PROJECTSThese projects reflect my work as a whole, shaped by my identities, values, and ways of moving through the world.
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Writing & Storytelling Focus
The work spans poetry, freelance journalism, and creative nonfiction, with future focus on children’s and young adult literature. As an oral historian, the work centers on documenting stories and lived experiences from immigrant communities in the region.
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Community Care & Facilitation
Facilitating workshops, story circles, and public humanities projects are facilitated through deep listening, shared learning, and collaborative reflection. Each space is designed to support meaningful dialogue and strengthen connections across communities.
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Mentorship for Emerging Writers & Educators
Relationship-based mentorship supports youth, first-generation writers, and emerging educators through consistent guidance and encouragement. The approach focuses on building trust, strengthening confidence, and supporting long-term creative and personal growth.
Projects
Founder and Storyteller,
Stories from Unheard Voices Project
Stories from Unheard Voices is an online storytelling platform sharing the histories and lived experiences of immigrants and children of immigrants across Greater Minnesota, amplifying voices and preserving stories that shape our communities.
2018-CURRENT
Podcast Guest,
Routes to Roots,
Rural Remix Podcast
Featured guest on the Routes to Roots Rural Remix Podcast, sharing personal experiences growing up in Midwest immigrant communities and reflecting on identity, storytelling, and the cultural impact of rural migration and community connection.
2025
Community Voice,
National Folklife Network
Contributed as a community voice with the National Folklife Network, supporting storytelling that highlights everyday cultural traditions and lived experiences. The work focused on preserving stories from immigrant and rural communities across Minnesota.
2024-2025
Participant,
Minnesota Writing Project
Participated in the Minnesota Writing Project, a collaborative professional learning program that supports educators through writing, reflection, and shared practice. The experience strengthened curriculum design, storytelling skills, and culturally responsive teaching.
2024-2025
Podcast Guest,
Minnesota Unraveled,
Minnesota Historical Society
Guest on the Minnesota Unraveled podcast by the Minnesota Historical Society, contributing to the episode “Meatpacking in Minnesota: How Migration and Labor Transformed Worthington.” Shared lived experience and perspective on immigration and community change.
2025
Ignite Rural Artists,
PBS Compass
Featured as a rural creative through Ignite Rural Artists on PBS Compass, highlighting storytelling, writing, and community-centered work. The project focused on amplifying creative voices in rural Minnesota and sharing the power of lived experience.
2022Past Fellowships & Partnerships
Rural Generator Fellow Andrea participated in two years of peer learning and exchange, and received an unrestricted $10,000 stipend to commit towards advancing the role of art, culture and creativity. Learn more
Northern Plains Community Voice National Folklife Network connects artists and a wide range of narrators of place, cultural assets, and identity in these regions to tools and resources like funding, training, and regional and national support systems. Learn more
Ignite Rural Resident During Andrea’s residency, she hosted author Michael Torres with Learning Center creative writing students. She also collaborated with Pioneer PBS to create an illustrated video to highlight an oral history. Learn more
Periplus Fellow Out of 500 applicants, Andrea was one of 59 accepted to this year's fellowship, a mentorship program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color writers. Learn more
Poetry Apprenticeship Andrea took on an intensive, remote program with Gretchen Marquette through the MN Literary Loft that helps poets complete a full-length manuscript. Learn more
Lead for America Fellow This role allowed Andrea to return home and work on census outreach, storytelling (shifting a rural narrative of SW MN), grantmaking, DEI work, and oral storytelling research. Learn more
Rural Women’s Collective Fellow Andrea participated in a six-month training program that provided a deep and wide education in strategic storytelling and change-focused communications. Learn more
Young Women’s Initiative Innovator Andrea received funds to host three workshops for young women around storytelling in Worthington and surrounding cities. Learn more
Interested in Collaborating?
Stories From
Unheard Voices
Stories from Unheard Voices is an online storytelling platform sharing the histories and lived experiences of immigrants and children of immigrants across Greater Minnesota, amplifying voices and preserving stories that shape our communities.
Soy La Misma
Newsletter
In the Soy la Misma newsletter, Andrea reflects on her upbringing in the rural Midwest as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, sharing stories about education, culture, identity, and the experiences shaping her life.
Connect
With Me
Have a question, idea, or collaboration in mind? Reach out to connect about writing, storytelling projects, speaking opportunities, or creative partnerships. I’d love to hear from you and explore ways we can work together.