Maria Wren describes herself as a youth advocate with a passion for bringing opportunities to the youth of her community. Her goal is to help students have access to engaging STEAM education programs no matter where they live, what school they go to, or what their family’s financial resources allow by reducing or removing the biggest barriers to program participation, cost and lack of accessibility. Her work with youth began after studying the fashion industry’s business side when she realized her true calling in life, and began down that path through the Early Childhood Education program at College of the Desert, in Palm Desert. She gives much credit for her abilities to implement programs to empower youth effectively to the California School Aged Consortium's Leadership Development Institute fellowship, for which she received a certificate of recognition from the California Department of Education.