Who I Am
I know what it’s like to grow up feeling the squeeze from rising prices and limited resources. Being born and raised in the Mississippi Delta without a lot of resources shaped how I see the role of government and the importance of creating opportunities that unburden people so they can focus on building their lives, not just getting through the month.
I’m no stranger to the hard work required to create change. As a field organizer for the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign in Iowa, a nonprofit development professional with deep knowledge of how public funding flows, and a community volunteer, I bring a broad range of experience to the work of building stronger communities and delivering real results.
Professionally, I’ve worked for Central Iowa nonprofits supporting children’s education, immigrants, healthcare access, job training, and arts and culture. I've worked with funders from the federal government to individual donors to develop and sustain real change for communities. Across all of that work, I’ve seen how closely opportunity is tied to supporting stability and how investing in communities can change lives.
I'm an active volunteer in Central Iowa’s arts community because the arts are not an extra, they are part of how our communities learn, connect, and find opportunity. As President John F. Kennedy once said, “The life of the arts is a test of the quality of a nation’s civilization.” That belief informs how I think about education, community investment, and public life.
Why I'm Running
Change can't wait. Our government has failed us on issue after issue, from safe and affordable housing to the cost of living. We don't have to accept the slow erosion of our economy and the moral rot of bigotry and corruption as inevitable. There's a better way.
It's time for young leaders with new ideas to step up. Through my work in community-driven organizations, I’ve seen how small gaps, like unstable housing, an unexpected medical bill or lack of access to educational resources, can derail an entire family. I’ve also seen how targeted support at the right moment can change outcomes and create long-term stability.
We just have to bet on our communities. And I'm not a betting man, but that's a bet I'll make any day.
I’m running to be a representative who understands the pressures families are facing and is committed to being my community's voice in the Iowa House.
