Katerina (who uses they/she pronouns) is committed to creating a world where all life is centered, revered, and liberated. They commit to creativity as a portal to healing themselves and the world.

Katerina speaking at the Colorado State Capitol on March 27, 2021 for the “Stop AAPI Hate” rally. Captured on film by Mark Stein.

A celebrated thought leader & community organizer, Katerina built an Asian American creative collective that garnered national acclaim for uplifting marginalized voices in 2016. They were Executive Editor of the collective’s literary journal, and facilitated the storytelling of Asian American experiences throughout five annual issues. They also spearheaded critical dialogue and on-the-ground organizing during the pandemic, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the rise in anti-Asian violence.

In 2018, Katerina co-founded Spectacle, an inclusive marketing & communications agency. Katerina worked with clients like Vans, Denver Health, VF Corporation, interTrend, and the City of Fort Collins to advise executives on sensitive & informed messaging; develop culturally-specific marketing strategies; and educate people on inclusive language, thought, and practices in today’s rapidly-evolving world.

Katerina holds Bachelors of Arts in English & music from Cornell University, and is currently a fellow at Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop. Born and raised in New York, Katerina is happiest lounging in the sun, eating food, and being present with loved ones.

Press & Speaking

Katerina’s work has been featured in People, HuffPost, CBS News, Colorlines, and Westword. Most recently, they were interviewed on PBS by Colorado Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre for Colorado Voices: Cuentos de Colorado (April 2022).

Katerina has spoken at Harvard, Talks at Google, and Creative Mornings; and has facilitated experiences for TEDx, Square, and Walmart. Lately, they’ve been teaching writing workshops, and recently facilitated drop-in writing for the Denver Art Museum (November 2023).

Select Past Engagements

Writing & Poetry

  • Panelist on “Memoir Across Format and Style” for [margins.] literary conference, hosted by The Word. September 21, 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Instructor for “Decolonizing Your Writing” craft class at Lighthouse Writers Workshop. September 28, 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Instructor for “Decolonizing Your Writing” 4-week workshop at Petals and Pages. September 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Host of a 12-stop book tour for Gospel of a Whole Sun, organizing healing community events with fellow Asian American artists across New York, California, and Colorado. June 2024.

  • Judge for Emerging Writers Fellow at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, February 2024. Denver, Colorado.

  • Instructor for drop-in writing at the Denver Art Museum. November 28, 2023. Denver, Colorado.

  • Host of the AAPI Writer’s Group at The Word conference. September 9, 2023.

  • “Colorado Voices: Cuentos de Colorado.” poetry reading & interview with Colorado Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre for Rocky Mountain PBS. April 28, 2022.

  • “Colorado Asians: A Poetry Event” poetry reading for Artworks Loveland, curated by Jane Burke and Beth Franklin, Director of the Colorado Poets Center. May 2021.

  • “Mourning After” poetry recitation and an offering for collective prayer at the Colorado State Capitol. March 2021.

  • “Lessons on Ousting a Dictator” poetry reading for Malaya Movement commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Filipino People Power Revolution. February 2021.

Facilitation

  • Facilitator for Clayton Club’s Lunar New Year celebration. February 2022. Denver, Colorado.

  • Creator and facilitator for a workshop on identity exploration for Asian Girls Ignite. July 2021. Denver, Colorado.

  • Facilitator for opening & closing ritual at TEDxMileHigh, “Rethinking How We Gather.” October 2021. Denver, Colorado.

  • Host of Ethel’s Club’s 2021 AAPI Heritage Celebration. May 2021.

  • Creator and facilitator for Square’s “Not Your Model Minority” workshop. May 2021.

  • Creator and facilitator for Walmart’s executive storytelling workshop. September 2021.

  • Creator and facilitator for Square’s creative activism workshop. May 2020.

  • Lead for The Wing Los Angeles’ Lunar New Year: Intention Setting Workshop. February 2020. Los Angeles, California.

  • Story slam curator and host for The Wing Los Angeles: AAPI Heritage Month. May 2019. Los Angeles, California.

Thought Leadership

  • Judge for Make Noise Today’s scholarship contest, a Asian American youth program hosted by Intertrend. April 2024.

  • Speaker for Intertrend’s panel on Asian American Identity for Chlorox. June 2022.

  • Self Care & Body Image as AAPI Women, Instagram takeover and live with Pepper. April 2021.

  • “Black and Asian Solidarity” community conversation with Chaos & Comrades. March 2021.

  • “Celebrating Asian America” presentation on allying with Asian Americans for Flatiron School. May 2020.

  • “Digital Revolution: The Social Media Phenomenon” panel moderator at “Striking a Balance: Vision for a Conflicted World” at Harvard University. February 16, 2020. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

  • “Creating for an Inclusive Future” presentation at Matchbox Design Festival. September 7, 2019. Denver, Colorado.

  • “The Power of Creativity” presentation at the NAAAP Leadership Convention. August 23, 2019. Kansas City, Missouri.

  • “The Mindful Hustle” talk at Creative Mornings. November 9, 2018. Denver, Colorado.

  • “Redefining Asian American Narratives Through Storytelling” talk at TEDxJHU. May 22, 2018. Baltimore, Maryland.

  • “Making of An Asian American Magazine” panel at Talks at Google. January 10, 2018. New York, New York.