E-88 Advocating as a First Gen with Kristine Leslie

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Kristine Leslie, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Advocating as a First Gen!

Kristine Leslie is a multiply neurodivergent Strategy and Development Consultant who offers support in creative capacity building to communities and organizations as Chief Transformation Officer of Integrative Arts and Well-being at her consultancy, Consult with Kristine. She received an A.S. in Liberal Science-Deaf Studies (conversationally fluent in American Sign Language (ASL)) from Union County College as a NJSTARS Scholar and later earned a B.A. in Sociology/English-Writing from Kean University, where she spearheaded the creation of Afro-Latinx Dance Project and directed WOMANITY Union, a franchise location of her Bachata and Heels training under Maria Ramos .

While attending Kean University in 2018, Kristine was introduced to Carolyn Dorfman Dance as a NJ Summer Dance scholarship student and joined the Marketing team as Communications and Development Associate in 2022. Before joining Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Kristine worked as a teacher, particularly with Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students with special needs and diverse-abilities in Hillside Public School District, not-for-profit community organizations, and private institutions. Her professional trajectory and lived reality as a spoonie with non-apparent disabilities further led her to work as Community Building Associate at The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking and Equity and Access/ADA Coordinator for each workplace thereafter.

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Supporting You Into the New Year, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina