Passion

"I am a social justice champion and radically intersectional. I want to be part of efforts that transform how government works for people, and how people feel about government. I have policy knowledge, passion for doing the work, drive to make the change, and a unique, diverse lived experience."

I embody the progressive, diversity of the 19th District community. 

I call Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood home - it is a beautiful, vibrant, diverse cross-section of what's best about this great City. 

My family roots instilled the importance of giving back and building up my community, which led to a career dedicated to fighting injustice. My mother is a Caribbean immigrant who worked tirelessly, in a system stacked against her, to ensure a better life for her children and showed me the invaluable life skills of perseverance and patience. My grandfather was a Jewish WWII veteran who enlisted at age 17 and taught me the importance of fighting for what is good and doing our part to repair the world. 

My first real understanding of inequality came at the age of 10 when I spent 14 months taking double schooling to help catch up from NYC public education to that of private institutions. When I transferred in the seventh grade, I was struck by the 12-person class sizes, unlimited and included extra-curricular activities, and personalized advising. This lived experience instilled in me not only the importance of access to opportunities but the devastating impact of lacking them.

I have policy knowledge, passion for doing the work, drive to make the change, and a unique, diverse lived experience. With all the advantages and opportunities that my family fought for me to attain, I know it is now my turn to ensure everyone can attain that same access. 

I want to be part of efforts that ensure those who are sworn to protect and serve are relevant, engaging, listening, and collaborative. But most importantly that it actually moves the needle for everyone’s everyday lives and indeed bends the arc toward justice and liberty for all.