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Kinder Village

P.O. Box 65806. Tucson, AZ 85728

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We Presume Competence

Kinder Village is a Tucson-based 501(c)(3) community supporting and uplifting non-speaking and minimally-speaking autistic individuals, and the gifts they have been given to share with the world.

 
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Our Mission

Every voice deserves to be found. Every person deserves to be heard.

Presuming competence is the cornerstone of our community, and it is the message we carry to the greater Tucson community and beyond through everything we do.

We help each individual find their authentic voice, whether through spelling on a letterboard, typing on a computer, using an AAC device, or whatever means best suits them along a journey that will evolve over a lifetime.

The Vision

A Village Where Everyone Belongs

We envision a 108+ acre property in Southern Arizona where neuro-divergent and neuro-typical individuals learn, work, move, and grow side by side, sharing their strengths to create a more cooperative and accessible environment for all.

Our vision is written as if it already exists, to contribute to its manifestation.

K-12 School

An education built on presumed competence, where movement is woven into how students learn every day.

Regenerative Farm

Organic food production with aquaponic and rainwater harvesting systems, nourishing our community and our neighbors holistically.

Movement & Music

Yoga and meditation, mindful movement, and music departments that make expression accessible to every body.

Adaptive Athletics

Outdoor areas and a large indoor recreation facility uniting autistic youth with neuro-typical athletes through organized sports, strength, and conditioning.

Next-Gen Housing

Eco-friendly, sustainably built homes where autistic adults and their caregivers share a home while cultivating true independence. It’s a retirement community, too.

General Store & Nursery

Plants, seeds, pottery, produce, mesquite flour and syrup, cold-pressed juices, artwork, music, and jewelry, much of it made in-house.

Beyond the Classroom​

Building Lifelong Pathways​

Meaningful Employment, 18 and Up​

Employment rates among the autistic community are extremely low, and we intend to change that. We focus on clearing a path toward meaningful work for neuro-divergent adults, supporting both the individual and the businesses that employ them.

A Model for Other Communities

Through workshops, symposiums, and educational and recreational retreats, we encourage and empower others to build their own version of this vision where they live. We’re on a mission to help Southern Arizona become known as the quintessential model of cooperation and presuming competence.

Where We Are Right Now

The Village Is Already Growing

We have the people, with the knowledge, skills, and tenacious determination this ambitious vision requires. We’re currently building a micro version of our agricultural and building infrastructure at a private location in Central Tucson, serving as a working model for donors and a home for classes, offices, and storage.

Meanwhile, we’re searching for a large parcel of land near Tucson to bring the full vision to life. This is where you come in.

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"We have the people, the knowledge, and the tenacious determination to make this vision real."

The Kinder Village Board

Leadership

Board of Directors

Leigh Ann Lesho

Founder, President & Treasurer

Lori Van Buggenum

Vice President

Gabi Lake

Secretary

Anna Britton

Member

Arielle Pagac

Member

Samantha Leade

Member

"Together we grow, together we thrive."

The Kinder Village Community

Join the Kinder Village Family!

Become a part of our vibrant community dedicated to supporting non-speaking autistic individuals. Sign up for our newsletters or join our upcoming programs to stay connected and informed on how you can help make a difference.
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Leigh Ann Lesho, Founder & Board President

Leigh Ann Lesho leads with multifaceted experience as a professional singer-songwriter (Leigh Lesho), former University of Nebraska All-American softball pitcher, and professional athlete in the U.S., Spanish, and Italian leagues.

During her years as a high-level athlete, Leigh Ann began to experience something profound on the pitcher’s mound—moments of light, stillness, and a clarity awakened through breathwork she had intuitively woven into her pitching routine. These early glimpses of presence and connection opened the door to the deeper study of yoga and the yogic state. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey of spiritual exploration and deep devotion to a path rooted in yogic science and philosophy, which continues under the guidance of her teacher, Dr. K.L. Shankaranarayana Jois.

She is also the former owner of The Yoga Tree, a yoga studio and boutique that continues to inspire the spirit behind Kinder Village. When her highly spirited son, Rylan, came into her life, it felt only natural that he had chosen her for the path ahead. Rylan, who is minimallyspeaking and autistic, became her greatest teacher and the inspiration behind her life’s mission.

Leigh Ann’s music—featured in the albums 444 (2016) and Akasha (2018)—was deeply inspired by Rylan. Her intention behind these projects was to create sound therapy for emotional regulation, sensory integration, and authentic expression. Emerging from desertinspired folk-rock, her music channels what she describes as “haunting melodies of the desert,” blending her love of yoga, Ayurveda, and mantra into healing programs that help others connect with the power of their voice.

Alongside her husband, Billy Lesho, Leigh Ann co-owns Fiesta Electric, the electrical contracting company founded by her father, Mike Walker, in 1993. Since joining the business in 2004, she has developed strong leadership in fiscal stewardship, infrastructure planning, and community partnership skills that now help shape the foundation of Kinder Village’s growing ecosystem.

Rooted in both athletic and yogic discipline, Leigh Ann infuses Kinder Village’s programs with adaptive movement, breathwork, meditation, sound, and a team-building approach that celebrates every individual’s unique rhythm and potential.

Lori Van Buggenum, Vice President

Growing up part-time in Tucson and on a working ranch in Wyoming, Lori has always felt at home in the intersection of land, food, and community. Her passion for environmental stewardship, a desire to be of service, and a curiosity about how things are interconnected has guided much of her work.

Lori is a public health professional with experience working in non-profit, university, and for-profit settings to develop, implement, and manage initiatives aimed at benefitting individual health outcomes, communities, and the environment. She has worked with organizations such as the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Community Food Connections, supporting local food systems through grant writing and development—including securing funding to expand the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. Her graduate research focused on the connection between local food systems and health disparities in Southern Arizona, where she worked directly with growers, distributors, and community partners to explore farm-to-school opportunities. She later contributed to national agriculture and sustainability projects, including research for the USDA National Organic Program and supply chain impact metrics for the U.S. dairy industry.

Serving on the Kinder Village Board brings together her love of community building, local agriculture, and creating opportunities for meaningful connection.

Gabi Lake, Secretary

Driven by a commitment to inclusion and communication access, my work is dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities in reaching their fullest potential. My experience in education and community-based instruction informs the perspective I bring to Kinder Village and strengthens my dedication to its mission. It is truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful and compassionate community. My journey working with the non-speaking community began when I served as an aide for one remarkable individual who forever changed the way I understand communication, connection, and human potential. Since then, many others along with the students I work with every day have continued to shape and deepen this pathway. Watching individuals grow into the world as it is, while helping create a world that better supports them, has become the heart of my work.

My goal is to help foster environments that enrich people’s lives through healthy relationships, meaningful communication, and strong mental well-health. As an advocate, I believe deeply that it truly takes a village and a community of compassion, patience, and shared responsibility to create a world that is both beautiful and safe for everyone. For a long time I searched for my purpose... Through my studies in special education and my early experiences in the field of disability advocacy, I have come to recognize where my passion truly lives. My hope is that everyone who encounters Kinder Village will feel inspired by the powerful truth this community embodies: when we build spaces grounded in respect, understanding, and support, we allow every person’s voice spoken or unspoken to be valued. In doing so, we begin to realize that the many ways people connect and communicate are not barriers, but gifts that build a more beautiful environment and bring our community closer together.

Anna Britton, Member

Anna grew up on the East Coast (Maryland and South Carolina) and moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2022. She is a Certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) Practitioner and the founder of Spelling with Anna LLC, where she provides 1:1 communication support to nonspeaking, minimally speaking, and unreliably speaking individuals and their families using letterboards. Anna is also the co-founder and Vice President of Tucson Spellers, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering nonspeakers and their families across Southern Arizona through communication support, social and educational opportunities, and funding for essential resources, training, and events.

Her work with the autism community began in 2016, and she now brings nearly a decade of experience supporting individuals and their families across a variety of roles. She has worked as a child and family clinical therapist, behavioral therapist, youth services case manager, teaching assistant, adaptive horseback riding instructor, and rock-climbing instructor. She has been a Certified S2C Practitioner since 2021 and brings a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, regulation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, as well as movement coaching and presuming competence.

Anna holds a degree in Psychology as well as a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. Her education and diverse experience inform her commitment to supporting marginalized communities - especially individuals who have not yet been given access to reliable, robust, and authentic communication. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion, self-expression, and autonomy, and is dedicated to helping individuals build confidence, independence, and meaningful connections with the world around them.

Outside of her work, Anna loves spending time outdoors - rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding, and anything to do with nature or animals - and is a proud dog mom to two amazing pups, Fin and Vulture (yes, like a turkey vulture!). Anna is thrilled to be a part of Kinder Village and looks forward to contributing to a community rooted in connection, growth, and inclusion.

Arielle Pagac, Member

Arielle is a creative storyteller with a keen eye for visual detail. She currently works as avideographer and photographer for the University of Arizona Foundation. With over adecade of freelance experience, she has developed and produced commercials,corporate media, and wedding films. Earlier in her career, she also contributed to large-scale public art as a muralist assistant, helping design and create murals.

Beyond her professional work, Arielle enjoys adventure, creativity, and personal growth.She has a passion for travel, biking, hiking, ceramics, and wellness. At the center of herlife are her valued relationships with family and friends, especially the joy she finds inspending time with her niece.

Samantha Leade, M.S., CCC-SLP, CEO of Smiles Therapy LLC, Board Member

With over 17 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Samantha Leade specializes in autism communication, sensory integration, feeding and swallowing, and motor-based intervention. She holds advanced training and certifications including Sensory SLP Level 2, Hanen It Takes Two to Talk, pediatric feeding certifications through the Pediatric Feeding Institute, and myofunctional and feeding coursework through Feed the Peds. She is also LAMP-certified and has completed Levels 1–2 in Hippotherapy.

Samantha integrates evidence-based practices with caregiver coaching and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that adaptive communication tools—including AAC systems, letterboards, and motor-based approaches—support participant voice, selfadvocacy, and data-informed program design. She is currently pursuing a Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology to further advance her work in interdisciplinary care, clinical education, and innovative service delivery.