My mother is a beautician and father was a bodega owner and growing up, I was raised to be in service to others – whether to make people feel better or help meet a need.

I was always interested in civic engagement and wanting to find ways to make people’s lives better and safer.

This career path specifically started when I was selected to intern at the Kings County DA’s office within their Reentry Task Force department almost a decade ago. There I met a man that had served the same years in prison that had matched my age at the time. I  was just so impacted by that and felt that my calling was to make the criminal legal system fairer and work to prevent people from landing in jails/prison.

From there, I worked in the anti-gun violence movement and also worked to create initiatives to look at the intersection of Gun and Intimate Partner Violence. These experiences then led me to meet so many great people from government officials, to community advocates which then led to me want to get involved in fiercely advocating on these issues on a government level which led me deeper into into the field of politics and government relations.

I am proud to be in this field and love doing this work. There are so many ways to make an impact and engaging various levels of government on issues that impact the safety and well-being of your community is so rewarding.

Being a young first generation Dominican that has overcome different types of adversities, I am truly proud of how far I’ve come, using my personal lived experiences and professional background to contribute at tables where important decisions are made—tables I once only dreamed of being a part of. 

I am proud to get the chance to do good work and be someone people see as a dependable, trusted resource that gets stuff done and make real impact. 

My advice would be to stay true to who you are, lead with kindness and integrity, and know that it is ok to not have all the answers but to be a proactive learner. Find a mentor!  Build a solid core group of people that you can learn from and trust that you can bounce questions, ideas, and strategies with.

 I realize I am a true New Yorker when I travel out of state and can’t find food within walking distance after 9pm. 

Living in New York City is truly a gift. It’s really the City that never sleeps. It’s a vibrant melting pot where cultures blend seamlessly and the diverse food scene is unparalleled—you can really walk a few blocks and experience flavors from around the world at any time. 

I’ve always made it a point to be the first to offer help and I always show up ready to get to work. I’ve been lucky to have great mentors and to have worked for strong leaders along the way, from my first internship on Capitol Hill with Congressman Richard Neal to my current role as District Director for Assemblymember Alex Bores. In this field, it’s not just about working hard—you need to love what you do, and I truly do.

While working as a community liaison for State Senator José M. Serrano (my first role in New York state government), I had the opportunity to work in The Bronx—making positive change in the same neighborhoods that my mom grew up in after my grandparents moved to New York from Puerto Rico to build a new life. It was an honor to give back to the community that shaped my family’s story and trajectory.

Prioritize being collaborative—get out there and connect with people who are doing impactful work throughout the city. Relationships are key, and I have found that people are eager to help young professionals navigate their careers.

I knew I was a New Yorker when I discovered I could fall asleep on the train and wake up just in time for my stop.