Hi there neighbor, and pleased to meet you! Let me tell you a bit about myself. I’ve lived the vast majority of my childhood in sunny Southern California just North of Los Angeles in a little desert town called Rosamond. My hometown was near Edwards Air Force Base, which meant that my parents, siblings, and I were no strangers to the sonic booms of aircraft being tested and that our family forged many friendships with the proud service members of our community. Similar to many people, my family struggled during the Great Recession that began in 2006. In that turbulent time my father lost his job, which necessitated that my family move to the East Coast to receive support from our relatives.

It was in Pennsylvania where I finished my last years of high school and became eligible to cast my first vote. I remember my first voting experience well: it was the 2008 Primary for the Presidential Election, and I was excited. The country was on the precipice of positive change, of more equitable policies, of more sustainable energies, and of more affordable college and healthcare. I was filled with hope as I voted in both the primary and following presidential elections. It was that first democratic experience that proved to me just how much my vote and my efforts mattered. Just 2 short years after my first vote, I completed my Associate’s of Architecture at Northampton Community College and set my sights on moving back to California; back to my home.