Monica Bicking is twenty-three years old and has lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota most of her life.  Growing up she studied conflict resolution methods and participated in many forms of activism to create the world she wishes to see.  She did everything from participating in a labor rights theatre troupe in elementary school to committing civil disobedience at protests as a teen.  As an adult she remains committed to peace and justice.

When Monica was eighteen she lived in Chicago for a year and worked at the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker founded non-profit.  She worked in the peace department helping to organize large anti-war protests, fundraise, and expand the counter-recruitment program. Afterwards she went to college in Indiana.  While in Indiana she joined the get out the vote efforts in Ohio for the 2004 election.  While door knocking in low-income neighborhoods she was frequently asked, “Why vote? What’s the point? How will John Kerry change my life?”  She could not answer these questions because when she thought about it she wasn’t sure things would be any different for people under a different politician.  This realization dramatically changed her political orientation.  She started to focus on areas in which she really could make a difference in the communities she lived in.

Monica enjoys children very much.  She has spent many years working off and on as a nanny.  One of her favorite experiences working with children was at a school for mentally handicapped children in Mexico.  She found that each child, no matter their mental capacity, had a unique personality with their own charm and challenges.  Monica loves watching children grow, develop, and change.

Recently Monica bought a house where she lives with friends.  Not surprisingly, the house occupies much her time. Despite the many challenges an old house brings to one’s life, she is enjoying learning basic handyperson skills and making a more permanent home for herself. She looks forward to cozying up in it in the upcoming long Minnesota winter.

(Charges against Monica, Eryn, and Luce were dropped completely by the prosecution on September 16, 2010.)