Alana Mbanza is a published author and Founder and CEO of Dreamland University, a socioemotional (SEL) curriculum design firm that specializes in culturally relevant instructional materials that promote healthy coping skills, enhance mental and emotional wellbeing, and inspire students and educators to manifest their personal and collective dreams. She believes it is her responsibility as a writer to illuminate the human experience, and she channels this ethos into her work as an educator, mentor, and literary community builder. With over a decade of experience in college and career advising, educational leadership, and curriculum development, Alana has supported thousands of students and families through the college application process. Her work has been guided by a devotion to educational equity and she has made it her mission to increase enrollment and graduation rates for underrepresented student populations in some of the largest school districts in the country. In addition to her work in education, Alana has mentored countless young writers, providing them with proofreading, editing, and strategic advice to improve the quality and content of their work. Through her writing workshops, Alana has built a strong literary community of emerging writers and helped them develop the skills and confidence to share their own stories with the world. As a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alana's dedication is underscored by her connection to the legacy of resilience and entrepreneurship of Black Wall Street in Greenwood. Inspired by the story of Loula T. Williams, an educator and owner of Dreamland Theater in the 1920s, Alana derives strength from the past as she forges a path toward a more inclusive and empowered future.