Aileen is a longtime social justice advocate. She believes in "making good trouble.”
Aileen’s creative work reflects this in the themes she explores. Additionally, Aileen uses her social media and other platforms to express opposition to censorship and book bans, discrimination in all forms, and hate in all guises.
She supports a network of organizations working to promote the civil rights she believes in, such as reproductive rights, environmental justice, voting rights, and of course diversity within the publishing industry.
Before following her dream of writing professionally Aileen earned a JD from the George Washington University Law School.
She practiced union-side labor and employment law representing workers for many years. She currently uses her legal skills pro-bono to promote neighborhood sustainability.