Gritty Girl Team

Michelle Riu is a Miami-bred singer-songwriter, actress, and teaching-artist. She has a BA in Performing Arts from American University in Washington, DC. and has held teaching certifications from the state of Florida in Drama, 6-12, and Elementary Ed, K-6th grades. She worked for seven years as a Music and Theatre teaching-artist and mentor with Arts for Learning Miami, creating and implementing artist residencies and professional development workshops for teachers, as well as providing hands-on support for other teaching-artists, helping them identify and integrate ways in which communicating their art form strengthens academic achievement and self-esteem in young students. One of her areas of concentration is using the arts to teach History. Recently, she taught middle school Social Studies at Summit-Questa Montessori School in Davie, Florida for five years, and then transitioned into the Fine Arts department as the Drama Director. Of Cuban heritage, Michelle is fluent in Spanish, and enjoys teaching Spanish to children through song. She is also proficient in French.

Jamaican-born and bred, Kristie Stephenson is a jewelry maker and visual artist on a mission to sprinkle magic and wonder throughout her homeland and the world. Each beaded creation made under her Story and Myth brand is strung mindfully to bring the wearer healing, protection, strength and a vast inflow of positive energy.

A strong believer in the metaphoric power of a culture’s long-standing stories passed down from generation to generation, Kristie often shares folklore and ancient mythology to illustrate truths about self empowerment, inner strength and divine protection, as well as calls for a collective push towards a more socially and environmentally conscious community. This belief in the potency of cultural tales is what sparked the creation of the line’s Story and Myth name.

Since Covid 19, Kristie started drawing on the walls of her home, using chalk. Telling stories through drawing and narration. The drawings are temporary, each morning she starts a new one, nothing is prepared prior, the drawing happens in the moment on the day and is eventually erased to start a new one the next day.

Kristie enjoys playing polo, the sport of kings, the horse a symbol of freedom for her is one of the symbols in her line. She is also a lover of middle eastern music and dance which has inspired many of her creations.

Tabatha Mudra is a Filmmaker specializing in directing, producing, and cinematography for people who love visceral, honest stories. With her unique vision and collaborative leadership, she focuses on raising social consciousness using filmmaking. She is here to shatter the COVID confusion box, help identify what you’re not doing, and give you the tools that will be the winning edge when it’s safe to produce. (Unless it’s a movie about YOU at home, then go ahead and produce it!) Her films have been featured for PBS, United Nations Women’s Fund, and American Heart Association. She is the recipient of the Dejunius Hughes award for activism and is a back to back winner of the 48 hour film festival with the first female led team in Miami. When she’s not creating films, you can find her indulging in kitten rescue efforts, gourmet teas, and the occasional lip sync battle

Athena is a 16-year old climate justice and food systems activist. She has organized multiple national climate strikes including September 20th and December 6th. She works on the national finance team for Zero Hour and locally with the Sunrise Movement to get people to vote for the climate. Athena also works with community gardens to disperse fruits and vegetables within low income communities.

As a Gritty Girl ambassador, Athena supports the organization as a youth leader, assisting workshops and summer camps and promoting the Gritty Girl mission. She serves as Gritty Girl’s youth activist liaison linking the girls to community service opportunities.

Diego Romero is a Visual Artist whose work explores spiritual and social themes. He is also a UX/UI Designer with more than 10 years of experience in motion graphics and interactive design working with ad agencies, personal clients and corporations throughout South Florida.

Beyond his work as a visual artist and designer, Diego teaches yoga classes and guides mindfulness meditation sessions. He is a 200 hr Yoga and 100 hr Mindfulness certified instructor.

Developing an interest in exploring the mental and spiritual components of the practice of meditation, Diego has learned that calm, centeredness, happiness and mental peace are accessible to anyone who is willing to do the work. His goal is to share the love and discipline of these ancient practices in a creative and authentic way.

Gritty Girl Team

Michelle Riu

Kristie Stephenson

Tabatha Mudra

Athena Thibodeou

Diego Romero