Emelda “E” De Coteau is a writer, activist, and mindfulness facilitator , trained in TSD Mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – both of these approaches emphasize the connection between mind and body, strengthening of compassion for self and the collective, deepening resilience, and embracing mindful living as a daily practice.  She is also the founder of When Motherhood Looks Different, LLC,  a community-based small business helping Mamas of neurodivergent kids and Moms who are neurodivergent center mindfulness and connect in community by offering events, resources, and mindfulness coaching; this work is inspired by her beautiful neurodivergent daughter Nai. She lives in Maryland with her family. 

As a speaker and facilitator she has presented at PDA Burnout Conference presented by PDA North America, Women of Color Soul Care Collective – Calling Her Spirit Back, uplifting ways to transmute your pain into purpose, Green Heart University’s Mental Health Gala, and discussed neurodivergent parenting as part of Spoken Black Girl Magazine’s Black Maternal Health panel. Her writing, which focuses on social justice, anti-racism, neurodivergent parenting, well-being, and spiritual activism (within the progressive Christian tradition), has appeared in Good Faith Media, Spoken Black Girl Magazine, Good Life Detroit, Beautifully Said Magazine, The Baltimore Times, and on the Pray with our Feet website (a podcast & community she co-leads with her Mom, Trudy) where she blogs and shares devotionals on spiritual life and activism.

Emelda also blogs about well-being for neurodivergent Moms, advocacy, and disability rights at When Motherhood Looks Different. She has shared her poetry at Artscape, the largest free arts festival in the country, and at numerous Spoken Black Girl online events. She is currently at work on her first book of poetry and essays. Emelda lives in Baltimore with her loving husband Keston, a fellow creative (videographer & photographer) and daughter Nai.