Heidi Mendez Harrison, also known as the Rapping Grandma, is a multifaceted professional with a strong background in acting, directing, and choreography. As a member of both Sag-Aftra and Actors Equity, she has worked extensively in New York, Mexico City, and Madrid. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Acting and a Master of Arts in Directing. Additionally, she holds two teacher certifications, which have enabled her to pursue her passion for teaching.
Heidi is currently employed at Pioneer High School of the Performing Arts, where she teaches a range of subjects, including Improv, Speech, Acting, and Playwriting. As an actor, she has recently appeared in the TV series Granite Flats, playing the role of Mrs. Peterson. Her directorial credits include a production of Steel Magnolias at the Jackson Hole Playhouse.
In 2014, Heidi experienced a personal spiritual awakening, which prompted her to re-evaluate her life and seek a new purpose. This led her to begin volunteering at two Utah detention centers, Slate Canyon in Provo and Salt Lake Valley DT, where she worked with teenagers to develop their creative writing skills. The project, which was inspired by her own experiences as an adolescent with an attitude, has resulted in over 150 original writings, including autobiographical stories, raps, poems, and songs.
Heidi's work with the teenagers has been incredibly successful, and she has since founded ACT RISK NO MORE, a non-profit youth theater company. The organization provides a safe space for teenagers to express themselves creatively, regardless of their background or circumstances. Heidi is open about her own struggles with ADHD and bipolar disorder, and she believes that these challenges can be turned into strengths.
ACT RISK NO MORE creates original plays based on the writings of the teenagers and performs them for audiences in rehab centers, detention facilities, and other settings. Heidi's ultimate goal is to turn the book into a musical, create a documentary featuring the over 150 writings, and establish ACT RISK NO MORE as a national institution.
