Language and literacy, civic engagement and civil disobedience, activism and academia, are central to my life. I grew up with a feminist, journalist mom who committed herself to learning and speaking about public issues, such as a woman's right to choose and protesting the war in Vietnam; I also grew up with an equally powerful, feminist grandma whose efforts as a preservationist have restored important Hollywood landmarks through her organization Hollywood Heritage. These women taught me that the personal is political by example and about the importance of learning, growing, reflecting, and engaging in my communities and the world.