A native of the quiet suburbs of Buffalo, NY, C. Van Swades found sanctuary in the deep pull of an overstuffed chair and good books or in the undergrowth of anything green. Over a twenty-one-year career, Van Swades has navigated the school classrooms of both concrete jungles and rural fields, seeking the quiet strength of the underdog. A student of the human psyche, C. is fascinated by the shadows of motivation but anchored by the courage found in love. While advocating for equality from the foundations up, C. Van Swades prefers the vibration of a cello played "terribly" to the noise of confrontation, but acknowledges that growth is vital and always uncomfortable, and so plays on.

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Find her on Substack writing collaboratively with Inverted Un6rella.