I started my professional career after graduating from The City College of New York with a double major in

Advertising and Psychology. Though not particularly active in politics or activism in college, I was involved in

a number of programs dedicated to helping youth from Harlem and Brooklyn to navigate their high school

years and their college application process. I took the time to do this because I knew then as I do now how

much talent and potential goes unrealized in communities like mine - I wanted to have a hand at changing this

reality with the tools I had available. Once I graduated, I worked for advertising agencies in New York and

San Francisco.

A number of years later in San Jose, I was organizing undocumented individuals and families on the brink of

homelessness to develop leadership in communities under siege. I had never felt more full of purpose but still

sought a more impactful role. If the obstacle to progressive solutions for those in most pain was local

government, I decided that would be where I’d go to affect faster change. In 2017, I started working for

Councilmember Rocha as a Policy Aide focusing on housing, environmental, and public safety matters. I also

served as a campaign treasurer during his run for Santa Clara County Supervisor in 2018.

Today, I serve as the Community Liaison at Second Street Studios and the soon-to-open Renascent Place -

both Permanent Supportive Housing projects for the chronically homeless in Santa Clara County. I also sit on

the board of the Alum Rock Counseling Center in East San Jose, a nonprofit provider of counseling and

mental health services for economically disadvantaged youth and families in San Jose.

I have served as the Community Relations Director for East San José Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco. I am the past Executive Director of the Santa Maria Urban Ministry located in the heart of the Washington Neighborhood. A food pantry that helps eradicate poverty in our low-income communities. Began my community organizing skills when I joined the Washington Youth Volunteer Group when I was 14 years old. I saw many challenges facing my community like poverty, lack of education & gang/drug issues. WYVG collaborated with the Guadalupe Washington Neighborhood Association (GWNA) in bringing more open space (Brenda Lopez Memorial Plaza), a youth center (Washington United Youth Center) and a new library (Biblioteca Latinoamericana.) Later as GWNA president, I was instrumental in erecting new traffic lights around Washington. Eventually, as a Community Activity Worker for the City's defunct Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI) I organized in the King-Ocala, West Evergreen and Five/Wounds Brookwood Terrance area's. SNI's primary mission was to build strong neighborhoods by developing community leadership & working collaboratively with residents to achieve delivery of City Services & Neighborhood Priorities for underrepresented areas. As the East San José Weed & Seed Site Coordinator, I assisted the Police Department to "weed out" violent crime like gangs, drug use, and drug trafficking in targeted "hotspot" neighborhoods and "seed in" social & economic revitalization for these struggling areas. I continue to recruit community residents so they can empower themselves solving problems in their neighborhoods & organizing around issues like immigration, poverty or other social justice issues. Voters elected me to the Franklin-McKinley School Board in November 2014. I also serve as the Region 7 Director for the California Democratic Party, establishing relationships with Democratic party activists from Santa Clara County to Monterey County. 

I am a progressive Democrat. The way I grew up molded my beliefs. Education and engaging our communities will help them succeed. 

• Party: Democrat
• Member, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee (A.D. 27)
• Community Advocate
• Member of SEIU Local 521 Retirees
• Federation of Retired Union Members, Trustee (FORUM)
• California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA)
• Member of Sourcewise
• Delegate of South Bay Labor Council
• Member of Sierra Club
• JD: University of Santa Clara Law School
• BA: Boston University

My story is similar to many of the families and residents in AD-27. My parents are immigrants and have been a part of San Jose's working class, ensuring that my brother and I had a chance to earn an education and find a opportunity they did not have. I have witness firsthand the struggles our community faces and that is why I want to ensure residents and families like mine have a voice.

I ran for Oak Grove School Board in 2018 because ensuring our children are safe is important to me, especially because I have a 10 year old son. 

San Jose is full of wonderful people that want to do great things for their families and for their community. I want to help lift them up. I was born in San Jose, I grew up in San Jose and I love San Jose. As a Democratic Party delegate I will be vociferous in my advocacy and fight for the people. I will serve our community and you.

I ask for your vote.