Awaken Roots. Liberate Design.
Hello
Welcome to AR2LD! I'm Asena, and I'm so glad you're here. As the daughter of Tongan immigrants, an educator, a community organizer & legal advocate, I've spent my career bringing people together, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for meaningful change. I believe lasting change begins with connection, honest conversations, and the courage to imagine new possibilities. I hope this space inspires you to connect, reflect, and create something meaningful together!
My Story
I grew up in Southern California in a Tongan family where culture, community, and caring for others were part of everyday life. Those early lessons shaped how I see the world and continue to guide the work I do today.
My journey has taken me from classrooms and community spaces to courtrooms, public policy, and organizational leadership. I've worked alongside young people, families, educators, and community leaders to make schools more welcoming, strengthen neighborhoods, and create systems that better serve people.
Along the way, I studied sociology, education policy, and law. But some of my greatest teachers have been the people and communities I've had the privilege of working with, especially across Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.
I founded AR2LD—Awaken Roots. Liberate Design.—to bring these experiences together. It's a space where learning, culture, leadership, and community meet. A place to explore difficult questions, build practical skills, and turn shared ideas & values into meaningful action.
My work is guided by a simple belief: people already carry so much of the wisdom needed to create change. Sometimes we just need the space, tools, and relationships to bring it forward.
I'm still learning, growing, and asking questions along the way. And that's part of what makes this work so meaningful to me.
Here's to building something better, together.