Livanny grew up in the Dominican Republic where she graduated from high school in the top five percent and served in the volunteer military service. She arrived in Boston in December 2016 with no English but quickly progressed through her ESOL classes at the Jamaica Plain Community Center Adult Learning Program. She has been on the Dean’s list at Urban College where she graduated from the certificate program in early childhood education and will continue toward an associate degree while working as a preschool teacher assistant. Livanny dreams of directing a preschool someday to address the needs of the community’s youngest students.