning about my part in social justice as it pertains to farmworker and immigration reform. Our talks over the barren hills of the Santa Clara Valley helped me discern my passion for work that cares; listening, writing, and loving are my superpowers.

I also spent my summers being pushed around by the strong gales of the Irish Sea. My dark curls tightened in the salty air while freckles bloomed on my cheeks - all in the easy-going nature of my home across the Atlantic. I moved to England in pursuit of this freeing feeling, which I found in abundance. I believe everything, everyone is connected - that our souls know where we are going. I am a sensitive wanderer in this way.

I consider myself lucky that my warm and wild heart feels at home in so many places. I have studied (and lived) in the United States, Australia, and England.

I write like I live: all in one deep breath. More out than in. Thoughtfully. Aching.

And finally, my great joys: drawing out courageous voices, bringing comfort to the vulnerable storyteller, advocating fiercely for a fuller truth, and representing complexity on the page.

I received a Masters degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge in 2022, where I was grateful to receive a distinction and graduate second in my class.

If you’re interested, you can read more about my Cambridge research and dissertation topic here. In 2021, I received a Bachelor’s in Social Work and Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies at Seattle University. My personal interest in generating social good is why I’m passionate about the work that I do, and is also why I aspire to tell the stories of those I work with. These stories are ones of health and illness, forgiveness, and emotion.

I am also an artist and a small-business owner, selling prints of my artwork and helping high school students tell their stories throughout the college application & essay writing process. Check out The Meaningful Me for more.

Want to learn more about my mission? Read about The Olly Project here.