My desire to be involved in civic action began as a young child when my mother’s building began organizing to get repairs from the property owner and fighting against a Major Capital improvement (MCI). Many of the neighbors(mostly elderly and monolingual Spanish speakers) were scared of retaliatory action but mustered up the bravery to organize. My mother encouraged the neighbors to be strong and reminded them that they were fighting for their rights. They organized for months and were able to successfully get the needed repairs and the MCI charge. This was it for me. People learning their rights, creating their own strategy and fighting against a giant. After this experience, it was clear to me that I wanted to be in public service.

Every career choice has been in public service from farmworker and tenant organizing to working in government. My family has been the backbone to all I have done and remind me that even coming from humble beginnings we are powerful.

When the Early Voting policy began, there was a huge gap in our district because Inwood was not granted a site and the nearest site was a train ride away. The whole focus of having Early Voting is to provide more access to voters that may have impediments for voting on Election Day so not having a site in that part of the district, would be a huge barrier for already vulnerable community members. A few of us came together to fight for a site in a central part of the community and won. The number of residents voting early in Inwood has gone up exponentially in Inwood since the opening of that site.  

The biggest piece of advice I can offer working in this field is that we have the responsibility to find people where they are at, because everyone has something to contribute to the betterment of their community.

You have to be observant to help amplify people’s strengths. Government/ politics can be overwhelming for many people, sometimes leading them to think they don’t know enough to participate and are less likely to vote.If you find people where they are at, people will be more likely to entertain conversations about current events and how governmental decisions impact their daily life. This means talking to people on the street, at the grocery, schools etc., being accessible to people where they physically are. Your interaction can have a positive impact and encourage people to vote and become more civically engaged.

This is such a great question. It is such a privilege to be a New Yorker. Being a New Yorker has been part of my identity my whole life. It was somewhat clear to me in the speed of my walk and my amazing ability to dodge people in Times Square. But, when I spent some time volunteering in the Southern part of the United States it became obvious to me. I realized that New York City is unique because our sense of community reaches far and wide. We have a sense of duty to our neighbors that is unmatched. We have community grandparents that help raise everyone’s children and ensure their safety. You drop everything you are doing to help your neighbor. A true New Yorker cares about those around them. 

Hard work, dedication and remaining focused on the goal of advancing the people’s agenda. Through the guidance and support of mentors and teachers who offered invaluable coaching, I found the people who believed in me helped pave my path to success.

I’m most proud of the children and adults in New York who value education, using it as a tool to make a positive difference and contribute meaningfully to society. Additionally, I’m proud of the impactful work we have done to expand understanding of how candidates for Civil Court and State Supreme Court are nominated and ultimately elected. On my first day working as a staffer, a prominent State Assembly told me “public service is a privilege” he inspired me to focus on giving back and making a lasting difference in the community.

Believe in yourself and stay open to learning.

As a child, my uncle took me to see the Commodities trading floor and that experience made me realize New York is not only the financial capital of the world but a global hub of commerce, culture, entertainment, and academia. New York is so rich in diversity and history.