Programs Director, Alternate Roots

wendy@alternateroots.org

Growing up in Little Rock and Memphis, Wendy inherited a passion for civil rights, social justice and the arts from her parents. She believes in the power of people to create change and has been privileged to learn from organizers of the Civil Rights Movement and today’s young activists. Wendy has worked as a middle school Drama teacher and Arts Education Director for the Mississippi Arts Commission. She joined the Children’s Defense Fund, first as the Southern Regional Office Youth Leadership Director and later as the National Youth Leadership Development Outreach Coordinator and National Conference Liaison in Washington, D.C. Since 2013, Wendy has worked with nonprofit organizations assisting with strategic planning, programming and large-scale events including the 50th Anniversaries of the March on Washington and Mississippi Freedom Summer.

Wendy and her husband Michael split time between Houston, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi. A dancer, wanna-be writer and Texas Woman’s University alum, Wendy still performs when she can, now primarily in her kitchen.