Meet the Visionaries Behind We Are Urban Haiku: Our Amazing Team!

Welcome to We Are Urban Haiku!

We are so glad you are here.

In establishing this emergent space, we envisioned a rich and magical expanse that encourages exploration, innovation, and the unapologetic embrace of one's unique narrative.

We’re here to co-conspire, swim around in each other’s processes, learn from each other, geek out about aspects of craft, and hold space with/for each other as we keep decolonizing, keep practicing self-love and grace, and keep agitating toward revolution.

Scroll down to meet our amazing, kick-ass team!

Meet Our Amazing Team

We Are Urban Haiku is built by an extraordinary collective of artists, writers, performers, and activists. Each member brings a unique blend of talent, perspective, and lived experience to this space, creating a deeply inclusive and inspiring community.

Anya Pearson:

The Revolutionary Storyteller

Anya Pearson (she/her/we) is an award-winning actress, playwright, poet, producer, and activist. Her work speaks to justice, resilience, and artistic brilliance.

• A Trailblazer in Theater and Literature
  Anya was a 2021-2022 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts. She is also the inaugural winner of the $10,000 Voice is a Muscle Grant from the Corporeal Voices Foundation, led by best-selling author Lidia Yuknavitch.

  • Her groundbreaking choreopoem, Made to Dance in Burning Buildings, was showcased at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and had its World Premiere at Shaking the Tree Theatre.

• Rewriting Shakespeare for a Cause
  Anya received the $10,000 Problem Play Commission to adapt Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, focusing on the mass incarceration of Black bodies and systemic failures in the criminal justice system.

  • This adaptation, The Measure of Innocence, was:

    • Selected for the 2020 Kilroys List

    • Winner of the 2020 Drammy Award for Best Original Script

    • A Finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Drama

• An Advocate for the Marginalized
  A survivor, a single mother, and a fierce advocate for BIPOC, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, the chronically ill, and the disabled, Anya’s personal journey informs her powerful work.

💻 Website: www.anyapearson.com
📷 Instagram: @iamanyapearson

Gimi Willie

The Storyteller with Deep Roots

Gimi Willie (she/her/hers) is an Indigenous author, poet, and artist with a passion for storytelling, education, and creative exploration.

• A Life Full of Learning and Art
  Based in Southern California, but with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, Gimi has spent her life balancing creativity with constant learning.

  • A mother of two successful daughters, she still loves exploring new possibilities, saying she’s “not sure what she wants to be when she grows up.”

• Award-Winning Writing and Storytelling
  Gimi’s literary accomplishments include:

  • First Place Personal Essay Winner – SDCCD League for Innovation 2022 Student Literary Award Competition

  • 2nd Place in the International Award Competition

  • Performer at the So Say We All VAMP Storytelling Showcase in San Diego

  • Recent works published in:

    • CityWorks Journal 2024 Anthology

    • Months to Years Literary Journal (Summer 2024 Issue)

• A Creative Soul with a Love for Music and Cats
  When not writing, she can be found at rock concerts, working out, traveling, or spending time with her beloved cats.

Kenda Willie

The Queer Indigenous Advocate

Kenda Willie (they/them/theirs) brings a powerful mix of advocacy, academic excellence, and community leadership to We Are Urban Haiku.

• Breaking Barriers in Criminal Justice
  Raised in a multi-Indigenous household, Kenda’s family traces its roots to the Navajo Nation, Suquamish, and Duwamish peoples.

  • As a first-generation college student, they earned degrees and state certifications in Criminal Justice and Forensic Technology, specializing in multicultural community relations.

  • They also served as the first openly queer and Indigenous president of the American Criminal Justice Association.

• Championing Decolonization and Representation
  Kenda actively works within the Society for Creative Anachronism, where they serve as the only openly Indigenous community baronial deputy, pushing for increased representation and decolonization efforts.

• A Life of Art, Activism, and Adventure
  Kenda thrives in spaces where they can challenge norms and push for inclusivity. In their free time, they enjoy:

  • Playing Dungeons & Dragons

  • Attending heavy metal concerts

  • Expanding their personal library

  • Writing and performing poetry (since 2014)

Ella deCastro Baron

The Ethnoautobiographer

Ella deCastro Baron (she:siya:we) is a writer, educator, and creative facilitator who weaves cultural storytelling into her work.

• A Filipina American Voice in Literature
  Born in Coastal Miwok territory (Vallejo, California), Ella’s writing is deeply rooted in identity, heritage, and healing.

  • She holds an MFA, is a VONA alum, and teaches Composition and Creative Writing at San Diego City College and U Mass.

• Championing Ethnoautobiography and Chronic Illness Advocacy
  Ella co-facilitates workshops like:

  • "Where We Come From: Writing Your Ethnoautobiography"

  • "To Exist is to Flare: Loving Our Chronically Ill Minds and Bodies"

• Published Works and Upcoming Books

  • Itchy, Brown Girl Seeks Employment (Creative Nonfiction)

  • Subos and Baon: A Memoir in Bites (Coming 2023)

  • Featured in Nonwhite and Woman, (Her)oics, Anomaly, The Rumpus, and more.

• A Life Rooted in Connection and Love
  She resides on Kumeyaay territory (San Diego, CA) with her interracial family, facilitating gatherings that merge storytelling, justice, and community care.

G. Ravyn Stanfield

The Justice-Seeker and Earth-Lover

G. Ravyn Stanfield (she/her/they) is a writer, trainer, acupuncturist, and relational therapist with a deep love for nature and activism.

• Decades of Dedication to Justice and Repair
  Since 1996, Ravyn has been learning, growing, and taking action for justice.

  • They are passionate about amplifying voices, fostering connection, and pushing for systemic change.

• An Advocate for Art and Healing
  Ravyn blends creative expression with healing practices, working in diverse fields to support transformation and growth.

• Lover of All Things Nature and Community

  • Fiercely adores trees and dogs

  • Selectively loves cats and nuts

  • Has a deep appreciation for humans and the planet

Alexis Macnab

The Multidisciplinary Visionary

Alexis Macnab (ey/em/eir) is an artist who works across disciplines, merging theater, animation, writing, and visual storytelling.

• Blending Art and Storytelling in Unique Ways

  • Their theater work has been produced internationally.

  • They create hand-drawn and stop-motion animation for film and music videos.

• Transforming Stories During the Pandemic

  • Shifted from a City-and-Karaoke-Loving Theater Person to a Slime-Mold-Curious Writer-Artist Apprentice Tree.

• Published in The Ilanot Review, Atticus Review, and more.

  • Visit: alexismacnab.com