Mickeeya (Mickee) was born and raised on Chicago’s North Side but has lived and worked in Knoxville, TN for the past 20 years. Mickee is a masters level social worker who has dedicated much of her career to serving youth and young adults in areas of leadership development, foster care and mentorship. Mickee is passionate about systems change and social justice from a grassroots perspective and using popular education techniques. Mickee’s work has included Racial Equity and Healing research with the Highlander Research and Education Center; Network of Ensemble Theaters Microfest Fellow (examining the intersectionality of the arts and social justice); and more recently as the Civic Engagement and Curriculum Director with Opportunity Youth United. She serves as a part time professor with the University of Tennessee – Knoxville in the College of Social Work teaching macro-level social work, social welfare policies and substance abuse. In her spare time, Mickee enjoys gardening, playing women’s semi-pro-football and hiking in the Smoky Mountains. Mickee studied Sociology to obtain a bachelor’s degree and social work to obtain her MSSW, both from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.