Azul Kmiecik

Azul Kmiecik (they/them) loves nurturing community spaces, sharing their knowledge with others and learning from the people and world around them. Azul is currently a ESL Teacher at Open Door Minneapolis after working as learning center coordinator at Open Door Southside. Some of Azul’s past experiences include facilitating an internship for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to create the Queering Community Health podcast, teaching Adult Learn to Ride (a bicycle) classes, grass roots skillshares and a year in AmeriCorps teaching English, citizenship and basic computer skills classes. Azul believes that all people, regardless of age, have the right to education and learning. Azul believes that education should help people understand the systems at work in their lives, strengthen people’s abilities to be agents in their lives and communities, and be a spark for a more just world. Azul has a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. They are currently pursuing an Adult Basic Education license and Masters of Teaching from Hamline. Azul fulfills their creative side by spending time with the natural world, learning book arts, collaging, and reading. Two of their other favorite things to do are spending time with their loved ones and biking.