What I’ve Done, Not Just What I’ll Do

Many candidates will tell you what they plan to do. Let me start by telling you what I have already done.

In 2019, I was homeless. I received no assistance from the city and had to fight my way back onto my feet through determination, education, and community involvement.

Since then, I have worked to represent and serve others. I represented our area in honor society elections and helped students understand that difficult beginnings do not determine where you can end up. Through organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success, I encouraged students to get involved, develop their leadership skills, and believe in their ability to make a difference.

At Portland Community College Student Senate, I worked on budgets and helped save money while ensuring student services remained strong. I advocated for legislation and policies focused on student basic needs and housing while maintaining a commitment to responsible spending and accountability.

I have advocated for seniors and people with disabilities at the school, county, and state levels. Whether discussing transportation, housing, accessibility, or public services, I have always focused on understanding the challenges people face and finding practical solutions. I will never claim that I solved every problem or did it alone, but the people I worked alongside know I showed up, listened, and worked hard to move issues forward.

Transportation has been another area of focus. As a member of the TriMet Committee on Accessible Transportation, I worked on issues affecting riders with disabilities and helped address concerns about service reductions during ongoing budget challenges. The goal was simple: ensure that the people who depend on these services were not forgotten.

At Portland State University, I served on the Tuition Review Advisory Committee. Faced with difficult financial realities, I recommended a one-time 8% tuition increase that ultimately passed by a 5-4 vote. It was not an easy decision, but it was made to preserve as many jobs and student services as possible while avoiding even larger increases in the future.

Throughout my community work, I have attended meetings and events with neighborhood associations, labor unions, advocacy organizations, and representatives from multiple political parties. I know there is always more outreach to do, and I am committed to continuing those conversations.

I have also shared my experiences with homelessness in discussions at both the city and state level, helping policymakers understand what it means to lose everything and rebuild. Along the way, I have made mistakes, learned from them, and continued searching for more information, more perspectives, and better solutions.

What I can promise is this: I will continue showing up. I will continue listening. I will continue doing the work.

No other candidate in this race has already dedicated more than 100 volunteer hours to their campaign, and I am just getting started. If there is a community group, event, or conversation where you think I should be listening and learning, please let me know.

Until then, it’s time to write the next post and get back to work.