Akira Serene

Akira Serene is an artist and educator who believes art can help, heal, educate, and communicate. She learned how to paint when she was merely ten years old, rushing home after school to watch Bob Ross, and realized in high school that she wanted to be a teacher. She received her BFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and her Master of Arts in Teaching in Visual Arts from the University of the Arts. Her illustrations focus on portraiture, character design, introspective mental health topics, and storytelling. She teaches her students and two daughters (Zoë and Margot) the importance of using one’s voice to make a positive change in the world. This book reminds us that we can all make a difference, no matter how small, and it is dedicated to her daughters and students, who are the future of the planet.