My Story
As someone who has lived, worked, played, and served in Culver City for the past 11 years, I have a passionate interest in the city's future development and the welfare of all residents. Throughout my career and public service, I’ve taken on leadership positions to build bridges across differences, create solutions to complex problems, and advocate for the needs of all members of society. I would dedicate that experience and focus to serving my community as a Culver City Council Member.
I grew up in Southern California and attended Cal State Fullerton College where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. I then went on to attend Loyola Marymount University where I earned a Masters Degree in English Literature.
Drawn to the city's vibrant growth and great location, I moved to the Fox Hills neighborhood in 2011. I've been a homeowner and a renter. I found Culver City to have not only beautiful open parks and a busy downtown hub with popular restaurants and theatres, but it also had a very active and engaged community that has the will to enact change. Our city’s residents are creators, innovators, industry leaders, parents, retirees, students, designers and much, much more. I am inspired by the very genuine people I've met here who care about Culver City and its future.
My father came from a working class family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was the first in his family to attend college. He instilled in me three important lessons: taking personal responsibility for your life, giving back to your community and respecting all people. He passed away from cancer in March 2020. I still carry these simple yet profound lessons with me to this day.
Since moving to Culver City, I've been active in the community. I was inspired to serve on Culver City's Committee on Homelessness after having spent three years volunteering on Skid Row in downtown L.A. My time spent helping serve the homeless population which motivated me to apply to serve on Culver City's Committee on Homelessness. Although direct service is the compassionate act, I knew that homelessness is a structural issue that can only be solved by cooperation between local and regional government. Through my job, I've traveled with students across the country and the world to critically look at the root causes of poverty, homelessness, and other relevant issues. Following my term on the Committee on Homelessness, I was then appointed to the General Plan Advisory Committee. The General Plan is an opportunity to collectively look to the future and decide how we all want Culver City to grow and develop, and it has been a tremendous honor to serve on the GPAC. In 2021, I co-organized the first LGBTQ Pride events in Culver City history in an effort to be more inclusive of our community.
I've worked in higher education for the past 17 years. Currently, I work in community relations. As a former committee member of the California Forum for Diversity in Higher Education, I helped bring more than 1,800 people on campus and provided resources to first generation, low-income and students of color to pursue graduate education. I've taught Implicit Bias workshops and co-started an anti-racist group. I co-chaired the LGBTQ Faculty Staff Network for five years and I’ve also served as the Staff Senate President. I led 25 senators to plan university events, serve on committees to help shape university policy, and advocate for all staff members.
One of the most meaningful and rewarding roles I play is serving as a godfather to Matthew (12, also my nephew), Ryan (6) and Gracie (5). They are growing up in a very different world with its unique opportunities and challenges, and through their eyes I learn about what’s truly important in life as we live it today. My promise to them to is help create a world that is just, inclusive and creates access and opportunity for all.
My education rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions provided me with a framework that views everything through the lens of equity, cares for those on the margins of society, and imagines creative solutions to any pressing issues. If elected, I would be the first openly LGBTQ candidate elected to Culver City Council. As Council Member, I will advocate for transparency, fiscal responsibility and equitable solutions for all of Culver City. I hope to win your vote in November 2022. Here’s to our future together!
Culver City Involvement
I grew up in Southern California and attended Cal State Fullerton College where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. I then went on to attend Loyola Marymount University where I earned a Masters Degree in English Literature.
Drawn to the city's vibrant growth and great location, I moved to the Fox Hills neighborhood in 2011. I've been a homeowner and a renter. I found Culver City to have not only beautiful open parks and a busy downtown hub with popular restaurants and theatres, but it also had a very active and engaged community that has the will to enact change. Our city’s residents are creators, innovators, industry leaders, parents, retirees, students, designers and much, much more. I am inspired by the very genuine people I've met here who care about Culver City and its future.
My father came from a working class family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was the first in his family to attend college. He instilled in me three important lessons: taking personal responsibility for your life, giving back to your community and respecting all people. He passed away from cancer in March 2020. I still carry these simple yet profound lessons with me to this day.
Since moving to Culver City, I've been active in the community. I was inspired to serve on Culver City's Committee on Homelessness after having spent three years volunteering on Skid Row in downtown L.A. My time spent helping serve the homeless population which motivated me to apply to serve on Culver City's Committee on Homelessness. Although direct service is the compassionate act, I knew that homelessness is a structural issue that can only be solved by cooperation between local and regional government. Through my job, I've traveled with students across the country and the world to critically look at the root causes of poverty, homelessness, and other relevant issues. Following my term on the Committee on Homelessness, I was then appointed to the General Plan Advisory Committee. The General Plan is an opportunity to collectively look to the future and decide how we all want Culver City to grow and develop, and it has been a tremendous honor to serve on the GPAC. In 2021, I co-organized the first LGBTQ Pride events in Culver City history in an effort to be more inclusive of our community.
I've worked in higher education for the past 17 years. Currently, I work in community relations. As a former committee member of the California Forum for Diversity in Higher Education, I helped bring more than 1,800 people on campus and provided resources to first generation, low-income and students of color to pursue graduate education. I've taught Implicit Bias workshops and co-started an anti-racist group. I co-chaired the LGBTQ Faculty Staff Network for five years and I’ve also served as the Staff Senate President. I led 25 senators to plan university events, serve on committees to help shape university policy, and advocate for all staff members.
One of the most meaningful and rewarding roles I play is serving as a godfather to Matthew (12, also my nephew), Ryan (6) and Gracie (5). They are growing up in a very different world with its unique opportunities and challenges, and through their eyes I learn about what’s truly important in life as we live it today. My promise to them to is help create a world that is just, inclusive and creates access and opportunity for all.
My education rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions provided me with a framework that views everything through the lens of equity, cares for those on the margins of society, and imagines creative solutions to any pressing issues. If elected, I would be the first openly LGBTQ candidate elected to Culver City Council. As Council Member, I will advocate for transparency, fiscal responsibility and equitable solutions for all of Culver City. I hope to win your vote in November 2022. Here’s to our future together!
Culver City Involvement
- General Plan Advisory Committee
- Committee on Homelessness
- Fox Hills Neighborhood Association
- Protect Culver City Renters
- Culver City Community Conversation
- Culver City Democratic Club
- Culver City Community Coalition
- Culver City Action Network
- Culver City Historical Society
- Culver City Police Department Civilian Academy
- Leadership Culver City
