Hi, I’m Ashley, founder of Mingle & Mahj San Diego.

I’m a mom of three school-aged kids, a former classroom teacher, and someone who deeply believes in the power of gathering face-to-face. Creating spaces where people feel welcomed, included, and connected has always been close to my heart long before mahjong ever entered the picture.

My mahjong journey started the way it does for many people… I signed up for a beginner class, simply curious to learn. I was instantly hooked. What began as trying something new quickly turned into a weekly ritual, and I now meet regularly with my mahjong group to play, grow my skills, and enjoy the laughter and friendship that naturally unfolds around the table.

With my background in teaching, it wasn’t long before friends started asking if I could teach them too. So I put together a free beginner class to gather feedback and created my own hands-on curriculum designed to make learning American Mahjong feel approachable, unintimidating, and fun. Watching people connect while learning the game lit me up in a whole new way and Mingle & Mahj was born from there.

The name Mingle & Mahj was chosen very intentionally. While I love teaching the game, the “mingle” matters even more to me. In a world where so much connection happens behind screens, I wanted to create opportunities for people to gather in real life, to sit around a table, share stories, laugh, and build meaningful friendships. Mahjong just happens to be the beautiful vehicle that brings it all together.

Today, I teach classes and host events throughout North County San Diego, welcoming beginners and growing a community of players across all ages. I’m incredibly passionate about expanding the American Mahjong movement and helping more people discover not just the joy of the game, but the joy of finding their people. And when I’m not teaching or playing, you can often find me at home playing mini-mahjong with my kids, passing down the love of the game one tile at a time.

I’d truly love to welcome you here, whether that’s joining a class, attending an event, or saying hello on social media. If you’ve been craving connection, learning something new, or finding your people, I hope you’ll come mingle with us and be part of our growing community.

Hugs,

Ash