About Me
Growing up in a predominantly low-income neighborhood, I have an intimate knowledge of the struggles that communities of color face, both on a day-to-day and institutional level. I have seen first-hand the gaps in access, transparency, and government support. Above all, I am deeply passionate about community advocacy, coalition building, civil rights, and social policy which strengthens equity and increases opportunity for marginalized communities in the United States. In order to strengthen democratic institutions and advance racial justice efforts in the United States, it is imperative that policy campaigns are multi-faceted, intersectional, expansive, and rooted in community organizing, well-rounded research, and solidified yet nimble political strategy. Such campaigns build bonds between community members and empower individuals to exercise agency and self-determination by becoming more involved in the democratic process, facilitating change alongside policy makers and elected officials.
I have a strong belief in the importance of community, identity, and acceptance. In 2021, I earned my Bachelors in Gender Studies focused on human rights, the climate crisis/environmental migration and the power of different types of labor in the modern, neoliberal global economy with a double minor in Theater and Global Studies from University of California, Los Angeles.
In May 2023, I graduated from the Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights with my M.A. in Human Rights Studies. At Columbia, I focused my studies on coalition building, advocacy strategies, and government tactics to support socioeconomic stability in historically marginalized communities.
I currently work full-time as the Director of Policy for the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance as well as part-time as the Chief Policy Fellow for the LA Civil Rights Department. In each of these roles I have the ability to continue advocacy work that I am deeply passionate about, work on legislative and policy change, and build connections with other advocates, researchers, and policy wonks across the nation.