About Amy L. Burns

Born in Everett, Washington to a young mother, I was raised throughout the beautiful state. My mother's hard working, yet impoverished family were from Oregon. My father's family were resourceful small business owners.

I attended a dozen schools throughout the state, which left me feeling lonely and lacking in familial and academic stability. As a determined and passionate person, I fell into a life altering youth empowerment group, The Snohomish County Youth Initiative, and began my youth activist career. Although I was uninvolved and apathic toward my high school, I was very active in my community's political and social issues. I organized and actively participated in community cleanup projects, food and clothing drives, drug awareness programs, conferences and workshops on youth violence, drugs and alcohol, racism, classism and sexism. My involvement in youth activism truly empowered me and enriched my life. It was clearly the impetus for my degree choices in college.

I started college at Western Washington University (near BC Canada) with ambitions to become a math teacher. After my first semester, I transferred to Washington State University in Pullman, Washington (near Moscow, Idaho) where I graduated cum laude with two bachelors degrees. BA - Women's Studies, BA - Comparative American Cultures. I continued to be active, however, changing my focus to the campus and student community. Throughout school I remained an active member and later co-chair of the ASWSU GLBTA, forming and maintaining liaisons with other marginalized campus groups such as the Asian Pacific American Student Coalition, the African American Association, the Chicano/Latino Student Center, and the Veterans Association. It was also during college that I began to rediscover my creativity and my passion for creating art.

After graduating from college, I returned to western Washington for one and a half years. During this time I primarily worked with displaced teenagers in shelters and housing programs such as Cocoon House. This was one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I have ever had. My passion for working with disempowered people led me to Boston, MA where I looked at the Masters in Teaching program offered at Simmons. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the courses I felt teaching was not the right avenue for the kind of work I want to accomplish.

After leaving Simmons, I took a job for a spectacular financial consulting company in downtown Boston where I gained excellent skills in running a small business. During my four years of service I moved through several positions, each in different areas of the administration of the business and each holding increased responsiblity. My self-confidence grew exponentially and I began to identify as an artist and writer. It was also at this time that I began to search for something in better alignment with my spiritual journey.

While trying to gain clarity on my life purpose and career options I discovered life coaching. When I was ready to make a financial commitment to changing my life, I began a one-year coaching program with Coach For Life, an ICF accredited coaching program. Today I make my living as both an artist and life coach.

As an artist and writer, I am constantly working to expand my experience and creativity through experimentation, local and community courses, and viewing the amazing artwork that travels through New England. I continue to work on a memoir, keep a blog, and read both fiction and non-fiction as opportunity allows. As a life coach, I continue to redefine my dreams, goals, and direction, allowing spirit to guide me and knowing I am always fulfilling my life purpose.

About Amy | Contact | Home