Tawnie Pederson

Tawnie grew up among the trees of Cornish and Claremont, New Hampshire where she developed a deep soul love of nature. She carried this with her over the last 20 years, across the country and back again. During that time, she was blessed to grow and learn with a diverse array of humans she now calls family. She shares her home with her husband, dog and two cats. 

Tawnie loves learning and currently holds two master’s degrees, one in philosophy and one in cultural studies: she is finishing up a third in education. Her research is currently focused on the importance of relationships/community, connection and belonging within education. The works of Angela Davis, Michel Foucault and bell hooks deeply influenced both her written work and her practice with young people. Tawnie loves reading and writing and is currently working on a selection of poems and a short novel. 

Working with young people is the culmination of Tawnie’s experience as a young person struggling with a growing ACE score, and her educational journey that sought solutions to the growing problems in our world. She has served young people with AmeriCorps and as a philosophy teacher, emotional support teacher, program director, and advocate. For Tawnie, moving back to the area meant serving youth in the region she hails from- something she’s thrilled to be doing with We R H.O.P.E. She seeks to bring authenticity and a knack for relationship-building to her work and is excited to learn more from and with all of you!