Francesca Betancourt or Cessa is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist and the artistic director/co-founder of “she is FIERCE: stories from the female and genderqueer perspective.” Cessa is an actor, teaching artist, dancer, and intimacy director. Her work is based insocial/emotional learning and social justice through humor, compassion, psycho education, and physical expression. Her project “she is FIERCE”, is a recurring storytelling event in Seattle where female identified and genderqueer individuals of all demographics share stories from their experiences that matter to them.

Cessa received 2018 GAP Award funding towards helping “she is FIERCE” reach more audience members by filling bigger spaces, producing a “she is FIERCE” podcast, and paying project collaborators.