Brenda Wong Aoki is an American playwright, actor and storyteller. She was born on July 29, 1953 in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in Long Beach, California. Brenda creates monodramas rooted in traditional storytelling, dance movement, and music. She graduated in 1976 from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a Bachelor's degree in Community Studies. She later received a K-12 credential from San Francisco State University. She spent years as a community organizer working with at-risk-youth and then as a public school teacher with the Long Beach School District. She did all this while continuing her activities as a poet, dancer, musician, singer and activist. Achievements. She is best known for her movement and voice on stage.