April Ronay, M.Ed.

As the founder of CalCoalition, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated families, clinicians, non-profits, and advocates to raise awareness and improve access to care for children affected by PANS and PANDAS, serious but treatable post infectious neuroimmune conditions. Through collective advocacy rooted in personal experience and shared knowledge, CalCoalition was proud to contribute to the advancement of California Assembly Bills AB 907 and AB 2105. These bills were crafted to help reduce treatment delays and improve insurance coverage for affected families. In 2025, AB 2105 was signed into law and took effect on January 1, 2025, an important milestone in the advancement of health equity for this often overlooked community. Our work is far from over. We continue to support similar initiatives in other states and are actively helping to establish a statewide Health and Education Advisory Council in California. This council aims to strengthen coordination, increase awareness, and ensure families and educators have the tools they need to support children. I’m grateful to be part of a growing community united by compassion, purpose, and the belief that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and heard.

I founded Rosewood & Quill Press to create a small, intentional home for books that are as gentle and meaningful as the stories they hold. As an independent publisher, I work at the intersection of writing, illustration, and book design, drawn to quiet spaces where language and art meet, and to creating work that lingers beyond the final page. The press’s debut release, The Hidden Garden, is especially close to me. As both author and illustrator, I created this collection from moments where nature and inner life overlap, exploring stillness, growth, and reflection through poetry and hand-drawn artwork. Each piece was crafted with care, offering readers a gentle place to pause, breathe, and return to themselves. This marks the beginning of Rosewood & Quill Press, with a focus on thoughtful, reflective literary work rooted in presence and intention. The Hidden Garden is available in now: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=61uZnuauZF5dwLCuoVArygx48GkjN6PUg9h4KNOss0f

With over two decades of experience as an educator and community advocate, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people learn, grow, and connect. Whether in schools, nonprofits, or grassroots organizations, my work has always centered on empowering others and creating meaningful experiences that spark curiosity, compassion, and positive change. I hold a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, along with RICA and CLAD certifications, and have extensive experience supporting diverse learners and leading inclusive, creative learning environments. Over the years, I’ve also developed and managed programs that bring together education, communication, and advocacy, strengthening communities and expanding access to care and learning opportunities. I’m passionate about initiatives that blend education, equity, wellness, and creativity. I’m excited to discover new opportunities where I can continue learning, share my skills, and contribute to work that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives. At my core, I believe in the power of empathy and education to create lasting impact and in the importance of seeing and uplifting every person’s unique light.

Across the country, school garden programs are transforming education by reconnecting children with nature. Research continues to show that these living classrooms improve student attendance, promote health and wellness, foster environmental responsibility, and deepen engagement in learning. When children plant seeds, nurture growth, and share the harvest, they develop lifelong habits of curiosity, care, and community. In 2021, I began a personal mission to revitalize a school garden and transform it into a certified Wildlife Habitat, Pollinator Habitat, and Monarch Waystation. Completed in 2022, the space quickly became a vibrant hub for hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and student wellness. The project was later featured in the Los Cerritos Newspaper, highlighting its role in connecting children to nature and inspiring environmental awareness. This experience continues to inspire my commitment to supporting programs that unite education, wellness, and environmental stewardship. I’m passionate about helping schools and communities design experiences that nurture both children and the planet, cultivating learning that is healthy, hopeful, and deeply rooted in connection.