Melissa J. Leslie, the dynamic founder of Sticky Rice Stories, is a dedicated Filipino American author and illustrator who  values and celebrates her heritage. Acknowledging the vital importance of cultural representation, she boldly moves forward on a mission to create children's books that skillfully weaves together character, identity, language, history, and culture within Filipino American context. Her groundbreaking series, The Filipino Project, has expanded to include animations, songs, art and apparel, enriching the lives of children and their peers with a diverse array of stories and experiences.