Tessa loves people and the beautiful things people make! She came to Chicago to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for her MA in Arts Administration and Policy through which she fell in love with the rich cultures of Chicago's neighborhoods and the collaborative spirit of Chicago's creative community. For the last seven years, Tessa has simultaneously built a career in nonprofit administration and in retail, but she has always especially loved independent bookstores and local art fairs. Her collection of zines and small publications is getting completely out of hand. When she isn't thinking about art and retail, she's drawing or painting, reading, or making her friends talk about justice, equity, and communities. She has always wanted to foster spaces for youth to express themselves through arts and culture and is living her dream at 826CHI's Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Store.