My Personal Story: Why I Care so Much

I’ve served community my whole life. Part of the reason is because I’ve faced troubling times. I fought hard for my own rights, so I simply have to continue to fight for the rights of others. The values I live by are simple ones:

• Fairness: When you work hard, you should be rewarded for that work.
• Responsibility: We are ultimately responsible for ourselves, our family and our community. We should treat others with integrity.
• Freedom: Everyone should be able to live the life they want without others’  views or beliefs being imposed upon them.
• Opportunity: Absolutely everyone deserves a chance to get ahead.

Those values, coupled with the empathy I have based upon my own life experience, inform my views on public policy.

Education: The focus should always be on our kids. First, we need to find, and enable, our best teachers!  I’m in favor of funding Pre-K for all of our children. I believe our students should have options for careers – including earning college credits and exposure to vocational/trade opportunities. College debt should not be a burden.

Housing: I believe that having a safe and affordable place to live is the cornerstone to becoming self-sufficient. I will work with our lawmakers and state agencies to find funding for accessible housing.

Healthcare: Access and affordability are still issues for many. I believe everyone should have the ability to receive quality healthcare regardless of their income level.

Economy: We must foster an economy that works for everyone  – not just for the wealthy.

Women & Families: I believe a  package of policies will help women and their families get ahead. They include: raising the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, paid sick days and paid family and medical leave.

Guns: We have to do more to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are mentally ill – that does not mean taking away the rights of law-abiding gun owners. I believe that background check and magazine limits are just good, common sense.

Environment: It is morally imperative to protect our planet. Climate change is real.  We need to promote clean energy.

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A Lifetime of Service to Community

I’ve been serving community my whole life. Currently, I sit as a Commissioner on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Housing & Community Development for the City of Aurora. In this role, I vote to fund various projects and developments to make sure quality, affordable housing is available; to create opportunities for locally-owned small business to get started and grow; and to help insure quality of life for all Aurora residents. This role required a confirmation of the Aurora City Council.

I also serve as co-chair on the Education and Advocacy sub-committee for Aurora@Home. This non-profit assists families in Aurora who find themselves without a home to live in or are otherwise in an unstable environment.

My volunteer work also includes:

• An appointment by then Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, and re-appointment by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to the Commission on Homelessness

• Appointment and re-appointment to the Sustainability Advisory Council by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

• Board Member – Curriculum Advisory Council, Technical Communications, Journalism & Digital Media, Metropolitan State University
• Past Board Member – El Centro Humanitario Para La Trabajadores

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Work & Education

It took me several years, generally working two jobs at a time, to earn my B.A. in Communications from Metropolitan State University. Wanting to serve community by sharing impactful stories, I spent well over a decade working in broadcasting.

Realizing I could also work to help more diverse communities by expanding my education, I attended the University of Denver’s Korbel School for International Studies. I have completed all of my required coursework to receive my M.A. in International & Intercultural Communications. (I must still pass a foreign language exam to fully matriculate.) I also have a Certificate in Sustainability Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Always interested in learning more about people, business and my neighbors, I have participated in several prominent leadership training opportunities including:

• Leadership Aurora
• Leadership Denver
• Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Institute
• Emerge America

I have also been an entrepreneur, starting my own communications consulting business.