Alexander Hardy is a grits-powered writer, home cook, dancer, lupus survivor, and National Trainer for Mental Health First Aid USA. He is on a lifelong quest to make better empanadas. He battles spiritual ashiness as CoFounder of GetSomeJoy, a creative wellness agency supporting communities and organizations with joy-flavored trainings and experiences, soulful storytelling, and accessible wellness resources. Alexander has written for outlets such as EBONY, CNN.com, Food & Wine, Esquire, The Root, Saint Heron, and Very Smart Brothas. His essay about upholding his grandmother’s mighty culinary legacy appears in Damon Young’s That's How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor. He supports communities and organizations with English and Spanish Mental Health First Aid trainings, grief and loss workshops, Literary Therapy writing sessions, resource development, Sunday dinners, and other wellness-infused experiences. In 2022, he curated, designed, and published griefKit: Crowdsourced tools and considerations for raggedy times via GetSomeJoy. Will Alexander ask you about delicious meals you’ve had or prepared? Does he accept restaurant recommendations and joy-inducing recipes? Yes. Alexander does not believe in snow or Delaware.