About Me:
Educator, Author, & Artist with 30+ years of experience teaching, inspiring, and empowering children and adults to create systemic change in their lives and in the world.
Expertise:
Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Writing, Publishing, Researching, Synthesizing information into relatable formats for both children & adults, Fine Artist
Books Published:
Author and/or Illustrator of over 30 award-winning books
Selected Awards:
- Pura Belpré Honor Award
- Américas Award Commended List
- Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2014 that Celebrate Diversity
- ForeWord Book of the Year Award, Finalist
Education:
- 1984-1987: University of Oregon, Creative Writing
- Independent Researcher for nearly 3 decades with a specific focus on LGBTQ & suppressed history
Maya Gonzalez
Progressive Educator, Publisher, Children’s Book Author & Artist
Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children’s book artist, author, activist, publisher, and progressive educator. Maya's work addresses systemic inequity in relation to race/ethnicity, sexism and cissexism using children’s books as radical agents of change and healing, both personally and culturally. Maya co-founded Reflection Press, a POC, queer and trans owned independent publishing house that uses holistic and anti-oppression frameworks in their books and educational materials. Maya is also the creator of the Gender Wheel, an approach to gender and body diversity that is nature-based, decolonized and holistic, and provides trainings and workshops to educators, parents and caregivers. www.mayagonzalez.com | www.genderwheel.com | www.reflectionpress.com
Experience
Featured Speaker & Keynotes (2010 – Present)
Speaking on topics from gender expansion to creative agency.
- Selected Venues: University of San Francisco Critical Diversity Studies Forum, IRSCL Congress - Ecologies of Childhood; Santa Clara County Day of Racial Healing, University of South Carolina College of Education; The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California; The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning; Kansas State University; National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Conference; Gender Spectrum Professional’s Symposium; Teachers For Social Justice; University of San Francisco School of Education; American Federation of Teachers; University of Oregon; Fresno State Artist in Residence; University of Arizona College of Education
Independent Publisher (2009 – Present)
Cofounded Reflection Press - a POC, queer & trans-owned publishing house that produces books and materials rooted in holistic, nature-based and anti-oppression frameworks.
Educator Trainings (1996 – Present)
Trainings in Gender Wheel® & Claiming Face Curriculums.
- Selected Venues: Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health, First 5 Alameda County; BANANAS Inc.; University of Oregon; Cal State University-Monterey Bay; Children’s Book Press Outreach Program; WritersCorp
K-12 Workshops for Children (1989 – 2014)
Designed, developed and facilitated workshops for kids on self-empowerment through self-portraiture/Claiming Face Curriculum.
- Selected Venues: San Francisco Unified School District and other Bay Area Schools; Los Angeles School Districts; GENaustin - Girls Empowerment Network of Austin; Private & Public Schools across the US
Educational Materials Developed
(Learn more about these materials and more here)
- Gender Wheel®: nature-based, decolonized, and holistic approach to gender
- Playing with Pronouns Educational Card Deck: designed to expand gender while learning and playing games
- Write Now! Make Books & Children’s Books as a Radical Act: focuses on bringing voice and visibility to marginalized communities that are severely underrepresented in children’s books
- Claiming Face Curriculum: self-empowerment through self-portraiture
- i see peace Curriculum: creating a culture of peace in the classroom and beyond
- School of the Free Mind: systemic changes starts with a strong sense of self