Our Team

At For Purpose Kids, we're a team of storytellers, educators, designers, parents and caregivers passionate about creating imaginative stories & toys that build empathy, connection and belonging. We know, first hand, how much our hearts have been opened by connecting with others around the world, and we want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.

Misty Castañeda

Misty is the Founder & Cultivator of Wonder at For Purpose Kids, a social enterprise that connects her passion of working with children and traveling the world with her background in sales & marketing and early childhood education. She lives in Orlando with her family but can often be found spending time at the beach, traveling to her favorite place, Hong Kong or back to her childhood home in Vermont.

Rachael Parker-Chavez

Rachael Parker-Chavez is an aspiring optimist, Social Impact Strategist and co-founder of Super by Design, where she uses Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design to support organizations creating civic and social change. She also has the privilege of mentoring social entrepreneurs and building impact initiatives at UCLA. Rachael is an advocate for youth in foster care, zealous fur-mom, self-appointed “cool aunt,'' and dedicated to creating a more equitable future for all people. You can find her between Northern Michigan and Southern California.

Gabriele N. Ward Almon

Gabriele is a writer dedicated to creating stories that inspire children and adults to feel brave, hopeful, and helpful in an ever-changing world. She leads a creative agency that specializes in story strategy and narrative shifting. Previously, Gabriele served as an advisor to Fortune 500 companies, domestic and international government agencies, and numerous humanitarian organizations on disaster and crisis efforts.

Maicol Parker-Chavez

Maicol Parker-Chavez is a Business Designer and co-founder of Super by Design, where he helps organizations build more effective solutions through inclusion and design. Maicol has been a designer for over 15 years and believes in bringing diverse perspectives into the development process to create shared understanding and build the foundation for more creative and equitable problem-solving. Maicol was born in Peru and raised in Southern California where he currently lives with his wife and three furry kids.

Jessica Bañuelos

Jessica is currently studying for her B.S. in Computer Science at Cal State University of Long Beach. She enjoys expressing herself creatively, whether it be through drawing, cooking or programming. She also loves to be active biking, rock climbing and trail running.

Melissa Monroy

Melissa Monroy is the Founder + Creative behind Mint and Merit, a heart-fueled and purpose-driven design studio in San Diego, California. She has a B.A in Applied Arts and Sciences from SDSU, and 15+ years of experience in branding and print design. Melissa is on a mission to create goodness, with honesty + love + typography. She loves turning a blank slate into a masterpiece and working with individuals & businesses who strive to create meaningful work. She is committed to doing good + loving people + making the world a better place, one design at a time.

Noah Nash

Noah Nash, EdD is an interdisciplinary leader using research, web development, and storytelling to thoughtfully move initiatives forward. His portfolio includes projects in children's rights, emerging technologies, and philanthropy. He is most proud of being a loyal brother to youth in foster care, dog-whisperer, and cool uncle. When not home in Los Angeles, Noah loves cooking with his family across the United States.