Lauren Hall Riggins has worked in education, non-profit leadership, and policy and advocacy research for over a decade. She has earned three masters degrees in education, public affairs, and arts administration and she is currently working on completing her PhD. She holds a deep conviction that education is a vital tool for addressing generational poverty and systemic racism. She has worked with pre-kindergarten through post-secondary students, and has coached and supported teachers spanning these grades for five years. Additionally, she led a cradle-to-career program that supports families with creating and achieving educational and career goals so that each family member can attain economic mobility and thrive. She also leads the Indiana Youth Poet Laureate program, an affiliate of the National Youth Poet Laureate program, and is passionate about leveraging the literary arts to advance healing, cross-cultural understanding, justice, and joy.