EMPATHY and KINDNESS (and of course, a strong work ethic!) have allowed me to excel as: 

• A former elected official for the largest stormwater and wastewater agency in the Midwest. 

• An advocate, coalition builder, and policy expert on water quality and environmental justice issues. 

• A nonprofit co-founder (with my husband!) focused on equity and justice.

• A voting rights and civic engagement enthusiast who’s always looking for ways to get more young people involved in the political process. 

• A co-chair of a newly-formed Black Maternal Health Task Force

• A historian who counters disinformation with fact-checking, sources, and analysis to help protect our democracy. 

• And as a videographer and aspiring filmmaker. 

My lived experience growing up in a low-income community on Chicago’s south side and attending underfunded public schools from K-12 gave me a front-row view of what intentional disinvestment looks like. 

Fast forward…

I became a first-generation college student on a full-ride, joined various nonprofit boards, earned my master’s degree, and became the youngest countywide elected official in Cook County. My story happens when we make intentional investments and create space for folks often left out.