Written by Words alive team
Words Alive recently welcomed Haydeé Yanez (she/her) as our Interim Development Coordinator.
Haydeé Yanez aka Mexicons Art
Haydeé grew up in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico, where she was shaped by the richness, color, and creativity of life across both Californias. She studied graphic design at Universidad Iberoamericana and has since built a career designing and illustrating bilingual content — from hospitality materials to children’s books.
Alongside her professional work, Haydeé continues to develop her own line of cultural coloring books inspired by Mexican heritage, blending art, storytelling, and educational elements. In her free time, she enjoys watching classic films, reading nonfiction, and cooking with friends and family.
Now, a few words from Haydeé:
What drew you about Words Alive?
“I first became connected to Words Alive through my work as a children’s book designer and a Read Aloud school visit at Valencia Park Elementary School. I helped lead an activity with more than 200 students from pre-K through 2nd grade. We read together, answered questions, and explored how books are made behind the scenes.
I was so inspired by the experience — and especially by the Read Aloud Program — that I stayed in touch with the organization. When the opportunity came to join, I knew I wanted to be more involved.”
What are you most excited about in this role?
“Besides working alongside such amazing people and being surrounded by books, I’m excited to bring my design and content creation experience to help expand the reach of Words Alive’s mission — especially with children, families, and the broader community.”
What is your relationship with literacy and learning?
“I’ve been in publishing for the last decade, but I’ve always had a knack for reading. Growing up in Mexico in the 1980s, access to libraries and bookstores wasn’t very common, so when I received a book as a gift, I cherished it. I still have my childhood encyclopedia, Colibrí.
That early love of books led me into graphic design and editorial work in newspapers, magazines, and eventually bilingual children’s publishing. Today, I continue that journey through my own cultural coloring book projects that blend storytelling, learning, and elements like history, animals, and pop culture.”
What are you currently reading?
“I usually read two or three books at the same time, including Women Who Run with the Wolves and The Body Keeps the Score. The last book I finished was Communion by Bell Hooks — and I always recommend Just Kids by Patti Smith.”
Welcome, Haydeé — we are grateful to have your creativity and passion as part of the Words Alive community.