About

My name is Amanda Lea Perez. I've resided in Southern California, the Washington Metropolitan Area, New York City, Hamburg, Germany, and the Garden State. I have worked as a photographer, researcher, volunteer, archivist, librarian, and advocate. I'm an INFJ and an activist for effective change. My top social concerns are addressing the shortage of affordable housing, providing equitable access to information, promoting good governance, and improving the quality and standards of local government through education and transparency. When I'm not thinking about ways to problem-solve deep-rooted issues, you can find me researching the history of food, exploring art law, hanging out with bears (one and two), and hiking American Trails. Currently exploring American food and culture and learning about more sustainable foodways dependent on local communities. Reading: California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival by Keith Corbin. Reach out: helloartlibrarian@gmail.com

"Change won't happen overnight... Reinvention requires imagination. It requires thinking outside the box... being creative. It means getting out of our comfort zones, failing, learning about what didn't work, and trying again. It is a process of continual revision and evolution" (Martin 2021, 9).

Martin, Katie S.. 2021. Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger. Washington, D. C.: Island Press.